A programme for established leaders and senior management. An international academic perspective, a real Bulgarian context — and people who are worth being in a room with.
Bulgaria has reached a point where the challenge is no longer the availability of talent — but the quality of leadership. More and more professionals with international experience are returning. More and more companies have ambitions to grow beyond the local market. The need for leaders capable of operating at an international level within the Bulgarian context is real — and growing.
At the same time, Bulgaria has a rare resource: more than 3,000 Bulgarian academics teaching at leading universities around the world.
Leaders from Within was created to activate this intellectual capital with purpose — for the development of the next generation of leaders in Bulgaria.
A survey of more than 242 companies in Bulgaria confirms strong demand for high-quality executive education focused on leadership, growth, and international expansion.
Leaders from Within It is a modular programme — each module can be taken independently or combined with others. The programme was designed by a team of Bulgarian faculty members who teach and conduct research at some of the world’s most renowned business schools and universities. The programme launches with topics selected for their broad relevance and practical applicability across different sectors of the economy.
How do we identify the most promising market opportunities? How do we identify the highest-value customers? And how do we build stronger value propositions? Market positioning, pricing, and effective channel management go hand in hand with the practical use of digital tools and artificial intelligence to develop and execute a winning growth strategy.
How do we build and lead organisations in an environment of constant change? How do we manage teams and make decisions under continuous pressure and uncertainty? And how do we create an organisational culture that supports sustainable development despite unpredictability? Managing conflict, navigating uncertainty, and maintaining high performance go hand in hand with a leader’s ability to unite people around a clear direction.
How businesses create customer value and turn it into a sustainable competitive advantage. With Prof. Dr. Michaela Draganska — Professor of Marketing at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business (formerly Stanford GSB, UC Berkeley Haas, and Wharton), PhD from Kellogg.
How do we grow a business beyond its local market? How do we select the right international markets and the most suitable market entry strategy? How do we manage teams and operations across different countries? And how do we build the organisational and operational capacity needed for sustainable scaling? Moving from a local to a regional and global business requires a clear strategy, adaptation to different market conditions, and processes that enable growth without compromising efficiency, quality, or control.
How is artificial intelligence changing the rules of competition? How are new technologies accelerating decision-making and automating key business processes? Where does AI create real value, and how does it open opportunities for entirely new business models? And how can leaders guide their organisations through digital transformation? Successful AI adoption requires more than technological readiness. It requires strategic judgement — understanding which decisions to automate, where the human role remains irreplaceable, and how to turn transformation into a sustainable competitive advantage.
Professor of Marketing at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business (formerly Stanford GSB, UC Berkeley Haas, and Wharton), PhD from Kellogg.
Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at IMD Lausanne, PhD from London Business School (LBS).
Professor of Strategy and International Business at ESADE Business School, Barcelona, PhD from INSEAD.
Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at IMD Lausanne, PhD from INSEAD.
Each module combines in-person days in Sofia with online preparation and follow-up sessions — so that international-level training can happen without leaving the country.
For a richer classroom discussion.
Participants are selected through an individual review of their profile and application, with the aim of creating a diverse cohort that brings together extensive leadership experience from different sectors and areas of the economy.
Diversity of sectors and professional backgrounds within each cohort is intentional. Bringing together participants from different industries and organisations enriches the learning experience, encourages the exchange of diverse perspectives, and creates opportunities to build lasting professional relationships.
The programmes are also open to public-sector leaders. The challenges of building effective teams, navigating complex institutional environments, and leading through periods of change are just as relevant in government and public administration as they are in business.
The module brings together up to 30 participants, selected to ensure maximum diversity of experience and perspectives in the classroom.
The cohort brings together professionals from different sectors and with diverse backgrounds and experience.
Alumni Club of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
This programme is also supported by:
America for Bulgaria Foundation
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