In international business, the first 30 minutes can be the difference between a lifelong partnership and a missed opportunity.

Yesterday, the Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with our member Skillo Bulgaria, hosted an exclusive masterclass at the Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia: “Five Ways to Make That First Meeting Work.”

The evening commenced with opening remarks from Boni Bonev (Mr), Chairman of the Managing Board of BSCC, and Vyara Tyurkmen, GCDF, Chief People Officer at Skillo Bulgaria, who set the stage for a session dedicated to sharpening the competitive edge of our business community.

We were honored to welcome Bob Spence, a renowned specialist in international business development. Drawing on his extensive experience, Bob provided our members with a tactical roadmap for high-stakes encounters

Key insights shared included:

The Power of Positioning: How to frame your value from the very first minute.

Cultural Landmines: Identifying the invisible mistakes that can erode trust.

Strategic Structure: How to guide a meeting toward tangible business opportunities.

The Decision-Maker’s Lens: How senior executives assess your credibility instantly.

A huge thank you to Bob Spence for his expertise, to Skillo Bulgaria for the fantastic collaboration, and to all our members for their continued engagement in the BSCC community.