Overcoming Challenges, Kosta’s PR Trip

The art and science of public relations (PR), strategic communications and corporate communications are more important than ever in this rapidly evolving digital era. Attending professional events in the field of PR is not only a way to gain relevant expertise, but also an important opportunity for one’s growth and career development.

I had the pleasure to attend an online professional event organised by my course leader Rudiger Theilmann recently. Kosta Petrov, known as one of the leading researchers in the PR area, was a guest speaker. Kosta is a sophisticated entrepreneur and has more than 17 years of international experience in strategic communications, event management and startup development. Kosta founded P World (www.thepworld.com) in 2010 as a pioneering PR firm targeting all areas of government consulting and global marketing campaigns. And it has broadened its business to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America earning a reputation as a top leader of PR, HR and marketing events.

Kosta’s career has been full of ups and downs, challenges, obstacles and revivals, and simply epitomises an adventurous trip. He dreamed of studying in the U.S. Eager at the early age to fulfil the American dream. Kosta became fascinated by the culture and the opportunities available to him after becoming an exchange student and stepping foot on U.S. soil, which became an important turning point in his life. Although faced with all the social expectations, he has chosen to follow his dream and started an unusual career trip.

The road to success has not been easy, however, as Kosta has gone from working for the Macedonian government, to writing a song that won the Eurovision Song Contest, to leading a PR giant in a turbulent global market. Each step has been full of transformation and new findings. His diverse experience proved to us that it’s important to be curious and keep an open mind throughout your career, and his resolute spirit of entrepreneurship, and honest reflections on overcoming challenges, gave us lessons and insights into life that are quite simply impossible to match.

I was impressed by Kosta’s story of how he dealt with a career crisis. Kosta started his business in Dubai when the world was plunged into the financial crisis of 2008. The crisis threw him for a curve ball and forced him to reconsider his life path. But he didn’t choose to run away, he faced it with resolve and overcame the challenges with determination. As his company has grown and expanded into international markets in the Middle East and North America, his crisis management and reputation maintenance expertise has become more widely recognised. Through his experience working in different countries and cultures, Kosta gained valuable global work experience and a deep understanding of cultural differences.

Kosta has had a very varied career. He had experienced different jobs. He faced each of his careers putting 100% of his effort to manage it. So, he created wonders. Especially P World, this is the result of his ability to face challenges in different cultures with his strong perseverance. Although Kosta’s career hasn’t been an easy one, he has always remained positive in the face of challenges. He teaches us that in the face of challenges and failures, keeping personal happiness and good mental health comes first. It is important to learn to accept failure, to learn from it, to grow from it, and to start again.

This online professional event is about an exploration of the field of PR, it was a reflection on life and career choices. I learned one of life’s most important lessons from Kosta’s sharing: PR is not only about the strategic dissemination of information, but also about navigating life in terms of personal growth.