Other Women's Jobs // Kristina Vaneva

NAME: Kristina Vaneva

AGE: 42

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinavaneva/ 

JOB TITLE: Workplace Happiness Architect at Beyond Employee Engagement Consultancy

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2008

Kristina Vaneva is a celebrated HR industry leader who has garnered numerous accolades and industry awards for her remarkable contributions to the field of employee experience. With an impressive career journey spanning over two decades, specializing in employee engagement and internal communication, Kristina’s mission is to foster hope, positivity, and happiness in workplaces and individuals’ lives.

Kristina is Bulgarian, however she grew up in Libya, went to boarding school in Greece and spent her high-school and university days in Malta. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, scuba diving, dragon boating, cycling, nature walks, reading, traveling (she has visited 47 countries), exploring art galleries, and solving exhilarating escape room challenges.

Let's learn about a typical day in Kristina's day and world:

7:15 am: I wake up to prepare my husband’s breakfast and packed lunch with love, a small act of care to set a positive tone for his day. I adore spending some time with him while he is getting ready for the office. Then, out to the garden, my sanctuary! I tend to my green companions, connecting with nature, involving myself with pruning, inspecting my plants, and seeing they have the nutrients they need and the protection from harmful pests.

8:00 am: Sharing this morning hour with my mum is my source of breakfast. She's my confidante, my cheerleader, the heart of our home, and she lives with us for 8 months of the year and goes back to Bulgaria for part of the summer. I value my mum's counsel and opinion. As an only child with my father passed away, she is extremely important and influential in my life, and I want to spend as much time with her as possible. Our conversations are a rich blend of shared memories and future aspirations. 

10:00 am: I regularly work out with a personal trainer, focusing on strength training, yoga, and other creative exercises, sculpting not only my body but also my determination. The fusion of strength, and flexibility is a holistic approach to physical wellbeing, a philosophy I wholeheartedly embrace. For me, it's all about feeling vibrant, alive, and ready to conquer the day. My personal trainer is also a nutritionist and offers me nutrition advice. I’ve been practicing intermittent fasting for a year and a half, eating between 11 am and 4 pm to prevent feeling sluggish and full in the evenings. I enjoy going to bed on an empty stomach.

11:30 am: After a quick snack, I begin my business meetings and dive into the world of workplace happiness. My role as a Workplace Happiness Architect is a passion, not just a profession. I consult companies on how to create exceptional workplace cultures that drive outstanding employee experiences and extraordinary customer and investor experiences. I specialize in employee engagement, employer branding, internal communication, pre-boarding, onboarding, and offboarding of employees. With a Master of Science in Applied Positive Psychology, I ensure I am always using Positive Psychology to craft positive and thriving organizations through workshops, conferences, keynotes, training, consultancy, workplace listening, and evaluations and audits.

2:00 pm: Events are my passion projects. I weave dreams into reality I organize a variety of events, team buildings, and senior leaders' strategy meetings and retreats. This means spending a few hours per day collaborating with my team and curating personalized experiences for our clients that involve elements of surprise, delight, and purpose. I love it when my creative juices flow, as the team and I orchestrate unforgettable experiences- from selecting unique venues for events, to personalizing agendas, trips, F&B experiences, the overall vibe of the event, including any reward and recognition ceremonies, graduation celebrations, rewards trips.

I do this both in the UAE and around the globe. Last year, I organized events in Thailand and Egypt. This year, I have upcoming events in Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, in addition to the UAE. It's not just about logistics; it's about creating connections, fostering bonds, and leaving an indelible mark.

4.30 pm: I'm an advocate for authentic kindness. My newly published book, Beyond Employee Engagement, is a testament to my belief in the power of human connection. So, I dedicate some time each day to promote my book, by speaking to companies about employee engagement and the impact of leadership and management on the overall employee experience but also on the experience of their loved ones, their families, their neighbors, communities and society as a whole. I aim to enhance trust and promote happiness in workplaces and people's personal lives through podcast interviews, keynotes, articles, engaging with professionals, attending book events and connecting with like-minded souls. I recently met and exchanged books with Marshal Goldsmith. This encounter was a highlight, a shared passion for creating positive impact.

6:30 pm: Since my mother does most of the cooking, I can fully focus on work, studying, and reading in the early evening. I enjoy keeping up to date with studies on happiness, employee engagement, and social citizenship. Knowledge is my compass, guiding me towards innovative solutions.

7:30 pm: The business of the day is done. Evenings are a sacred space for connection and relaxation. My husband comes home from the office, and we spend quality family time with my mom (and our lovely cat Missy by our side) decompressing, recharging, discussing our day, and also watching a series. During the weekends, we explore the Emirates, embarking on adventures and experiences that enrich our lives through nature, culture, and history.

9:00 pm sharp: The phone alarm rings, and it's time for our gratitude exercise. Gratitude is the cornerstone of our evening ritual, as we reflect on the day's blessings and share what we are grateful for today.

10:00 pm: I curl up in bed and read a good fiction or non-fiction book. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm ready to embrace it with passion and purpose.

11:00 pm: Lights out to get some beauty and wellbeing sleep to make a meaningful and authentic positive impact on the following day.