Meet the team: Maria Stefanova, Sales Support & Field Activation Lead Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia

Tell us about your career journey so far.

For the last 15 years I worked in an international FMCG company which operates in 29 countries covering Europe and Africa. There I gained invaluable experience in sales, customer service and sales support. I have been part of Avon Bulgaria team for the last 4 months. This gives me the opportunity to look at the knowledge and skills I have from a different perspective and the challenge of being successful in a completely different business.

What do you do at Avon?

My job at Avon is very different from what I've done before, but that's what attracted me.

As a Sales Support & Field Activation Lead BAM, my responsibilities are in three main areas: Field activation, Digital recruitment and adoption, and Reports and analysis. There are many challenges, but it makes each day different from the others, filled with a lot of dynamics and a flow of knowledge that is invaluable.

What are you most proud of when it comes to your work at Avon?

At this point I can say that I am proud of my team who are exceptional professionals and at the same time are wonderful people. I also feel proud to work for a company that is committed to building a better world for women and really contributes to women’s causes, regardless of economic and geo-political events worldwide.

Share something that most people probably don’t know about the company.

Many people may not know that when the company was established in 1886, its founder David McConnell sold books to which he added hand-made samples of women's fragrances as a gift to each book purchased. This is how the company was founded, enabling women to be independent by earning extra income.

It is this concept that continues to be at the core of business today, which makes it extremely different from all other companies, both in terms of strategy and processes and as an environment in which, regardless of differences, everyone is equal to the other and has complete freedom of ideas, creativity, mutual respect and support.

What makes your team successful?

I am working with energetic and creative ladies who, despite the challenging environment in which we currently work, are extremely adaptable, positive and smiling.

Some of them are experienced in the business and the others are new members of the team, but mutual respect and sharing of experience creates an environment and a sense of oneness, so we all learn together and succeed.

What is the most important career lesson you have learnt?

There are many lessons I have learned and continue to learn - this is part of the personal development. The most important thing I realized is that no one succeeds alone. Each of our successes has become possible thanks to the people we have met along the way and who have shared with us knowledge, skills, experience, advices, who have supported us and believed in us and who have given us the charge to continue, even if it was hard. I am thankful to all the people I have met along the way and who I continue to meet today at Avon.

What would you advise young people looking for a career?

We now live in a very different world, which offers many opportunities, but also one that takes away from us as individuals.

I would advise young people to be curious, to be brave, to use every opportunity given to them, but also to be themselves and to preserve those values ​​that make us real people.