Public Lecture: The Way to The Wine

The Way to the Wine was the topic of the public lecture by Nikola Zikatanov, oenologist, owner of Vila Melnik -  one of the small but specific Bulgarian wine-cellars from the Southwestern region of the country. The meeting was opened by the Rector of the university Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Sattev who presented the guest. At the event in Maxima Aula attended Georgy Chernev, Chairman of Sofia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Assist. Dr. Nikolay Vankov, Deputy Director of the University Marketing Center, Ivo Topalov, initiator of the University of Success, business trainer and moderator of the meeting as well as lecturers and students.

Prof. Statty Stattev (in the middle) is opening the public lecture. On left next to him: Nikola Zikatanov and Ivo Topalov, on the right: Georgy Chernev and Dr. Nikolay Vankov

It`s difficult to create the entrepreneurial spirit and easy to destroy it, pointed out prof. Stattev and outlined that the UNWE is the only university in the country having a Department and speciality Entrepreneurship. Giving examples from the longstanding acquaintance with Nikola Zikatanov the Rector outlined the nobility as a key to success for every entrepreneur.

Georgy Chernev and Ivo Topalov commented on the way to success, dangers and risks hidden in it, how realistic are the expectations and what has to lead us forward.

In Maxima Aula

Successful person is not the one who has never had ups and downs but the one who always succeeds to overcome the difficulties and go forward, emphasized Nikola Zikatanov. According to his words it`s not easy starting a business so students have to hear and know that other people had also had troubles on their way of chasing the professional goal. Young people have to be realistic, they don`t have to think that the happy life expects them abroad but they have to know that no one nowhere can feel so successful as it can be in its own country.

During the public lecture

The lecturer shared his experience in the professional growth and choice of business field - from a machine engineer, alumnus of UNWE who has graduated Business Administration in the USA till his return to the homeland and traditions in Melnik region. There is no civilization or religion where the wine is not a symbol of godlike or of idea for holy things, motivated his business idea Zikatanov. He told how to be successful in the competitive European environment among the traditional presence of hundreds of wine-growers.

The good businessman has to plan his business development even for the next generation because if he don`t do that his business will die before him, pointed out Zikatanov. He said that the wine-growing had been a pleasure for him, his Melnik wine had been among the leading Italian wines and also well accepted in Germany. His follower and successor is his daughter Militsa who has graduated in the USA and completed her specialization in Great Britain before her return to Bulgaria where she has continued the family business. Militsa Zikatanova also analyzed to audience the wine business development, trade results and plans for further success (in the picture below). 

A Diploma from the University Marketing Center and Sofia Chamber of Commerce and Industry was awarded to the lecturer by Chief Assist. Dr. Nikolay Vankov. Zikatanov read the epistle which he had written in the University Center Book for Guests.

Dr. Vankov (on the right) is awarding the Diploma to the lecturer.

The Rector Prof. Stattev awarded to Nikola Zikatanov Certificate of Appreciation for his public lecture (in the picture below).