Boyan Hristov is a Training and Development Partner at Paysafe. He has been working in the field of training for over a decade, during which time he has created and implemented numerous global programs tailored to different teams, cultures, and business environments. He believes that learning should lead to real change—not just completed courses, but the development of practical skills and confidence in people. He currently works strategically with the company’s technology and operations teams, helping to develop talent and create an environment where people can grow and feel engaged in their work.  

Why are soft skills so important in the technology sector, where the focus is often on technical expertise?

Because technology is not made by machines – it is made by people. Yes, it is important to write stable code, understand architecture, or work with the Cloud, but in reality, you are almost never working alone. Engineers increasingly need to communicate with different people – product managers, designers, even customers. If you can’t explain your idea clearly, listen to others’ opinions, or work together under pressure, no matter how good you are technically, you won’t get very far. That’s why soft skills can no longer be considered a “nice to have” but are becoming a must-have.

Which soft skills do you think are most valuable for a technology specialist today – and why? 

I would put three at the top of the list: communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Communication is obvious—you can’t work effectively in a team without it. Adaptability is important because the world and the ecosystem in which you work are changing literally every week—new technologies, new priorities, new processes. And emotional intelligence is super underrated – it’s the ability to “read” people, have difficult conversations, deal with conflict without burning bridges. All of this makes a huge difference in team dynamics.

What is the role of companies in developing the soft skills of their employees? What are you doing in this regard at Paysafe?

Companies have a huge role to play. Many people want to develop, but if you don’t give them the opportunity, space, and support, it won’t happen. At Paysafe, we take this seriously – we include training in communication, presentation, leadership, and change management. The idea is to have continuous learning, not only for skills but also for mindset. Mentoring is an essential part of our culture of development and improvement. At Paysafe, we have various mentoring programs that focus on both technical improvement and the personal and professional development of employees. These are not just informal initiatives — instead they are actively supported by senior leaders in the company who personally participate as mentors, sharing their experience and vision. This direct commitment from management helps to create an environment of trust and continuous knowledge exchange. In this way, mentoring not only accelerates the development of individual specialists, but also strengthens team bonds and increases overall efficiency and engagement.

Do you think that soft skills will become even more important in the fintech sector in the future, and why? 

Absolutely. We are already seeing many technical tasks being automated. But you cannot automate thinking, creativity, or empathy. The fintech sector is moving at tremendous speed, and to survive in this environment, you need to be flexible, able to work with different people, and see the bigger picture. Ultimately, software solves problems for people, not algorithms—and that’s why soft skills will become increasingly valuable.

The material and images are provided by Paysafe