_{Who says your educational and career journey has to be straightforward? Sometimes, the twists and turns lead you to a path that’s more fulfilling than you ever imagined. In this blog post, we follow Emilia Angova from Sofia, Bulgaria, through her journey of studying and finding a job as an international in Friesland. Emilia shares her transition from marketing to sustainability, reflecting on her struggles with conventional narratives and how her academic experience helped her align her career with her values. Now a Partnership Associate at Datamaran, she collaborates with different ESG ecosystem software and service providers to help organizations address ESG challenges and opportunities. Emilia's story reminds us of the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and staying true to our beliefs. A must read!}

Hi Emilia, thanks for your time! Can you start with a quick introduction? 

My name is Emilia Angova. I am originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. Before the MSc in Sustainable Entrepreneurship that I completed at Campus Fryslân, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management and Strategic Planning in Bulgaria. My first experience in the Netherlands was through an Erasmus exchange in Utrecht. After spending some time back in Bulgaria post-BSc, I decided to return to the Netherlands! I was fascinated by the very diverse cohorts, the overall stimulating environment, and the many English-taught programmes.

How did your interest in sustainability come to be? 

Even in high school, I participated in a project by an NGO focused on sustainable entrepreneurship. Joining that project was my first time thinking about these issues and recognizing the need for change. Sadly, I couldn’t choose a field closely aligned with what I had done during high school, but I already knew I wanted to do something to make the world a better place. I started my BSc in Bulgaria because it aligned with my situation at the time, making higher education more accessible. However, I encountered some issues during my final years. At the time, I was studying marketing and taking marketing courses also outside of university. I began to realize that the curriculum heavily emphasized promoting a culture of excessive consumption that ultimately leads to environmental degradation and negative impacts on our communities.

Meanwhile, in my personal life, I was trying to buy as little as possible and choose sustainable alternatives. I really believed these small actions could make a difference! And that's when it hit me. I was making changes in my personal life, but my job would push me in the opposite direction: encouraging people to make even more unsustainable choices. All of a sudden, I experienced what I would call an inner conflict. That’s when I realized that I wouldn’t have a meaningful education and career unless it aligned with my beliefs, which led me to discover Sustainable Entrepreneurship. 

That’s when I realized that I wouldn’t have a meaningful education and career unless it aligned with my beliefs, which led me to discover Sustainable Entrepreneurship.

What made you choose this programme over others? 

Master’s programmes in the Netherlands had a strong focus on the intersection of sustainability studies and business, which wasn’t as prominent in Bulgaria a few years ago. When I learned that Friesland was at the forefront of this field, I thought, “Here we go!”  

Next to that, Dutch universities tend to prefer students with research background, but in Bulgaria, we didn’t focus much on research methods. Because of that, I was not sure whether the skills and experience I possessed then were enough to get me accepted. At that time, I felt stuck and unsure of how to move forward. However, when I found the Sustainable Entrepreneurship programme at Campus Fryslân, they reviewed my application and believed I could succeed. I was given a chance to brush up on my research skills, and I’m so grateful for that! The programme focused on help me build those competencies, thus bridging the gap between those with research experience and those without, which I really appreciate. Ultimately, the research skills I learned throughout the Master’s were sufficient for what we needed.

How was your overall experience with the MSc in Sustainable Entrepreneurship? 

What stands out from my experience at Campus Fryslân is the like-minded people I met and the meaningful conversations we shared. Reflecting on it, I often wish we had even more time to connect outside of class—to build stronger bonds and dive deeper into the vision of change we want to create in the world. I still have online meetings with some of my friends from the programme and these are connections I hope to keep for a lifetime.

Something else I also loved during the master’s was the chance to work on real-world projects relevant to the region. I appreciated how well-connected the university was with local stakeholders who could share their experiences and insights. For example, we worked on a project exploring business models to support alternatives to dairy farming, so we had presentations from Circular Friesland, a farmer who transitioned to cattail farming, and a construction company using cattails for eco-friendly insulation. Hearing their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges they face helped us become even more engaged in the assignment.

What happened after graduation? 

To be honest, it was a bit of a struggle. I graduated with an idealistic mindset about where I wanted to work, what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to make a real change. Then I opened LinkedIn and felt lost. There were so many different options, and it wasn’t easy to find a job that matched my qualifications. Many positions required skills we hadn’t covered in the programme or asked for Dutch language proficiency. Little did I know I would end up back in Friesland!  

Little did I know I would end up back in Friesland!  

To be honest, it was a bit of a struggle. I graduated with an idealistic mindset about where I wanted to work, what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to make a real change. Then I opened LinkedIn and felt lost. There were so many different options, and it wasn’t easy to find a job that matched my qualifications. Many positions required skills we hadn’t covered in the programme or asked for Dutch language proficiency. Little did I know I would end up back in Friesland!  

For a while, I received hardly any responses to my applications. I also reached out to Dutch vacancies to explore possible ways around the language requirement, but they were specifically looking for proficient Dutch speakers. I took the time to review my CV and motivation letter so as to tailor them for specific job postings, but I was also very selective about which positions I applied for, asking myself if they truly fit my skills and interests. After some time, I noticed that I kept coming across the same postings. That’s when I changed my criteria, and a position for a partnership-related internship at Datamaran popped up. I had some experience related to that from my time in Bulgaria. I became curious, so I searched for them online, and read about their work, and it aligned with what I was looking for. I applied for the vacancy, and within a week, I had my first interview with the hiring manager. I had to go through three interview rounds, even though it was an internship. In the final round, I received the long-awaited “yes”. But then, just before signing the contract, I was told there was a problem with hiring me as an intern because I had already graduated. But that’s when they said, “Actually, problem solved: we can hire you directly for the full-time position!” Moral of the story: expect the unexpected!  

Moral of the story: expect the unexpected!

Thanks for being open about your story! What is your current role at Datamaran? 

As a Partnership Associate, I work for a software company that helps organizations identify and manage their material ESG issues, more specifically,  we assist them in conducting double materiality analyses and ongoing monitoring. Marjella, the company’s CEO, believes in putting the problem in the hands of senior leadership, rather than making it solely the responsibility of the ESG or Sustainability department. The hope is that when we provide them with these insights, they can take an active role in shaping sustainability strategies.  

In my role, I support the partnerships team by identifying new partners and strengthening relationships with existing ones to expand our presence in the ESG ecosystem. What I enjoy most is working with a diverse range of stakeholders, from standards-setters like EFRAG and IFRS to advisory and assurance service providers and other ESG software companies, which gives me valuable insights into different perspectives on ESG. The role also requires balancing interactions with both internal and external stakeholders to meet our objectives, a challenge that keeps the work exciting. I started in May, and I mainly work in English, but I’m encouraging my Dutch colleagues to speak Dutch with me as well!

Marjella, the company’s CEO, believes in putting the problem in the hands of senior leadership, rather than making it solely the responsibility of the ESG or Sustainability department.

As an international, was it challenging to find a job in Friesland? 

The truth is, working here in Friesland was never really something I had thought about because I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to find a job based on my profile, especially because of the language requirement. But then it happened! Now, I’m really happy that I can maintain connections to both places (Campus Fryslan and Leeuwarden) and that I haven’t closed my Frisian chapter. I’m just glad to be back here and looking forward to the further collaboration between Datamaran and the Campus. The only note is that I always joke with people from here that the weather is always better in Zwolle!

What key factors contributed to your success in securing a job? In other words: what do you think convinced them to hire you? 

In the Datamaran Leeuwarden office, they often mention how pleased they are to have a Campus Fryslân alumna on board, but I don't think that was a deciding factor for my manager in Valencia. Instead, I think what helped me secure the job was my mindset that partnerships are opportunities to create win-win situations, a concept we explored in our courses on Leadership and Alliances. I genuinely want to understand our partners' goals and find ways to collaborate toward achieving our shared objectives. Additionally, my background in sustainability gave me a strong foundation to understand our value proposition, client base, and the broader context we operate in.

So, in a nutshell, I had some experience working with partners, I align with the company’s mission and vision, and I understand the organization’s narrative.

I genuinely want to understand our partners' goals and find ways to collaborate toward achieving our shared objectives.

What advice would you give to students considering Sustainable Entrepreneurship but who are still unsure? 

In my case, this programme gave me a chance to pursue a career that aligns with my values. At one point, the world seemed to say I couldn’t - but here I got my opportunity, and I’m so grateful for that. Even during the job search, perseverance is key; It was the drive to make a difference that kept me going through moments of uncertainty and self-doubt. Looking back, I see that once you put your heart and thoughts into something, doors will open in ways you might never expect!