Respect the money. do not despise or worship it. Use it to make others happy and for pleasure.

23.10.2013

Manuela is born in Varna, but only born there. She spent her entire life in Sofia. the sea capitol however has left its print on the businesswoman's character: Manuela is a sea of emotion, charm and energy. She graduated 35th Russian language high school in Sofia, and after that her education and qualifications are many: engineer with technical higher education, and the other is economical, major Marketing and management. She knows Russian and English. Her latest leader positions are trade director of the National hippodrome in Bankya and since three years chairman of the board of directors of hotel "Rila" In Sofia. Her daughter is a third year student in Oxford. She is with adventurous nature, for who sports like golf, riding and skiing are just a pleasure. The challenge for this charming brunette is the field of work, where she proves herself every day. She is Manuela Draganova.  

-  You ride great! Are you a rider or a horse person?

-  When I set foot on the hippodrome I was neither. I became a horse person by conviction and by soul. I started living with the rhythm of the hippodrome. Only open-minded people can use the notion horse person without being embarrassed.   

- How many years did you manage the National hippodrome in Bankya? 

- From 2004 to 2013 and since 2011 I also had both the position and the job of chairman of the board of directors of hotel "Rila".

-  Was your encounter with horses a crash? 

- Frontal. In 2004 I accidentally ended up on the national hippodrome with the task to run this entire faciity of 535 dka. I found myself in a male collective, which wasn't used to being managed by a woman, in a society of horse people, and I didn't know anything about horses. Coaches, competitors, groomers, veterinarians, customers, renters, competitions. The first few days I walked around with a notebook and wrote down everything. Literature about horses became my regular read. And the skill to ride appeared by itself. Besides what hippodrome "boss" would I be if I managed it from the ground, and not from horseback. 

- Everybody connected to hippodrome disciplines remembers the time when this facility worked with its full capacity...

- Oh, this was my best time. The plan was clear: organising horse races and different events, which the hippodrome could host with terrain and material base, and the top of the heap - Todorovden. The peak of my emotional life on the hippodrome were the national horse races which me and my team organised a few years in a row and which becme more and more popular each year. In the last year of my management besides the horse races we issued a brochure with program, rules, presentation of the jockeys, exerpts from iternational press, the announcer's comments. Just like it is done in England, or in Dubai. At the same time we produced a TV programme about horse races in Bulgaria. The circle was almost complete: terrain, base, competitors, advertising, sponsors, media.  

- Which years are we talking about?

- The strongest year was 2007, when the races were grand, horses came from all over the country. The platform of this success we built through stability and security we offered the horse owners. Because the investments in hippodrome horse breeds aren't small. Through a high enough prize fund a quality "horse material" is guaranteed - expensive race horses, sports intrigue through competition and audience. These things lead to a highly positioned event and a good advertising budget, which naturally came from image advertisers. Personally for me it was important that the jockeys and the drivers, which don't even make it to the rankings to be morally satisfied. Because behind these 2 minutes of running there are money invested in horses, efforts, work, staff, training, care and everyone has to find their reason to participate. 

The show which we produced was then shown on many televisions, one of them TV7. 8 shows for 8 racing days of the corresponding season through the year when all of them were held on the hippodrome in Bankya. We worked with great enthusiasm, with many cameras, hosts, reports, interviews with jockeys and judges, we did everything in order to have all points of view. It was the middle of the season, when I was called in the TV: "What are you doing on the hippodrome? Your rating is higher than that of the news?" This of course was on the expense of my personal spare time and thanks to my professional team. 

- What happened after that?

- Upon decision of the Horse racing association the competition season and the races were moved to the "Stefan Karadja" hippodrome near Balchik!

- How did your career develop after that?

- At that time with all its negatives the economical crisis struck, which had an impact on every sector in our economy. I am one of the people who don't sit and wait. I get ideas, initiate, create. I got realisation on other places and in other branches. So at the moment I work at hotel "Rila"as a chairman of the board of directors and of course I participate in all the activities.

- Did riding and the expirience on the hippodrome help you in the transition from one job to another? 

- It helped me. To be a good manager means to have basic knowledge of management, to know the basics of business as a situation in the state you work in. Because the laws are different, the thinking of the people is different. To have a sense for people is the skill to form a working, energetical, productive team. As for riding, it always helps. With that you fully relax. First, because you have a very close contact with the animal, and second, because it's dynamic and you are among nature. My three favorite sports are practiced among nature - skiing, golf and riding.

- Who is Manuela outside the working day? Are you always in a strict suit?

- In jeans, like a girl. You will often see me in the corresponding outfit, while i practice sports. Manuela, no matter how she's dressed is herself, the contents is the same. What I care about a lot is my personal dignity. Clothes are just a decoration. 

- What people do you love? 

- With dignity. This value is missing these days. At the same time I make an effort to keep the dignity of the people around me. I want to live in a state that keeps people's dignity.

- Don't you live in a state with such institutions?

- No.

- How do you deal with it? Or you resign to it?

- The exact word is conform. 

- Are you tempted to go abroad?

- No, but I sent my daughter there.

- What would you advise her - to come back or stay there?

- Do what she feels happy.

- Do you feel realised?

- Yes, I feel good in my skin, I achieved many things. 

- By yourself?

- With the help of friends, the love of my family, the support of my close people, who care about me, but most with my faith. And I have faith in myself.

- What is your philosophy?

- Life is what you make it. I am a perfectionist. I care bout the clean relationships, I put my heart and soul in every element and idea. I have a small circle of people and everyone gets attention. Attention is a very kind and valuable attitude, which I think very few people can give others.

- How do you "recharge", how do you relax? 

-  With sports, but contact with my daughter is the most inspiring thing. She is a lovely girl. I can recover for minutes and even feel strong when I'm with my child, my parents and the man I love. Love is a wonderful reason for communication, isn't it? Besides it is a huge source of happiness. It is also unexhaustible. But we must learn how to prevent it from being polluted.

- What are you reading at the moment?

- A lovely book, which I recommend to you. The title is "Atlas shrugged his shoulders". The author is Ayn Rand. I like her way of thinking. She is a philosopher, founder of objectivism. I like the idea that the only moral purpose of man is chasing his own happiness and his own rational interest. Only after satisfying his own needs he can be useful to society to the maximum. If there is charity, it must be sincere. Self-sacrifice is not a virtue. It means to give up your own interest, your own self. When your life is full, then you have something to give.

- Are you self-sacrificing or charitable?

- Self-sacrificing only when I see there is a point and a clear purpose. If someone just comes to want, without making an effort, I won't respond.

- Would you invest in horse sport again?

- Yes, I would invest again. Finances, trust, time.

- What do you think about today's politicians?

- I think they have a lot to learn. They lack dignity.

- Would you accept an invitation for a place in politics? 

- I had the chance, but I didn't accept, because I am not for sale.

- What positive thing would you say to today's generation?

- Respect the money. Don't despise and don't worship it. Use it for pleasure and make the others happy.