Mr, Sedlik, what is necessary for a manager to be effective under the conditions of constant changes in global perspective?
To be truly effective, managers should learn trough all their life. This is the only way for them to enhance their competitiveness and to help the companies they are working for. This is extremely important for Bulgaria, due to the fast changes that this region is experiencing. For the country, the business and the society to be able to adjust as quick as possible to the European Union, managers obtaining practical knowledge and skills are necessary. The business needs people, who are confident in their competitiveness. And for this, they need effective business education. Of course, such managers are needed all over the world. Nowadays managers should constantly enhance their competencies, in order to be competitive internationally. We at BEIED have long experience of working on the problems of business education internationally. It can be claimed that managers today cannot work only on the national stage, as business is getting more and more global. This is why they should be familiar with the rules of international business. The globalization imposes a unified standard for all managers. General rules for making business are necessary. Our task is to develop the talents of the managers and to provide them with effective instruments, so they can work successfully in the new environment.

What is, generally, the mission of BEIED in Bulgaria?
The Seattle-based BEIED organization applies a very clear mission – emerging economies deserve high quality business education to enhance their development within a globalized future. Through local delivery of modern business administration education to motivated participants, BEIED elevates the economic development of these emerging economies. BEIED operates in USA, China, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Russia, and Ukraine.

BEIED principals have served a wide range of innovative corporate clients such as: Apple Computer, Boeing Aerospace, Cisco Systems, City University, Economic-Legal Research Institute – Tokyo, German Administration Managers Union (DAA), Levi Strauss, Microsoft, Pacific Bell, Romanian Banking Institute, United Airlines, University of Washington, and the Washington State Lottery.

We decided that we should step on the Bulgarian market to share our professional experience. At BEIED there are more than 40 professional consultants, instructors or renowned educators from such prominent institutions like Harvard, Stanford and MIT.

How many managers you have educated up to now in Bulgaria?
The BEIED Team in Bulgaria had developed the first MBA program in Sofia, and has already educated more than 300 managers. Last year we launched the BEIED Certificate Programs in Bulgaria with several open seminars from the " Advanced Executive Management" Seminars Series. They enjoyed vast popularity and interest from companies such as Biochim Bank, Cefin, Coca-Cola, Colliers, Damianitza, ELANA, ING Bank, McDonald’s, Merck Sharp &Dohme Idea Ink., Microsoft, Siemens, Unisys, XEROX Bulgaria and many others.

From this year you offer specific certificate programs, would you introduce them shortly?
In April in Sofia we launched the 8 month certificate program for top manager, with participants in the group from companies like Lowe Swing Communications, UBB, Elana, I.N.A. Trading, Siemens, Nokia, Lirex BG and others. This is the first program in Bulgaria, designed in a Harvard Style model. Generally, the certificate programs are delivered by a highly-credentialed, international business professionals. The programs are delivered in a special format that meets the specific needs of the of the employed managers in Bulgaria. The modules accent and transmit operational insights and managerial skills directly applicable to the current work environment. The specific programs in the area of Business management are:

Advanced Executive Management; Marketing Management, Financial Management and general Management.

How do you enhance the competitiveness of the managers? What is your company philosophy, which makes you so successful everywhere?
Minding the Gap"™ is a trademark of BEIED that reflects our mission. The idea comes from the British Train Conductor’s "Mind the Gap!" call -- the traditional cautionary warning to passengers as they traverse the gap between the station platform and the proper train to transport them to their intended destination. BEIED provides the platform and the pathway to enable managers to step from their current performance level to reach their goals by elevating their competencies. We enhance management competencies by a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills which lead to better performance of the manager and of the company. Following its philosophy BEIED created the "Minding the Gap" ™ platform. It gives opportunity for identifying and overcoming the mismatches between the current state of a business and the desired, by the managers or the owners, higher results.

We work in two main directions – the enhancement of the competitiveness of the companies and the establishment and development of the western-style education, so necessary for both the mid- and executive administrative levels. The power of our education is in the practical, directly applicable skills and knowledge. At the same time our programs lack the laborious and seemingly un-productive distractions often associated with typical academic coursework.

What are the benefits for the participants?
We help them improve the level of their managerial professionalism, by gaining practical knowledge. The participants in our programs not only learn from instructor, but share experience among themselves and this gives them an opportunity to be more confident and responsible.

Interview taken by: Marieta Koleva