Interview with Kristiyan Karadzhov

He is a person for whom honesty is more important than any lengthy explanation, and believes that the best coffee is the one shared in the office with colleagues after successfully resolving another issue.

Every problem is simply another opportunity to show that true professionals know how to handle anything – even when a client can’t turn on their camera… because they forgot to remove the lens cap.

Today, we introduce you to Kris – the real IT specialist who steps out from under cover and reveals a part of his personal and professional journey.

We are surprised to learn that before becoming a master in the IT field, you studied graphic design. How did this transition happen – from the creative chaos of colors and shapes to the structured world of servers and computers?

When I was young, I accidentally discovered that I could draw, after which my parents enrolled me in drawing lessons and I joined a high school focused on computer graphics and graphic design. But the truth is, I’ve always loved upgrading my desktop computer. Back when we used to enter IP addresses in video games to connect to a server, I started wondering what “IP address” and “server” actually meant. That’s when my interest in computer networks and systems began.

Office lunch is always topic #1, but when you start rating them, it becomes a whole ritual. Now, give us your rating for the worst “cooked” case you’ve had to deal with?

There are rarely “badly cooked” cases. The bigger problem occurs when too many accumulate at once – a badly cooked stew of cases creates quite a difficult situation.

What’s the worst scenario for a bad workday – a server going down on Friday evening or no internet on Monday morning?

Friday evening is survivable – at least we know there won’t be any other problems and we can focus on the main one. Monday is when the real chaos begins.

You often drop lines from “Undercover” into your everyday life, and sometimes we wonder if you’re an IT specialist… or an actor undercover. Imagine Netflix made a mini-series about the office – what would it be called and what role would you play?

Sorry to bother you, but… don’t you need an IT specialist??
The mini-series in the office would be called “The New Colleagues”:
“I’m like the neighbor’s Wi-Fi – I work from time to time.” – This would be one of the lines when they ask why we drink coffee at 10am. The only thing missing is the audience laughing.

Being extremely candid is a rare and valuable trait that you definitely stand out for – how does it help you in communication with colleagues and clients, especially when it comes to criticism?

For me, honesty is fundamental, not a bonus. I believe that when you speak clearly and honestly – even about difficult things – you save time, tension, and misunderstandings. This doesn’t mean being blunt or rude, but simply not sugarcoating things. With colleagues, this honesty helps build trust – they know that what I say, I truly mean. And with clients – the clearer we are about risks, deadlines, and possibilities, the easier the work goes. Sometimes the honest word is harder to say, but it’s always better in the long run.