We are kicking off 2022 with another blog post of our Jump Up Stories where we bring under the spotlight some of the heroes behind A Data Pro.
Today we want you to meet our Account Manager Philip Manev.
Meet Philip
Philip has been operating in the people-centered galaxy of A Data Pro for 9 years. The force is strong with him because he is a manager with capital “M” who knows how to create a positive work culture and boost productivity. Let’s say it this way… Philip’s milestones on the road to the next great innovation are an inspiration to us all!
Please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hey there, I am Philip. I live in Sofia, Bulgaria, with my beautiful wife Dilyana and our 4-year-old man – Mateo. I hold a master’s degree in International Multimedia Journalism from Sofia University, but as you will read below, my professional path has taken me in another direction. Spending time with my family is what I love the most. It doesn’t matter if we’re at home, eating pizza and watching a movie or traveling to the other side of the world – if they are with mе, I am at my best. I love photography, I love cars, good music, I am a car detailing enthusiast and since it’s winter now, I can’t help but share that I also love skiing.
What is your ADP Story?
I’ve been with the company for eight years and a lot has changed in that time. My story started with a job interview that deserves a story of its own (I will never forget it). After that interview, I received a call from the HR Team and a job offer for a junior position, which I accepted. Soon after that the position changed, then came the next one, and the next one, and lots of training, courses, etc… In the last few years, I have held various managerial positions. Something important for me to mention is that I have always worked with good managers here. With some of them, we managed to become good friends as well. I believe that to a large extent, I am what I am today thanks to what I learned from them.
What are you most proud of when it comes to your work in ADP?
I am currently responsible for the management of a large team and several clients/projects in our portfolio. You know, I can talk for days about the measurable results – achievements, success stories, working for Fortune 500 companies (even Fortune Top 10 ones), and of course, I am more than happy for each success, big or small. However, what makes me really happy and proud are the people I have the chance to work with. I want to think of myself not as a person who holds some sort of a management position, but rather as a person who has the opportunity to help other people in the organization. As a manager, I always try to give people freedom – freedom of choice, freedom to make decisions, good or bad. We celebrate the good ones and learn from the bad ones, it’s a never-ending process. I have this favourite quote from Philip Knight, the co-founder of Nike, Inc. “Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results…”. Seeing people develop, learn, grow, demonstrate creativity, suggest innovative ideas, and know that I am part of this whole process is the thing that makes me happy at the end of the day.
What would you advise your younger self?
The lottery numbers for May 2001 are… Seriously, I would tell my younger self: “Don’t worry, you will do just fine!”
We live in a dynamic world. How do you expect the industry you work in to change over the next 12 months? (ex. interesting tendencies, trends, latest developments, etc.)
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. This is the reality in our business today. The data industry is constantly evolving, and the ecosystem around it is changing daily – it’s an explosion of information out there. You could blame this on the rise of smartphones, connected appliances, connected vehicles, almost everything we touch generates data. The industry will continue that course. There’s no doubt that data will be the key ingredient for business transformation in the future. Once generated, it powers deeper business insights and helps companies make better decisions. Moreover, real-time decisions, which are essential in the dynamic times we live in. Long story short – in the next 12 months and long after that, accurate data-driven insights will allow businesses to respond to any challenge and adjust to change as quickly as possible.
Which fictional character do you feel you’re most like? What traits do you share with them?
I can’t tell that I feel like any fictional character, but I can share that I like the Marvel Universe and my favourite superhero there is Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. Not sure whether we share any traits or not, but Iron Man is a complex character, he has his pros and cons. He’s creative, he’s confident, demonstrates commitment, always looks into the future and not the past. He’s also a bright mind, when a problem arises, he’s the first one in the room you will turn to for support. At the same time, he’s arrogant and selfish. As I said – a complex character, like all of us in real life maybe. One way or another, at the end of the day, the good character traits have to prevail over the bad ones. If we manage to do that, everything’s okay. That’s the moral of the story.
