Meet Nenko Neychev – Practice Architect at Do IT Wise. Always up for a new challenge, he constantly inspires us to learn new skills and grow. 

Nenko is a passionate gamer who spends his free time exploring the virtual world or enjoys board games night with friends. Discover more about him in the following interview.

I am…

Greetings, my name is Nenko Nenkov, and I am a Practice Architect at Do IT Wise. Born and raised in Sofia, I had the opportunity to dive into the IT world even in school. I was in the first class of computer programming in Bulgaria at the Professional high school for communications. I was lucky I found out about it from a friend, and my love for computer games naturally led me in this direction. Curiously, despite my affinity for this domain, the academic path I pursued at the university diverged completely – Real estate management. 😀 Well, we all make mistakes. 

But during that time, I started to work in the IT field. Firstly as support, then in my last year of study, I transitioned to another company where I got introduced to IT Service Management (ITSM) and the multifaceted dimensions of ServiceNow. And to be honest, in the beginning, I used to hate it because of one particularly intricate integration. Nevertheless, I gained invaluable experience there and enjoyed my job.

This leads us to the pivotal year in my career when I joined Do IT Wise in 2017. A friend of mine was working here, and he told me about the open positions at the time. I was ready for a change and wanted to see what was out there in the market. What actually compelled me the most to join the Wise team was the fact that the company was just laying the foundations of the ITSM team, and I saw the precious opportunity to be part of creating the future in a very prosperous field. Not going to lie in the beginning, it was tough, but with hard work, dedication, and the right mentors and support, you can grow tremendously.  And till this day, we are among the leaders in our field, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far. But the best is yet to come!

My role in Do IT Wise

I started as a Technical Consultant, and for a long time, I remained in that position but started doing a lot of diverse activities for other functions. Then I became an ITSM Team Lead for a year and a half, but I wanted to switch my focus from people management to a more technical-oriented role.

So, I had to evaluate what path I wanted for myself, and with the full support of the management, I transitioned to solutions architecture. I am currently a Practice Architect, and my role now is to create policies and practices to ensure full governance over the whole delivery process.

Why Do IT Wise?

The essence of our work is flexibility. The field’s potential is endless, making it so dynamic and taking you outside of your comfort zone all the time. This is one of the reasons I believe Do IT Wise is the best place for me. The constant challenge that you pur for yourself is the most powerful force for growth.

And as I mentioned already, when I started, the vision of Do IT Wise was in the making, and I recognized the long-term potential to gain invaluable experience being part of the process.

What I love about Do IT Wise?

THE PEOPLE!

Our environment is based on friendly and open communication and, of course, a lot of jokes. I have met amazing people along the way who became my very close friends outside of work as well.

One of the things I always love to mention is that here somehow, we all manage to focus on the good things and take pleasure in what we do rather than hate everything together like in most places. 

I also love the way work helps me in my personal growth. As an example, from my first manager Omar Ait Rahho, I have learned to be a lot calmer, build a strong work ethic, and look out for the details. And from our founder Idan Harel, you simply get infected you all the positive vibes. He inspires me to celebrate each win and enjoy the ride in life with all challenges and great moments.

My most significant achievement

It is not a single thing, but my most significant achievement is my resilience. Despite that, I started with no experience and faced lots of hard moments and challenges, I never give up on my vision when I want something, and I push myself to the limit. Like we say in Bulgaria – one step back leads to two steps forward.

Sharing is caring

One of the best sources nowadays is YouTube. There are countless hours of information about technical stuff that you can use. But of course, the best way to learn is through practice. In our example, testing the ServiceNow platform and diving deep into every little corner can give you invaluable knowledge. I always do proof of concept directly on the platform for every project I take on.

My biggest lesson

Dealing with something alone is a matter of choice. If you ask for help, you will receive it – both professionally and personally.

My hobbies

The world of video games – a delightful escape where relaxation takes center stage! This is my way to spend some free time – from the complete Diablo franchise to Counter-Strike and Heartstone, I can spend hours in the virtual playgrounds.

I also enjoy playing board games. Usually, in life, I am very calm and avoid confrontation, but in games, I am going to spill the tea and stir up the drama. Just for the fun of it 😀

Favorite book or movie

I believe every book or movie is supposed to find you at the right time, and if you watch or read it in another period, you will find different outcomes for yourself.

But as favorites, I can list the classics – Friends, How I met your mother and Malcolm in the Middle. Golden series.

My future

I will use a quote “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.” We have to live in the present moment and enjoy life. Who knows what could happen in 10 years. 🙂

A word to the Wise

As for any workplace, If you want to join the team, try first to feel the vibe and the culture and see if it is a match for you.

Superpower I would like to have

As one of our mottos of the company states, “Knowledge is power,” so that would be my superpower of choice, almost like being a combination of Google and ChatGPT in a human form.

Famous people I would want to meet and why?

My first choice would be the American stand-up comedian and actor Gabriel Iglesias. He was among the first ones that I found back in the days and I love his sense of humor. At this point, I know all of his performances by heart.

I would also want to meet another brilliant actor – Jim Carrey. Besides his funky and fun performances, I want to see his serious side and point of view about the meaningful things in life and what lessons he can share.

When I was a child, I wanted to become…

I was obsessed with football when I was a kid, and it was my dream to become a professional player. I would spend countless hours kicking a ball around, even during school time. 😀 As I grew older, the dream of becoming a football player may have transformed into other aspirations, but I still love the sport.

If I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life, that would be…

Oh, here I have two absolute favorites. The first is undoubtedly sushi, a culinary delight that I discovered later in life and has since become a cherished indulgence.

And the second is the Bulgarian classic – tarator. All day, every day.

Personal “motto” – spoken or unspoken?

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.”

Dream destinations

Two of the top destinations that have always been a dream of mine to visit are the captivating and culturally rich countries of Japan and South Korea. The allure of these two countries goes beyond just their stunning landscapes – it’s the promise of immersing myself in their unique cultures and savoring their exquisite cuisines that ignites my wanderlust.

The idea of South Korea became a thing in my mind when I was still a child because of … you can guess – video games. Actually, Starcraft was a national sport there. Fascinating, right? And because of it, I started to read a lot about the region and found myself getting more impressed with its heritage. 

As for Japan, I have always thought they were far ahead of the rest of the world, but still, I am impressed by the way they cultivate their national identity, history, and culture through art forms such as anime and more.

And for places I want to go back, I can mention the Emirates and especially Dubai. I have so many things I want to visit and experience there, I think I would need at least a month next time.

I feel genuinely happy when…

There’s a unique fulfillment that emerges when I see someone I’ve assisted overcome challenges, grow, and thrive. It’s not about seeking recognition or praise; it’s about knowing that I’ve contributed to their journey in a meaningful way. Whether it’s offering guidance, lending a listening ear, or providing a helping hand, this is one of the things that makes life better.

For more inspiring stories, follow our series “Meet the Wise Team”. Discover more about one of our Project Managers – Sia Maleshkova, in her interview from the series.