Episode description

Our guest today is Diana Aladzhova, an experienced investment manager and partner at the first Bulgarian mezzanine fund Silverline Capital. Shе is also the founder of the cloud-based provider of CFO services CFO Insights. Diana has a background in banking and the private sector, with a focus on investment structuring, due diligence, financial analysis, and company valuation. She holds a Master's degree in Finance and Private Equity from the London School of Economics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). In this episode we follow her journey from finance, to private equity and entrepreneurship. In her conversation with Irina, Diana Aladzhova talks about: How her experience as an investor helped her found her own company focused on supporting startups and scaleups with financial expertise; The importance of strategic financial management vs. “growth-at-all-costs” strategy; How to build the right foundation for sustainable growth as a company; Achieving balance between life and work is about building efficient work habits and self-awareness; *This episode of The Recursive Podcast is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed. TIME STAMPS: 0:00 Trailer 03:13 Introduction 04:16 From LSE to Building Bulgaria's Private Equity Landscape 13:00 Learning Curve: First Experiences as Equity Investor 18:00 The Hedgehog Concept: Mastering the Art of Exponential Growth 25:40 How to Build A Sustainable Business Model: Lessons from an Investor Turned Founder 34:29 The Perils of Growth-at-All-Costs: A Financial Perspective 38:32 Building Strong Foundations: Resilience and Responsibility in Startup Culture 44:55 How to Scale a Service Business Efficiently: CFO Insights Long Term Vision 49:45 Creating Social Impact Through Business Logic: The Story of Box to Remember 54:55 Balancing Act: Juggling Work, Family, and Passion Projects 1:02:15 Balancing Vision and Action: Strategies for Long-Term Success 1:07:20 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Self-Doubt 1:14:31 Outro