Now in its eighth year, the awards recognise workplace practices that help talent thrive and strengthen business competitiveness in Bulgaria.
Dr Maria Hristova, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Sofia, is a member of the judging panel for Career Show Awards 2026, Bulgaria’s national awards programme recognising achievements in people management and employer branding. The eighth edition brings together companies from across the economy to showcase how they attract, retain and develop their people.
With more than 80 categories, the awards cover sector-specific employer recognition, employer branding, leadership, business growth, HR services and AI integration. This breadth allows companies to present both organisation-wide policies and individual projects that improve working life and help teams perform at their best.
The awards’ wider value lies in giving effective workplace practices greater visibility. By showcasing specific initiatives and their results, the programme helps successful approaches reach a broader business audience and encourages investment in skills, career development and organisational culture. It also gives employers an opportunity to have their work assessed by an external panel of experienced professionals.
These issues matter to the investment environment. A company’s ability to build strong teams and offer meaningful long-term career prospects contributes to a city’s appeal as a place to work and do business. For Sofia, the quality of employment and continued investment in people are important to helping established businesses grow and attracting new investors.
Dr Hristova brings this investment perspective to the judging panel. Her professional background spans human resource development and collaboration between business, education and public administration — areas closely connected to preparing people for the workplace and helping them fulfil their potential.
Career Show Awards is open to companies operating in Bulgaria, regardless of size or sector. Entries are assessed against predefined criteria tailored to each category, including innovation, execution, effectiveness and results.
Further information is available at careershow.bg/awards
