The ability to be so many things at once is quite incredible. Kosta Petrov was one of such distinct, amazing speaker and achiever I have ever listened to. I initially listened to the session somewhat haphazardly because I assumed it would be like any other typical online session in which I joined. As such, I didn’t really expect to get enamoured with it. However, as soon as he started discussing his accomplishments, personality and works, I realised that this would be a fascinating session from start to finish.
Co-hosted by Theilman Rudiger and Jothi Surya who provided insightful industry-related questions that were spot-on, Petrov freely revealed recurring problems in the field of public relations that are both feasible for academic research and a reliable source of knowledge. His experience as a public speaker, communication specialist, logical thinker, and entrepreneur in politics undoubtedly helped him in his career in public relations.
As an event director for the largest event company in Dubai, he rose to fame and fortune. However, the business failed quickly, which devastated him and forced him to move back to his parent’s home, which he had left behind after 11 years. He felt like a failure and believed he might have launched a global career; therefore, it was a really dismal time in his life. But in both good and bad times, his friends’ unfailing support acts as a rock of strength, and he began planning events in his region, which resulted to a huge success.
His introduction to the PR sector came about gradually as a result of these events that he stage-managed, since hosting these events required him to acquire knowledge about PR. By doing this, he caught the interest of business personnel who wanted to know who was in charge of his PR. This led him to begin working in the PR sector while studying under PR professional, although, he was more of an expert in crisis reputation management.
Kosta Petrov plays a crucial role in shaping and maintaining a positive public image and managing communications during various situations, including crises. This new career in PR gave him the privilege to work with the government of Macedonia for 2 years and he resigned.
Notably, the individuals he chose to surround himself with throughout his career have helped him stay motivated despite the ups and downs he experienced when coping with the disheartening position of being unemployed or having lost his work at some point. This proves that the people we choose to be friends with have a big impact on our success, both personally and professionally.
As I pondered these motivational statements, it became increasingly obvious to me that in order to succeed in this field, you need to surround yourself with like-minded people and establish relationships with people who would encourage you to never give up on your goals. Sincere friends will tell you the truth, even if it does not suit your agenda.
His network of friends in Dubai helped him when he began operating an event management company. He was very clear about the need for authenticity in order to have the appropriate kind of friends. Making a false impression of oneself could endanger one’s professional life. This is the rationale behind creating a support system of individuals who believe in you.
After the session, I now understand clearly that promoting yourself above your services will also have a significant impact on how far you can go in the industry, particularly if you need to collaborate with associations and media to market a product.