Maria Shishkova was Managing Partner at AIMS Human Capital, leader of the Talent Assessment and Development practice at AIMS International, as well as the exclusive representative of Dale Carnegie Training for Bulgaria. She served as Chair and member of the Board of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, Chair of the Bulgarian Association of Management Consulting Organizations, and member of the Board of Directors for three consecutive terms at the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. She was also a member of the jury for the Forbes Business Awards since their inception in Bulgaria, among many other roles.
For Maria, education played a key role even before she was born—her mother was a teacher. At the beginning of her own path, Maria followed in her mother’s footsteps: she graduated in English Philology and began teaching English language courses. She later completed a degree in Applied Economics and moved into the field of soft-skills development.

Maria supported Education Without Backpacks and Khan Academy in Bulgarian many times over almost ten years. As Chair of the Board of Advisors, she focused on strategic partnerships, fundraising, brand positioning, and the development of the organization and its human resources.
Maria was a remarkable, warm, wholehearted, and dedicated person—colleague, mentor, friend, and ally. Her example, support, and mentorship were incredibly valuable to all of us at Education Without Backpacks—Board, Management Board, and operational team. Maria supported us in every possible way, was always there for us, believed that we could change education in Bulgaria for the better, and even dedicated the celebration of the 30th anniversary of her company, AIMS Human Capital Bulgaria, to raising support for the work of Education Without Backpacks.

As her team noted: Maria’s mission was to build good—to contribute to the development of people and organizations, and to make Bulgaria a better place to work and live.
Maria, we miss you so very much. Your example will always be with us.