Maria Todorova

Maria is an award-winning Creative Director and Art Director with a distinguished career spanning over twenty-five years of experience in advertising.As the Founder, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer at NEXT-DC, Maria has led the independent digital creative agency to become a beacon for global brands like Heineken, Jack Daniels, Finlandia, Canon, and Twitter, helping them navigate through challenging times since 2010.Beyond digital creativity, Maria assumes the roles of Founder and Creative Director of the SHAPESHIFT festival, an innovative series of events delving into constant transformation and the intricate relationship between humanity, creativity, and innovation. Another project Maria stands behind is Quotes Magazine, an international media platform with the noble goal of presenting the authentic professional or personal stories of those whose lives and work quietly propel the world forward.Other noteworthy achievements include nominations for "Woman of the Year" in 2011, recognising her contribution to contemporary Bulgarian culture as a Sofia Design Week 2011 curator and being listed among the 'Top 100 Most Influential Women in Bulgaria for 2012'. Maria maintains a curiosity about the future and unwavering faith in creativity, science, and innovation, consistently engaging in new endeavours.She also believes we all are responsible for contributing to a better future.