AI Explained: Scaling and Gaining competitive advantage through AI

Zoran Arsovski

Managing Director & Chief Growth Officer, VertoDigital

Zoran and his team focus on Digital Marketing Consulting for B2B growth-stage companies supported by the leading technology VC funds.

Thorsten Koch

Partner Engineering Manager EMEA North, Google, Investor

Lili Kostadinova

Data and AI Consultant @ Cloud Office, Premier Google Partner

Lili Kostadinova is a Data and AI Specialist with a passion for navigating businesses to successful digital modernization that harmonizes seamlessly with their strategic objectives. Her journey in the technology world began with software development and evolved as she discovered the transformative power of Big Data and AI.

With a background in Legal Studies, Marketing and Communication, and Big Data Engineering and a keen appreciation for data-driven insights, she bridges the gap between technology and business strategy. Her ability to facilitate the intersection of AI with strategic objectives has made her a sought-after advisor for leaders, willing to modernize and digitalize their businesses.

Today, as an AI and Business Strategy Expert, Lili specializes in conducting workshops and crafting tailored solutions that help organizations benefit from the true potential of AI. She believes in creating a future where technology and business strategy go hand in hand. 

Elena Stanescu

Cloud Partner Engineer, Google

With over 10 years of experience in tech consulting and solution architecture, Elena is passionate about helping customers and partners adopt the latest cloud technologies to transform their businesses. Elena is committed to excellence and continuous learning, while eager to share her knowledge with peers and cloud enthusiasts, as part of various conferences or technology meetups.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two sons and husband, walking in nature or reading books.

Teodor Panayotov

Co-founder and CEO, @Coursedot

Co-founder and CEO @ Coursedot. Coursedot provides bespoke training solutions to businesses worldwide with a global pool of 4000+ Tech trainers. Customers include multinational corporations, intelligence and government agencies.

One of the very few Bulgarians who graduated Singularity University`s program @ NASA Ames, focusing on AI, exponential technologies and the transformation of business and society.

Currently focused on AI – leveraged Subject-Matter Experts in corporates which help in upskilling and consulting.

Chairman @ TUES Alumni Association, the best IT-focused high-school in Bulgaria, supported by Bosch, Software AG and others.

Passionate about education, breakthrough technologies (just got my first patent on emissions reduction in heavy industry).

Vladimir Petkov

Chief Data Officer at Updata One, CEO at Identrics

Vladimir's professional path has always been related to data and innovation. He has about six years of experience in digital media and business development, gained at Economedia, Bulgaria’s top news publisher. After that, he continued his journey at A Data Pro, a global company specialising in content, data and business intelligence services, as a Chief Technology Officer. Since 2016, Vladimir has been CEO at Identrics, and now he is also Chief Data Officer at the newly established business community of Updata One.

In addition to his extensive professional experience in the data and innovation industry, Vladimir Petkov is also deeply involved in the field of AI development and implementation. He is a strong advocate for the ethical standards that should be followed in the AI-driven world and believes in the importance of creating AI that is transparent, unbiased, and inclusive.

Besides his professional life, Vlado is a podcast producer and host and delivers lectures on online business and digital media-related topics at various universities. He is also one of the hosts of the FIBEP Media Intelligence Explained podcast.
 

Petar Petrov

Chief AI Officer, Eleven

Petar is a forward-thinking professional with a keen understanding of AI's future applications and their impact on our lifestyles and workplaces. With a background in Finance, Investment, and Neuropsychology from City University of New York, he developed a strong interest in artificial intelligence and has since become an expert in the field. As the owner of a digital studio and a dedicated entrepreneur, Petar is known for staying ahead of emerging business trends. Currently, Petar is authoring a book on AI's impact on industries and is enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge to assist businesses in their transition to the new AI-driven era.

Erik Ternav

Technology Engineer, IBM

Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Erik Ternav has been at the forefront of IBM's AI endeavors for the past several years. Initiating his journey with conversational AI, Erik swiftly ventured into the rapidly evolving domain of Generative AI. Within IBM's Client Engineering team, Erik takes on the responsibility of leading and collaboratively engaging in the design and execution of tailor-made pilot AI projects for clients. His depth of knowledge encompasses Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models (LLMs), Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), AI Governance, and virtual AI agents and chatbots. Dedicated to practical innovation, Erik consistently assists businesses in seamlessly integrating Generative AI into their operational strategies, further propelling them forward on their digital journey and enhancing their adaptability in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Simeon Lazarov

Business Leader, Data & AI, IBM Technology Sales

Throughout his experience over the last ten years, Simeon has collaborated with organizations in various industries, helping them create more value for their customers and improve their efficiency with digital technologies. He is currently part of IBM's sales team, and previously leading digital transformation projects for organizations in Central and Eastern Europe as part of another global software vendor' regional team. He has a BSs and MSc degree in Business Administration from Sofia University (Bulgaria), MBA from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) and currently is a PhD Candidate in Business Administration in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University, where he studies the digital transformation of organizations in Bulgaria and Europe .

He is an active mentor and consultant in the field of sales, entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development. His interests and knowledge in the field of new digital technologies, data and artificial intelligence find applications in his professional and personal daily life, in which he shares his experience with organizations and other professionals.