Success Stories

Authentic Leadership Starts Within

In every woman’s journey, there comes a moment when the question shifts from What should I do? to Who do I choose to be? It’s in that shift — from doing to being — that authentic leadership begins. In this conversation, we hear from Bilyana Savova - a visionary who has turned personal challenges into a source of strength, guiding others to lead with self-awareness, compassion, and courage. Through her work with “Plan to Be” and the MS – Moga Sam Foundation, she invites women to embrace wholeness, make conscious choices, and lead from the truth of who they are. Her story is both a reminder and a challenge: the most powerful leadership starts from within.

 

Please, briefly introduce yourself. 

I can introduce myself in two ways. One is through my business card: creator of awareness programs, visionary behind the "Plan to Be" initiative, motivational speaker, visual artist, volunteer, and founder of the MS – Moga Sam Foundation ("I Can Do It Myself").
But beyond these roles, I see myself simply as a person who feels content and grounded in who I am today.

Your lecture in Upskill Women in Leadership is titled “I Choose to Be.” What does that phrase mean to you — both personally and as a leader?

To “choose to be” means putting being before doing and having.
Being is about awareness — being alive and connected to yourself. From there comes action (doing), and through action, we achieve and receive what we truly need (having). In my experience, when I am aligned with who I am, everything else flows with greater clarity and purpose.

 

You’ve turned a deeply personal health journey into a source of strength and inspiration for many. How did that transformation shape your leadership path?

The key word is transformation, not just change. Looking back, I see that my path unfolded naturally, shaped by a deep, childhood dream — to become a doctor. Today, I see that I've fulfilled the essence of that dream: helping others find their inner strength, face challenges, and see possibilities. Being a doctor isn’t always about a diploma. True healing comes from humanity and presence. A title alone doesn’t make a person helpful — compassion does.
This transformation shifted my leadership from being role-based to being human-centered. I no longer lead through authority, but through authenticity. My experiences taught me that true leadership is about service — guiding others not with answers, but by helping them access their own. It gave me the clarity and courage to create spaces where people can grow, reflect, and lead from within.

 

In your work with “Plan to Be” and “I AM ME,” you help people reconnect with themselves. How does self-awareness and inner clarity empower women to lead more authentically?

You can’t lead others without first understanding yourself.
Self-awareness allows women to lead not through roles or expectations, but from a place of authenticity and strength. When you are clear within, you don’t need to wear masks — you lead from your whole self. That kind of leadership is not only more sustainable, it’s also more inspiring to others.
For women especially, this clarity helps untangle the pressures of needing to “fit in,” “lean in,” or constantly juggle multiple roles. Inner clarity makes it easier to say yes to what aligns and no to what drains. It gives women permission to lead from their values — not from fear or comparison — and to redefine success on their own terms.
Authentic leadership doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being present, honest, and whole — and that begins by reconnecting with who you are beneath expectations.

 

What role does choice play in leadership — especially for women navigating expectations, pressure, or self-doubt?

Choice is at the heart of authentic leadership. But true choice only exists when there is awareness. Without it, we only follow what’s expected of us. For women, the pressure to constantly perform, prove, or conform can be overwhelming. In those moments, the most powerful act is to pause and consciously choose: Who do I want to be right now? What matters to me? What’s true for me — not just what’s expected of me?
Women carry a natural capacity for empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence — qualities that, when consciously chosen and embraced, can shape a new kind of leadership. But too often, in trying to succeed, many feel compelled to adopt more traditionally masculine traits. That might work short-term, but it often leads to imbalance or burnout. Choosing to lead in a way that reflects both your strength and your essence is not always easy — but it is powerful. It’s a daily act of reclaiming your voice, your rhythm, and your values. And from that place, leadership becomes not just effective, but meaningful.

What do you hope the participants in the Women in Leadership program will achieve? 

The very decision to join this program shows commitment to growth. My wish is that they pursue development without losing themselves in the process. We don’t need to choose between success and balance — they can coexist. Also, I don’t believe in separating “personal” and “professional” life. We are one whole person. Trying to split ourselves creates confusion and tension. Wholeness, supported by conscious living, is what truly sustains leadership.

Finally, how do you personally continue choosing “to be” every day — and what keeps you grounded as a leader and guide for others?

Honestly, I don’t feel fully comfortable with labels like “leader” or “guide.” The difference between me and others is that I’ve chosen to share. And with that comes responsibility.
I live by a few simple but important principles: never say anything untrue, never speak about something I haven’t personally experienced, and never take myself too seriously.
What keeps me grounded is living what I speak. Everything I share is part of my life — and that life is finally truly mine, because I live it with awareness.


Authentic leadership is not about titles, roles, or expectations — it’s about living in alignment with who you are and choosing, every day, to lead from that place. Telerik Academy’s Upskill Women in Leadership program is more than an opportunity to advance your career; it’s a space to reconnect with yourself, clarify your values, and step into your leadership with confidence and authenticity.
If you’re ready to stop simply “doing” leadership and start truly being a leader — in your own way, on your own terms — now is the time. Apply for the Upskill Women in Leadership program and choose to lead from the inside out.

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