78: The Two Skills This Global COO Used To Build a Remarkable Career | Ani Filipova
The Learn-It-All Podcast
Reflections on a Childhood in Socialist Bulgaria
This chapter explores the author's nostalgic childhood in socialist Bulgaria, detailing their experiences in a working-class family. It highlights the simplicity, independence, and love for reading that fueled their dreams of exploring the world beyond their homeland.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to leave behind the safety of a corporate career to create a life centered on family and personal fulfillment?
In this episode of The Learn-It-All Leader Podcast, Ani Filipova, former COO of Citibank in Asia, discusse her journey from leading 10,000 people to starting her own company how she navigated this pivotal transformation with host Damon Lembi. She shares her inspiring story of growing up in socialist Bulgaria, her remarkable rise to the C-suite, and the life-changing decision to step away from corporate life. Damon and Ani explore how she managed large teams, embraced change, and prepared for her bold career shift to focus on family and personal fulfillment. Ani offers practical advice for leaders on navigating transitions, the importance of empathy in leadership, and how to manage through cultural differences in global roles.
This Episode Covers:
- Ani's inspiring journey from her childhood in Bulgaria to becoming COO of Citibank in Asia.
- The power of embracing change and how Ani intentionally sought out new roles within banking.
- Practical tips for leaders who want to lead through empathy, consensus-building, and transparency.
- How Ani navigated cultural differences while leading teams across multiple countries.
- Ani’s thoughtful transition out of the corporate world to create a more family-centered life.
- Actionable advice on making bold moves in your career and not being afraid to fail.
Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to Ani Filipova – Damon introduces Ani Filipova, former COO of Citibank and founder of Change Advisory, and they discuss her remarkable career journey.
(02:00) Growing Up in Bulgaria – Ani shares her experience growing up in a socialist country and her early aspirations to see the world.
(05:30) The Rise to COO – Ani reflects on her path to becoming COO of Citibank in Asia and the intentional decisions she made to climb the corporate ladder.
(09:00) Embracing Change – Ani discusses her love for change and how she intentionally sought out new roles and responsibilities in her career.
(12:33) Overcoming Challenges as a Leader – Ani shares how she navigated the cultural and professional challenges of leading teams in different countries and industries.
(17:00) Leaving Corporate Life – Ani explains the pivotal moment that led her to leave her role at Citibank to spend more time with her family and start her own company.
(21:30) Building Change Advisory – Ani talks about the transition to entrepreneurship and how her new venture, Change Advisory, helps executives manage change and career transitions
(33:18) Ani’s Advice for Executives – Ani shares practical tips for executives looking to reinvent themselves and align their careers with their personal values.
About Ani:
Ani Filipova is an entrepreneur, career coach, and former COO of Citibank in Asia. With a 20-year career in global banking, Ani led teams across multiple countries and navigated the complexities of the financial services industry. In 2021, she founded Change Advisory, a corporate training and executive coaching company. Ani is also the host of the “Change is Possible” podcast and speaks regularly on topics like leadership, career development, and the future of work.
Resources Referenced:
Podcast: Change is Possible
Northern Illinois University: Executive MBA in Eastern Europe
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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