Creator of a unicorn: Konstantin Dzhengozov, for whom vision and persistence are foremost

Mr. Dzhengozov, imagine that Elon Musk has realized his big breakthrough for humankind, and you can go on a year-long trip to Mars. Which three celebrities (living or dead) would you like to go with?

Neil Armstrong - after all, he has experience with extraterrestrial travel. Mahatma Gandhi because it is good to have a calm person on board. And finally, Nikola Tesla, let's see what he would have to say to Musk about the latter’s car company’s name.

You are entitled to spend one working day with a company executive (living or dead). Who would you choose and why?

I'd choose to spend a day with Jeff Bezos (even though he's no longer CEO). His experience in growing Amazon into a global giant is extremely inspiring and I would love to learn more about his strategies and approaches to business.

If I had to choose a CEO who is currently in this position, I would choose Microsoft's Satya Nadella. The transformation he's been able to make in a titanic company like Microsoft is very inspiring and I think Satya is one of the most successful CEOs out there right now. 

Imagine you are shipwrecked on a lonely island with all your basic human needs (food, water, shelter) met. What two things would you like to have with you and why?

The first will be a laptop, the second will be a router with unlimited Internet access. Does this count as cheating?

If you could give just one book as a gift for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari. This book provides a deep insight into human history and helps us understand where we are and where we are going.

You are a time traveler. You have the option of moving forward into the future or going back into the past. Where would you go and why?

I would choose to travel forward into the future, perhaps about 50 years into the future, to see how technology and society have evolved and what new opportunities and challenges have appeared. Enough years for major technological developments to have occurred, yet not too many so they can still be relevant to our time. 

You have the chance to get a superpower (any skill you can think of), but only for a day. What power would you pick and why?

I would choose the ability to read minds. This will give me an unlimited amount of information, and as we know, information and data are key. 

Can you identify the biggest threat or challenge for your company in the next five years?

Payhawk's biggest challenge over the next five years will likely be to preserve our business culture as we continue to grow exponentially. I think we have the necessary experience, confidence and people to achieve it.

In which area Bulgaria has the greatest potential to become a leader in Europe?

Bulgaria has enormous potential in the field of information technology and software development. Our talents and innovations can put us in a leading position in Europe.

AI is a hot topic these days, but what is the most neglected issue about it?

In my opinion, it’s the ethical use of AI. How do we ensure that AI is used in a way that is fair? Although it is talked about, there is actually not much action in this direction.

What work task of yours would you never want to outsource to a robot?

I would never want to hand over to a robot the task of making strategic decisions that require human intuition and emotional intelligence.

Which is more important: talent or hard work?

Hard work. Talent can give you an initial boost, but hard work and discipline are the drivers to success.

Which is more important: education or experience?

Both are important, but if I had to choose, I'd say experience. Hands-on experience teaches you things that cannot be taught in the classroom. In theory, things always seem smooth and somewhat easier. In practice, however, there are many difficulties and obstacles that you cannot overcome without having the necessary experience and self-confidence. 

What are the three things without which success is impossible?

Vision, tenacity and adaptability.

What fascinates you nowadays?

I am fascinated by the rapid development of technology and the way it is changing our lives and businesses.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

"Never stop learning and growing."

What is the hardest lesson you’ve learned?

The hardest lesson I’ve learned is that not everything can be controlled and sometimes we have to embrace uncertainty.

What’s the biggest challenge you've overcome?

On a personal level - being a parent. My work involves a lot of travel and long days in the office. I try to keep my time at home free of work commitments and pay less attention to the phone and email.

In terms of work - the path we took from being a small startup to becoming the first Bulgarian unicorn and, in general, a successful company in a competitive market.

When was the last time you said to yourself: “This was my best day at work”? What was the occasion?

The last time I said this to myself was when Payhawk became the first Bulgarian unicorn company. It was an amazing moment for me and the whole team.

What is your biggest passion – something you are ALL IN?

Apart from Payhawk, it's my family. 

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov