Mihaela Savova is an entrepreneur, artist and founder of the Leader Talks project– a platform for leaders that gives reasons and creates opportunities for young and talented Bulgarians to live and work in Bulgaria. Her recient artwork became a part of cultural and art programme of the Bulgarian Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai.
Artist, entrepreneur, leader from Forbes list… Mihaela, why don’t you introduce yourself?
I am a dreamer and creator. A passionate chaser of my dreams. This is what sometimes ends up being recognized and presented with different awards. The topics that make my heart beat are related with every form art can have and with the future of our world – leadership, technology and education. Those questions find me in preparation for my visit to Dubai Expo as an Official participant, showcasing my art within the Bulgarian Pavilion.
Your platform Leader Talks is very popular. Tell us more about it.
Leader Talks is a platform, which connects the future leaders of Bulgaria with the current established ones. Before the COVID situation this was happening via our monthly events – the one and only live show, which enables our community to ask their questions to generations of leaders. Leader Talks is now in the ecosystem for 8 years and the average attendance is 350-400 people per event. Here we are today, in the middle of the corona crisis, where we pivot, adapt and created the way to continue bringing value to our community – via the video series QUEST10NS – 10 leaders, 10 questions, 30 seconds for an answer. In 10 videos, 10 of the most renowned leaders are answering the 10 questions, which our community voted as the most important to be asked. The videos are available in all social media channels – follow us if your curiosity.
Tell us what in your opinion modern Bulgaria looks like?
In my opinion, Bulgaria right now is in the beginning of its modern Rennaissance or Rebirth. Firstly, the political situation took a major shift after the last elections – two US-educated entrepreneurs have taken Bulgaria by storm on a platform of zero corruption. Secondly, due to many factors, there is an inflow of younger people who were abroad for their education or work and currently have decided to come back to Bulgaria with their knowledge and experience. So guess what future lies ahead of us with an abundance of educated and multilingual prospective employees. Thirdly, Bulgaria is a leading destination for IT in Europe. Also referred to as the “Silicon Valley” of Eastern Europe, the Bulgarian IT sector has been one of the driving forces behind the country’s steady growth over the past few years. All in all, if you are looking for investment opportunities, try looking in Bulgaria.
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What do you think about Bulgarian participation at Expo 2020 Dubai?
Our participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai is allowing Bulgaria to be part of the global dialogue in finding the solutions to the fundamental challenges facing humanity. And in my opinion, we can have our own unique contribution to this dialogue. The Bulgarian participation in the Expo is really providing us – both as a nation and as an economy, an international stage to engage in cultural diplomacy and interact with the host country, other participants, potential tourists, trade partners and investors.
What new things can Bulgaria introduce to the world at Expo 2020?
Bulgaria is a thriving hub for innovation and new technology solutions in Eastern Europe. What we can bring are those new revolutionary products and services – from AI, to fintech and IoT, some Bulgarian startups have the potential to be the next unicorns and those are the companies we should be talking about in the Bulgarian Pavilion.
You create under the MIKA SAV nickname. How do you find balance between art and creative life and business?
Currently, art and business are the two elements in my world, complementing each other. You can often find me in my studio, located between the tripod and the laptop – or between drawing and working on my other projects. I accept both as the canvases on which I paint – with different brushes and paints, but both create a new reality in which the world is a more beautiful and a better place to live in. Or at least – this is what they say. Judging by my experience so far, as abstract as it may sound, I think business is art and art is business. Because in order to be good in business you need to have a sense of the market, to be creative and combinatorial, to be able to imagine – very colorful with the power of your imagination, what the world would look like after your product / service is realized.
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At the same time, to be good at art, you need to be able to sell, negotiate, stick to your quality standards and, most importantly, stay true to yourself and keep doing things the way you see them, despite the changes. In this sense, in my world, business and art coexist. And on which parallel and median they meet exactly – in fact, now I’m thinking about this for the first time, but it doesn’t seem to matter much. East or west, north or south – I think it’s the same. Wherever a person has taken, as long as he/she is aware that every journey is a journey inside himself/herself – then the direction is the same.
What is your art about?
The main focus of my art is the woman, the femininity and everything that comes with it. Because I think that the world needs more feminine energy – that all-embracing and creative force, which does not push, but leads, which does not fight, but includes, which does not conquer, but softens. Among other things that the magic of the female energy brings, is understanding. Pure human acceptance of our differences. Especially given the covid crisis and the growing social gap and class differences between people, which created preconditions for tensions, clashes and unrest, I think it is more important than ever to give way to women’s leadership and its coping mechanisms. Through my paintings I want to bring more intuition, more cordiality, insight and passion to each space. And with my latest collection I present women as goddesses – cosmogonic and majestic.
What are your core values and deliveries that you bring to your art?
The success and strength of every woman is the inspiration for my art. And it doesn’t matter if this success is a new world title or the simple fact that she got out of bed today, despite everything that happens in her life right now. Scope and scale don’t matter – sometimes our daily, very ordinary actions are inspiring when they are filled with love. Everyone could smell freshly baked bread, right? I am inspired by women who sing and raise the voice of their souls, who are not afraid to express their strength and express their true needs, who breathe life into something that is fading or in need of revival, who are insightful and connected with nature. who have realized that all the resources they need are in themselves. These are the values I want to bring with my art – the values with which you see the good heart behind the bad deed and the good soul crushed out of hatred. And when our light is dim, I believe that we should mutually reinforce it and adjust the crowns on our heads. Sometimes this happens when you look at a painting.
How has art been transformed in the digital world?
The world is slowing its tempo, bringing back many of the physical boundaries we have happily forgotten. In contrast, the virtual world is growing at such a pace that some analysts are discussing a technological ‘reset of everything’ which will bring new levels of innovation and efficiency and will lead to a technological transformation for society. In the light of those current realities and predictions, art and the way we consume art is also transforming into a more fast, efficient and screen-oriented way. Artists that are riding this current are emiting NFTs, joining online 3D galleries and organizing global e-auctions for their art.
