Sofia mayor Vassil Terziev, who is a graduate of the AUBG Class of 2001, met with members of the university community on Jan. 16. The event, organized by the AUBG Alumni Association (AAA), was moderated by Professor Robert Phillips, who teaches politics at AUBG.
AUBG was founded about three decades ago with the hope that “we would be educating the democratic ethical leaders of newly democratic Bulgaria,” AUBG President Margee Ensign said at the start of the discussion. “And tonight I think you will all agree with me that this hope has been realized.”
Terziev was elected mayor of Sofia on Nov. 6, 2023, following a remarkable career as an entrepreneur and angel investor, and years of philanthropy work.
“It is a real pleasure to be with so many friends, fellow alums, and representatives of the institution all of us love,” he said in an address to the audience. “My hope is that many of you will strive to join the ranks of civil service because we need a lot of hands, we need people with solid backs, and we need a lot of support to really drive those changes.”
Teziev co-founded software company Telerik, which was then sold to U.S. giant Progress in 2013 in a deal that remains Bulgaria’s largest IT company exit to date. The alumnus then went on to co-establish the educational platform Telerik Academy and the tech incubator Campus X, as well as support and mentor hundreds of startups. He also served as a member of the AUBG Board of Trustees between 2017 and 2020.
The discussion was open to questions from the audience. Nikol Peeva, a graduate of the Class of 2022, grew up in the United States but decided to come back to Bulgaria to continue her studies at AUBG. “This was one of the best decisions of my life,” she said, explaining that upon graduation she co-founded a startup in the country. “I got to where I am today because of the university and all the opportunities that came alongside it.”
Peeva asked Terziev for his advice to other young people who choose to stay in Bulgaria.
“If you look at data you see a lot of young people coming back,” he said, adding that they often join innovative sectors in international markets, helping build a new mindset in Bulgaria.
“Go to schools, talk about your story, show those kids that there are different role models, that you can succeed,” he said. “You can travel around the world and come back and do something meaningful.”
