Plovdiv Networking Dinner: Freelance vs. Employed
September 26 @ 19:00 – 23:00 EEST
In September, Women in Marketing – Bulgaria will host our very first in-person event in Plovdiv – a networking dinner at Smokini.
The dinner will take place on the 26th of September (Thu) from 19:00 to 23:00.
Speakers and Lectures
We are incredibly happy to also announce that there will be two speakers at the networking dinner – Мila Chervenkova and Roberta Tihomirova.
Roberta Tihomirova
Head of Marketing, Eleven Ventures
Roberta Tihomirova is a Marketing Manager at the venture capital fund Eleven Ventures, an ambassador for the organization supporting women entrepreneurs, Future Females Sofia, and a co-founder of the accelerator program DEA Accelerate.
Her passion (and work) is centered around telling the stories of successful entrepreneurs in the region, supporting more women in turning their ideas into reality through her experience, knowledge, and resources, and helping startups build their brand and communication strategy.
Her journey in the industry began as part of the team of the first student accelerator in the Balkans, Elevate AUBG, at the American University in Blagoevgrad, where she graduated with a double major in Business Administration and Journalism and Mass Communications.
Mila Chervenkova
SEO & Affiliate Marketer, The Slowpreneur
Mila (a.k.a. The Slowpreneur) is a Slowpreneur, SEO & Affiliate Marketer. She’s operating as a Solopreneur, building a sustainable media company—solo, slow & smooth. She’s also a Blogger/Content Writer, publishing tutorials, case studies, and other written guides and resources for her audience on site growth, slow entrepreneurship, and organic search.
She exited traditional employment in 2016, and never went back!
Mila has spent over 12 years in total building and growing websites, SaaS companies, and business relationships and has had some remarkable achievements as a Freelancer and an Entrepreneur, including:
- building online assets and websites, bringing her tens of thousands of $ each month
- co-founded an epic SaaS product
- consulted many great Bulgarian SaaS/content websites
The topic of the sessions is FREELANCE vs EMPLOYED – the two most popular career paths in marketing, explored through the lens of experience, with lessons learned, benefits and limitations of each.
20:00
20:30
The freedom of being employed
This session will explore the critical career choices we make and the importance of gaining experience before starting your own venture. We’ll discuss the value of testing and experimenting in your job to discover your true self, which can lay the foundation for building your own business in the future.
Session Structure:
- Brief Overview of Career Path: Sharing insights into the journey, the challenges faced in finding suitable roles that align with your personality and growth ambitions, and strategies for successful salary negotiation.
- Time Management Challenges and Lessons: Focusing on balancing work with other projects, the choice between freelancing and traditional employment, the dynamics of leading a team, and how being employed contributes to personal and professional development.
- Additional Lessons, Challenges, and Advice: Offering practical tips, resources, and reflections on what has been learned along the way.
- Reflections on Past Decisions: Discussing what would or wouldn’t be done the same way if given the chance to do it all over again.
The life of a freelancer and solo entrepreneur
In this session, I will briefly summarize my career journey and the reasons behind my decision to leave a “secure” corporate job. I’ll share the challenges and lessons learned from finding clients and setting up premium pricing for consulting projects. We’ll also delve into the insights gained from working remotely and the advantages of freelance work where I am both the client and the consultant. Additionally, I’ll touch on the importance of slowing down and focusing on one priority at a time.
Sponsors
We are currently looking for sponsors for this event – explore Corporate Sponsorship opportunities, and in particular, our offer for Networking Dinner Sponsorship.
Hosted in the heart of Plovdiv
Smokini, located in Plovdiv, will offer a unique ambiance with its blend of industrial and vintage design. Guests will enjoy dining in cozy indoor spaces during winter and a sunny courtyard or charming terrace in summer.
The menu will feature a rich mix of Bulgarian specialties and international dishes, using fresh, local ingredients. Smokini will highlight creativity with seasonal updates and innovative techniques. The restaurant will include vegetarian and vegan options and is known for its exceptional desserts.
By purchasing access to the networking dinner, you are also purchasing a three course meal, plus appetisers, and drinks.
English (UK) 
Български