From Compliance to Choice The Art of Saying No

About the event

Have you ever said “yes” when something in you clearly meant “no”?

For many women leaders, saying “no” is not just about finding the right words. The most defining and difficult part often happens before we speak: the quick calculation of what it might cost us, who might be disappointed, and whether we are allowed to choose differently.

During the webinar, you will learn:

The hidden cost of the automatic “yes”
What happens in the seconds before we agree
Why saying “no” can feel more difficult for women in leadership roles
How to pause, renegotiate, refuse, or reset expectations with more clarity and steadiness

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of why saying “no” can feel so difficult, and practical ways to protect their time, energy, standards, and values without becoming harsh or overly apologetic.

This webinar builds on a research-based project developed by Boyana Dragoeva, Denitsa Belogusheva, and Nadezhda Todorova as part of Telerik Academy’s Upskill Women in Leadership Program (Season 2).

Lecturers:

Bela Stankova - Executive coach, Managing Director, Genevva Coaching; lead trainer in Upskill Women in Leadership program of Telerik Academy

The webinar will be held in Bulgarian.

Reserve your spot today and join us on June 24.

The webinar is free, but registration is required.

About the participants

Bela StankovaExecutive coach, Managing Director, Genevva Coaching

Bela is an executive coach, facilitator, and Partner at Jonathan Warner, a Netherlands-based leadership consultancy. She has delivered 1,750+ coaching hours with senior leaders across technology, fintech, e-commerce, and professional service. Previously Learning & Development Director at Telerik, she built the company's first internal leadership program. Bela holds a Master’s in Executive Coaching and Sociology, with additional training from Cornell University and Harvard in leadership psychology and executive presence.

Boyana_Dragoeva Boyana Dragoeva Educational Programs Lead, Sharena Fabrika

Boyana is an education expert and trainer with 7+ years of experience in non-formal education, youth work, and policy development. She holds a BA in Asian Studies and is a Council of Europe–certified trainer. Her background includes roles at WWF Bulgaria and WWF International, where she managed youth projects and international consortia under Erasmus+ and CSR programs. She is currently leading chef-instructors at Sharena Fabrika International School, developing hands-on educational programs based on a farm-to-table philosophy and craftsmanship.

Denitsa_Belogusheva Denitsa Belogusheva Software Developer & Business Owner, Tutuf

Deni is a software developer and business owner with 19 years of experience building and sustaining a company in tech. A graduate of Telerik Academy's Women in Leadership Programme (Season 2), she co-authored (together with Boyana) the research project behind this webinar, backed by workplace research and developmental psychology. The work reframes saying "No" not as a skill to master, but as a mindset shift - one that creates choice without demanding harshness.

From compliance to choice:

We are looking forward to see you!