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Connect. Rethink. Recharge.
Three immersive days for HR leaders and professionals from across the Balkans to explore ideas, share perspectives and shape the future of work – together.
18-20 NOVEMBER 2026
WED Afternoon – FRI NOON
GRAND HOTEL THERME
BANYA, BULGARIA
DOZENS OF
HR & PEOPLE LEADERS
From HR to Business Performance
What changes in 2027?
AI in Practice
Use cases in recruitment, support, learning, analytics and productivity.
Talent in Southeast Europe
Retention, skills shortages, salaries, hybrid work and Gen Z across four markets.
Benefits People Actually Use
From benefits catalogue to adoption, personalization and measurable utilization.
Manager Effectiveness
Why managers remain one of the biggest drivers of and boost performance and burnout.
Mental Health Without Theatre
What employers can realistically influence, how to build psychological safety and where responsibility should stop.
Employee Energy & Performance
Movement, sleep, recovery and daily habits as productivity infrastructure rather than perks.
The New EVP
Salary + flexibility + development + purpose + wellbeing + leadership: what actually changes employee decisions.
Measuring ROI
What HR should track beyond participation usage, engagement, retention, indicators, absenteeism and employee sentiment.
SPEAKERS
Voices that inspire.
Conversations that matter.
We bring together forward-thinking HR leaders, experts and practitioners from across the Balkans to share insights, challenge perspectives and shape the future of work – together.
Conference language: English
Translation will be provided via an app
Ana Kostovska
Ana Kostovska is an organizational psychologist, HR and organizational development consultant, trainer, founder of CSD Sonik, co-founder of the SynapseHR Consultants Collective, and host of the WellKit podcast. With over 18 years of experience, including senior HR leadership roles, her work is united by one goal: helping organizations achieve sustainable results while creating workplaces in which people can thrive and realize their potential.
Josif Damjanov
Josif Damjanov is the Founder and CEO of FitKit, a regional employee wellbeing platform that helps companies provide flexible access to fitness, wellness and health-related benefits across Southeast Europe. With experience working with employers across multiple markets, Josif focuses on how companies can move beyond traditional benefit packages and create wellbeing programs that employees actually use. His work sits at the intersection of employee engagement, benefit utilization, personalization and measurable business impact.
Tsanislav Genchev
Tsanislav Genchev is an HR Manager at NOTO, a fast-growing Bulgarian fintech company focused on preventing financial fraud and money laundering. He has 9 years of HR experience across fintech, automotive, agriculture, and FMCG, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management and Marketing. He also works as a Communications Consultant for the America for Bulgaria Foundation and has been a guest trainer in the ABLE Mentor program for over five years, supporting young people in career development.
Ivana Dojchinovska-Stojanovikj
Ivana Dojchinovska-Stojanovikj is an HR and organizational development consultant, trainer, career development expert, founder of PRUDENS HR Consulting, and co-founder of the SynapseHR Consultants Collective. With over 20 years of experience in human resources, including senior HR leadership roles in large organizations, she specializes in organizational design and change, HR strategy, performance management, leadership and employee development. Her work focuses on helping organizations build practical and sustainable people management systems that align business priorities with employee growth, engagement, and performance.
Stoyan Yankov
Stoyan Yankov is a professional speaker and bestselling author who has delivered leadership training programs to 570+ organizations across 36 countries, including brands such as HP, Coca-Cola, and FlixBus. He was recognized among the Top 100 HR Influencers for 2025, alongside names such as Brené Brown, Simon Sinek, Mel Robbins, Adam Grant, and Angela Duckworth.
A natural connector and often described by others as a “networking machine,” Stoyan has built relationships with business leaders across the globe and personally interviewed 350+ high-profile guests, including Guy Kawasaki, the founder of Reebok, the former president of Starbucks, bestselling authors, and senior executives.
Ivana Janković Đorđević
Ivana Janković Đorđević is HR professional with 18 years experience in retail and production companies, strongly believing in learning, support and teamwork, supporting people to grow.
Theodoros Panagiotopoulos
Theodoros Panagiotopoulos is an HR consultant, trainer and the founder of Human Value, a Thessaloniki-based HR consulting practice he has led since 2014. He has more than 25 years of experience across IT, food production, logistics, heavy industry and international commerce. He works with organizations on recruitment, job evaluation and compensation systems, and leadership and soft-skills development for managers. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Macedonia, where he was a guest lecturer in the MBA and MSc HR programmes from 2020 to 2025. His work combines practical, business-ready solutions with a grounding in behavioural science.
Marina Anchevska
Marina Anchevska is an internationally accredited NLP Master Trainer, Systemic Coach, and Mentor with over 30 years and 20,000 hours of experience in personal and organizational transformation. Her work focuses on translating complexity into clarity and enabling meaningful, lasting change.
She is the founder of the Center for Business Psychology and Systemic NLP (SEE, 2007), the Systemic Coaching Academy (2022), and the International Coaching Conference (2024).
Her international qualifications include NLP Master Trainer certification from NLP University, Santa Cruz, California, Systemic Coaching certification from the International Institute of Applied Psychology in the Netherlands, and advanced training in trauma-informed approaches, systemic constellations, and somatic therapy.
Bogoy Bogdanov
Bogoy Bogdanov is a visionary entrepreneur, Co-founder and CEO of AI at Business. He leads the company’s work in AI implementation and the development of intelligent agents that operate as an active part of the organization. His focus is on building AI-first companies where people, data, systems, and AI work together as one operational consciousness. Bogoy combines expertise in technology, product development, leadership, and organizational design to turn ambitious AI concepts into working business solutions.
Nikola Bogdanov
Nikola Bogdanov is Co-founder and CEO of AI at Business, where he shapes the company’s vision for AI-first organizations. With over 15 years of experience in organizational design, business agility, and large-scale change, he focuses on how leadership, structures, and ways of working must evolve in the age of intelligent agents. Combining a software engineering background with academic research and executive experience, Nikola translates emerging AI capabilities into practical organizational strategy.
SPEAKERS FROM ACROSS THE BALKANS
More than a conference.
A retreat for mind, body
and future.
Inspiring keynotes, interactive discussions and regional benchmarks – balanced with wellness, movement and meaningful connections in a setting that helps you think, create and recharge.
Grand Hotel Therme
Our host for transformative three days.
Where nature, wellness and hospitality create the perfect environment to learn, connect and restore.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
18-20 November 2026
GRAND HOTEL THERME
Banya, Bulgaria
Our host and event venue.
The largest and most prominent
5-star SPA hotel in Bulgaria.
ACCOMMODATION
All-inclusive accommodation is included for all participants at Grand Hotel Therme. Enjoy 5-star comfort, thermal water, SPA, wellness facilities, gourmet food and more.
TRANSPORT
Optional transportation from Sofia to Grand Hotel Therme and back. More information upon registration.
MEALS & BEVERAGES
All meals, beverages and coffee breaks are included through the event.
Conference language: English
Translation will be available upon request.
WHAT TO BRING
For the conference: Business casual — professional, comfortable and effortless. For activities: Comfortable clothes and shoes for indoor and outdoor sports activities. For dinners & cocktails: Feel free to dress up and bring your favorite evening look. For the SPA: Don’t forget your swimsuit — robes are provided by the hotel.
MORE INFORMATION
Detailed agenda, speakers and program updates will be shared regularly. Have a question? We’re happy to help.
CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE
INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE
1 participant | Single accommodation
Includes:
- Full access to the 3-day Executive HR Retreat
- Accommodation at Grand Hotel Therme
- All-inclusive hotel experience
- Full conference programme & networking events
- SPA & wellness facilities
- Organised activities and experiences
- Networking evenings
€799
More than one participant? - Contact us for preferential rates
-20 %
DOUBLE EXPERIENCE
2 participants | Double accommodation
of the total price when booking
Be part of the region's most exclusive HR Retreat.
DATE & TIME
18-20 November 2026
LOCATION
Grand Hotel Therme
Banya, Bulgaria
AUDIENCE
Dozens of HR & People leaders from the Balkan and beyond
CONTACT
events@coolfit.bg
+359 897 062 743