Here at A Data Pro, we make sense of information. There are many pillars that support our success as a company, such as a strong technology stack and various automation technologies and processes that we continuously implement and update. However, we believe that the fundamentals of our company are our people.

Our people are our strongest asset. We consider ourselves incredibly lucky to be working together with so many diverse individuals who bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the table. In our company, many different interests, passions, and life lessons are shared daily and every one of us learns something new from our colleagues every day.

In a series of blog posts, we will introduce you to some of the people who are at the heart of our company. They have “jumped” through different positions in A Data Pro, and every one of them has quite the story to share.

Meet Desislava Petrova

Today you can get to know more about our Training and Development manager – Desislava Petrova.   Desislava is one of the brightest people in A Data Pro. She has a sharp brain and is always ready to give a hand to anyone who needs her. She is part of the company for over 14 now and here you can check out what she has shared with us about her and her journey in A Data Pro.    

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Desislava Petrova and I am Training and Development Manager at A Data Pro. I am 37 years old, born and raised in Sofia, a mother of two. I have a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Sofia University, although that did not turn out to be my professional path. I speak English, Spanish and Italian. I am a rhythmic gymnastics fan, history aficionado, and I am trying to learn to play the piano, which appears to be a great brain-moving exercise.

What is your A Data Pro Story?

I have worked at A Data Pro for over 14 years and nothing has stayed the same during all that time. I started off as a News Desk Journalist with Italian when I was still a University student and I instantly fell in love with the company and the job. I was surrounded by the most amazing colleagues and driven by the most supportive boss. That was an indispensable factor for my success since I had to learn tons of new stuff every day. And here, learning never stops. That’s the second reason I still find my job interesting, challenging, and motivating. 

Over the years I was promoted to Senior Editor, Training Specialist, Training Unit Supervisor, and as of today, I am Training and Development Manager at A Data Pro. I continue to lead the Training Unit, which is responsible for all in-house training and upskilling, and I am also in charge of general training and development processes throughout the company.

What are you most proud of when it comes to your work in A Data Pro?

I consider the Training Unit my greatest achievement and my third child, so to speak. The Training Unit at A Data Pro started with me, as a single Training Specialist, and grew around me into a hub of excellence and skill. My team has contributed to the success of so many people and projects and we won the 2018 Bronze Stevie Award for the HR team of the year. And all that time, one might say the greatest battle I fought was with my own self – to keep changing, to dive into new territories, to try new roles, responsibilities, and to grow. As much as we idolise growth nowadays in all of its aspects, it never comes easily and effortlessly.

What would you advise your younger self?

“If I could go back in time and have a chat with my own self, I would tell myself to not be afraid! I would advise myself to trust my instincts and potential and not to fear failure. Mistakes are inevitable and they are not the end, yet a milestone on the way ahead.”

 

The A Data Pro Training Unit

One of A Data Pro’s key strengths as an employer is the investment we make in training our people – when they join us and throughout their career with us. This, we believe, is crucial for staying at the forefront of  the fast-paced business intelligence industry that A Data Pro operates in, and, more generally, of the dynamic world we live in. 

By investing in training, we can prepare our employees for any challenges that might come our way, and make sure we quickly adapt to the changing needs of our clients and field of work. By doing so, we are future-proofing our business and employees. 

Our Training Unit – a team within the HR Department – is tasked with achieving this for our global business and over 500 staff.

Interested in reading more about the work of some of our employees? Check out the stories of our Chinese, Korean and Japanese analysts.

Want to join A Data Pro? Check out our open positions on our career page.