“It is an incredible day for me and my family,” Dr. Georgieva said at the beginning of her speech. “My daughter, who is also a graduate of AUBG, is here — with a possible future graduate of AUBG, my granddaughter, and another graduate who is my granddaughter’s godmother.”
During her address, Dr. Georgieva spoke about the lessons we can learn from the COVID-19 crisis, the fight against climate change, and the importance of investing in people. “Human capital is what makes a difference for this future,” she said. “70% of the wealth of this planet is us — it is people. And yet, so often we pay more attention to the roads and the bridges and buildings, and not to what makes us strong — us.”
Dr. Georgieva received the honorary degree from AUBG President Dr. David Evans and Deputy Chair of the AUBG Board Ms. Victoria Entwistle in recognition of her essential humanitarian work, lasting contribution to the cause of education, and her active work in the field of international cooperation.
“The awarding of an honorary degree is a rare and special event in the life of any university,” Dr. Evans said. “At AUBG, it does not happen every year. Undoubtedly, Dr. Georgieva is a leader who has over her career upheld the highest values, values that we as well cherish here at AUBG. She has served her country and the world through her remarkable achievements in the fields of humanitarian aid, ethical leadership, gender equality, green recovery – to name just a few.”
The U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria H.E. Herro Mustafa, Ms. Nancy Schiller, President and CEO of the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Executive Director at America for Bulgaria Foundation Ms. Desislava Taliokova, the mayor of Blagoevgrad Municipality Ilko Stoyanov, the regional governor Nikolay Shushkov and the chairman of the Municipal Council Radoslav Taskov were also present at the event.
Kristalina Georgieva is considered one of the most important world leaders. This year, she was included in Barron’s magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential women in U.S. finance. In 2020, she was selected among the 100 most influential people in the world in the traditional ranking of Time magazine.
