#MeetTheTeam: Silviya Mavrodieva

From finance to whale conservation — driven by curiosity and the desire to make a difference

Originally from Bulgaria, Silviya moved to Belgium in 2017, bringing with her an extensive international career in banking, finance and risk management. After more than 17 years in the corporate world, she made a deliberate decision to pursue a different path: using her experience to support organizations working towards meaningful social and environmental goals.

Today, she supports Whale Guardians Europe in its organizational development, financial management, governance and operations, helping turn ambitious conservation objectives into a sustainable and well-functioning organization.

Her interest in whales and ocean conservation grew after discovering Whale Guardians a few years ago. What started as curiosity developed into a genuine passion. Since then, she has followed courses to deepen her understanding of marine life, and even her family holidays increasingly revolve around coastal destinations and whale-watching seasons.

And it turns out that years of experience in pattern recognition have an unexpected benefit: spotting whale blows on the horizon has become one of her favourite activities! For Silviya, few things compare to the excitement of spotting a whale in the wild.

Curiosity and learning are recurring themes in Silviya's life. She enjoys exploring different fields, learning languages and taking on new challenges. Around two and a half years ago, she decided to start learning both tennis and piano — proving that there is no age limit to discovering new passions. Tennis has become such a favourite that it is practically the only thing she watches on television!

At home, she's also the person who enjoys figuring out how things work — and how to fix them when they don't. From complex financial problems to household repairs, she rarely turns down a good challenge!

Outside work, Silviya is a mother of three and also dedicates time to supporting intellectually gifted children, developing enrichment activities and helping schools recognize and nurture their potential.

She loves cats, science fiction — particularly Isaac Asimov's Foundation series — and considers The Matrix her favourite film. Among the women she admires are ocean explorer Sylvia Earle and Bulgarian economist Kristalina Georgieva, both inspiring examples of leadership, determination and impact.

What motivates her most? The opportunity to keep learning, overcome challenges and contribute to something that genuinely matters.

For Silviya, being part of Whale Guardians brings these values together: applying her professional experience while contributing to the protection of whales and our oceans.