Honorable Rector, Mr. Prime Minister,
Colleagues from the Board of Trustees and the Academic Council,

Dear students,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish you that in ten years’ time you will be the ones leading our beautiful Bulgaria – and that you will do it wisely, innovatively, with the vision of governing a modern, fast-developing European country, making it even better and more successful.

This is the very first wish I can extend to you today, on your very first academic day!

I sincerely hope, and truly believe, that this will come true. A whole day would not be enough to list all the prime ministers, ministers, members of parliament, and especially the successful entrepreneurs that our University has given to Bulgaria. I am confident you will all add your names to that list.

We live in a wonderful time. We may often feel dissatisfied, complain, and criticize, but even that I see as something positive – it means we want a better Bulgaria. And it will be your honor and responsibility, dear friends, to make it so.

I will refrain from giving you advice today – you lack experience, but you certainly have more knowledge than those of us standing here at this podium.

Still, allow me to share one rule I have always followed in business – the rule of the three S’s: Speed, Simplicity, Self-Confidence. With every passing year, I am convinced that it is more relevant than ever.

Take decisions quickly – even the wrong decision is better than no decision at all. Do not hesitate, do not delay, act fast. That is the first S – Speed.

In this world of millions of information sources and countless daily tasks, learn to filter out the most important things, focus on your priorities, and the rest will follow. That is the second S – Simplicity.

And finally – Self-Confidence. I do not know a single person who has ever achieved anything meaningful without it. And you have one more reason to be confident – you are part of the University of National and World Economy, one of the leading business universities in Europe, a proud member of the Engage network of elite European institutions, a University with a capital “U,” with a glorious 105-year history.

Lastly, I would like to address Rector Prof. Dimitrov and assure him that both he and the Academic Council, together with all students, have the full support of the Board of Trustees – seven days a week, 24 hours a day, in all your projects and ambitions. We are here for you!

Congratulations, future prime ministers and future successful entrepreneurs.