By Grace Flannery
With over 25 years of experience in international banking, Ani Filipova stands as a beacon of global leadership. Last month, Filipova served as the guest speaker for our Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program’s Executive in Residence event held at our Naperville campus. EMBA alumni, faculty, current and prospective students learned more about Filipova’s inspiring story and corporate journey.
She began her career as a bank manager in Bulgaria and continued in international
banking — for over 21 years — with Citibank. There, she served as COO prior to resigning from the company in 2021 to pursue her “portfolio career” in today’s “creator’s economy.”
“The creator’s economy is more than just a trend; it represents a seismic shift in how individuals produce, share and monetize content in the digital age,” said Filipova. “The new economic landscape empowers people from all backgrounds to leverage their expertise and create digital assets for a vast online audience. Now, individuals can take control of their careers, reaching audiences directly and bypassing traditional gatekeepers. With the rise of platforms and technology designed to support creatives, there are unprecedented opportunities to turn passions into sustainable livelihoods.”
While her career began with the successful setup and ongoing management of three
banks — including Citibank in Bulgaria — Filipova’s work led her to vibrant cities like Bucharest, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. “You don’t need to work what you are passionate about. Find something you like and enjoy and make passion out of it,” said Filipova, who admittedly dreamed of traveling the world since a young age but chose banking as a career because “[she] couldn’t find a job as a world traveler.”
Attendees were invited into Filipova’s life story and saw how her professional endeavors included risk, uncertainty and change. At the core of her story was a commitment to excellence in her work and her drive to find new opportunities to learn and grow. More recently — from 2015 to 2021 — Filipova’s drive allowed her to excel as the regional chief operating officer for Citibank Treasury and Trade Solutions across Asia, overseeing operations in 16 countries, including both India and China. Filipova’s dedication to transformation, digitization and cultural evolution was at the forefront of her work, and Citi won Banker’s Best Digital Bank in Asia awards each year since 2017.
In April 2021, driven by a desire for new experiences, Filipova made the bold decision to leave her position with Citibank. She relocated with her family from Hong Kong to Athens, Greece, embarking on a journey to craft an entirely different life. By harnessing her extensive corporate background, Filipova was able to pivot her career and develop a dynamic career by running a “portfolio” of activities as board director, change advisor, investor, career coach, lecturer, podcaster and speaker.
“In today’s rapidly evolving job market, the concept of a career has expanded far beyond the traditional nine-to-five employment model. A growing number of professionals are turning to portfolio careers as a means of achieving greater flexibility, satisfaction and financial stability,” said Filipova. “A portfolio career is characterized by having multiple income streams and roles, often across various industries or disciplines, instead of relying on a single, full-time job. This approach allows individuals to tailor their work lives to better fit their skills, interests and lifestyle preferences.”
As the founder of “Change Advisory,” Filipova now assists financial institutions in shaping strategies that embrace digital innovation and cultural transformation. Additionally, Filipova advises corporate officers and other individuals through online and in-person advising and career coaching.
“The rise of digital technology and the gig economy has significantly contributed to the popularity of portfolio careers, providing individuals with unprecedented access to diverse work opportunities,” says Filipova. “A portfolio career offers an alternative to the traditional career path, which is no longer the only route to professional fulfillment and financial stability. It is both flexible and dynamic, allowing individuals to tailor their work life to better fit their personal goals and lifestyle preferences.”
Filipova painted a truly comprehensive picture of her career path for the audience, which included successful and not-so-successful career moments, both of which contributed to the professional she is today. She explained that a successful career path does not always look like one vertical line pointing up. Instead, Filipova’s career path was made up of not only career highs or milestones, but also of a series of regular or even low experiences on her career timeline.
Audience member Elois Joseph, MBA ’15, praised Filipova for sharing her full journey during the event’s Q&A session.
“I really appreciated the slides you shared about your journey,” she said. “You highlighted your wins and all the success – which is what we often hear when people talk about their career journey. We only hear about their achievements, but rarely about the disappointments, rejections, failures or closed doors,” Joseph said. “I’ve experienced so much disappointment and rejection that I’ve been ashamed to talk about them. Those slides that highlight your rejections are so empowering because they show that we are not alone. Rejection is normal, it happens, and most importantly, we must keep going. So, thank you.”
Filipova represents NIU within Eastern Europe while overseeing various programming initiatives. In 2023, Filipova facilitated transformative trips for our undergraduate student organization, Women in Business Professions, and organized an international immersion residency for NIU’s One-year MBA students. She is a respected judge at the Global Change Awards in London and an accomplished speaker at keynote events including TEDx talks. Filipova also serves on the New Members Committee for the European Women on Boards, where she founded chapters in both Greece and Bulgaria.
Filipova is the visionary founder and host of the “Change is Possible” podcast — a platform dedicated to exploring career pivots and growth through conversations with esteemed corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and creators. This inspiring podcast has garnered significant acclaim, proudly ranking No. 6 among the Top 30 Career Change podcasts.
While it was clear that Filipova embodies resilience and adaptability, perhaps it is her authenticity that most inspires those around her.
“I help people help themselves because that’s what mentors do,” said Filipova, who encouraged attendees to pave their own paths. “The future of the creator’s economy is bright, and those who are willing to adapt and innovate will be at the forefront of this transformative movement.”
The NIU EMBA Executive in Residence Program
Our Executive in Residence series presents opportunities for current and prospective students and graduates of our Executive MBA program to engage with executives and connect with alumni, prospective students, faculty and staff. It offers a unique perspective on senior leadership, providing insights into both successes and lessons learned along the way. Members of the Executive MBA community gather for a networking dinner, prepared by our executive chef. Then they listen to an engaging and thought-provoking presentation by our featured executive speaker, followed by a Q&A session.
Space is limited to members of the Executive MBA community and by invitation only. Please email mba@niu.edu for more information about the Executive MBA and Executive in Residence.
