The IER Alumni Club held a training on confident presence in front of a camera

On October 10, 2026, the IER (International Economic Relations) Alumni Club, in collaboration with the Department of International Economic Relations, organized an online practical training session titled "Confident and calm presence in front of a camera".
Assoc. Prof. Dragomir Iliev, Head of the IER Department, introduced the speaker, Plamen Mihov - a business professional with extensive experience in international environments, people management, team building and development, and conducting training sessions and presentations for diverse audiences. Plamen Mihov is an alumnus of the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov (Class of 2001, specializing in International Economic Relations) and serves as the Chairman of the IER Alumni Club. "I asked him to share the professional experience he has gained with our students because I believe it will benefit them as young people; I hope everyone takes away something from this webinar that will be most useful for their future career development," stated Assoc. Prof. Iliev before handing the floor to Plamen Mihov.

At the start of the session, the speaker highlighted the distinction between feeling prepared and actually succeeding in presenting one's ideas confidently on camera: "There is a vast difference between thinking you can step in front of the camera, actually stepping in front of the camera, and presenting yourself the way you imagine you would." According to him, the situation can change significantly the moment the audience's attention shifts to us and we have to turn on our cameras and speak to the other participants.
One of the key concepts of the training was encapsulated in the "Five Ps" principle: "Perfect preparation prevents presentation pitfalls." Plamen Mihov emphasized that preparation goes beyond merely knowing the subject matter and outlining key points; it also involves checking technical conditions, equipment, and connectivity, as well as having backup plans in place should issues arise.
The speaker demonstrated his own setup for online meetings, highlighting the camera, microphone, peripherals, internet connection, and backup communication options. He also shared a specific example from the preparations for the current event, where a preliminary check allowed technical issues to be identified and resolved before the meeting began.
The message was clear: confidence in front of the camera is built not only by practicing the presentation itself but also by carefully considering the details that could affect how it unfolds.
To illustrate the importance of preparation, Plamen Mihov recounted a story from his professional career regarding the opening of a major international event on the island of Crete. After his initial preparation, a supervisor gave him feedback suggesting that the pre-written script did not adequately reflect his personal style and that the presentation needed to be more authentic. This experience prompted him to revise his presentation and find his own way of conveying the message. Subsequently, the presentation went well and received positive feedback from an event participant.

This example highlighted a key difference between the mechanical recitation of a pre-prepared text and a presentation that reflects the speaker's personality, experience, and unique style of expression. Proper preparation should help a person come across as persuasive and natural, rather than confining them to rote phrases.
Another significant topic addressed the causes of anxiety associated with public speaking and participating in video meetings. According to the speaker, this anxiety often stems from concerns about how others perceive us, whether we will manage to cover everything we planned, and whether we might make a mistake.
Plamen Mihov noted that such concerns are a natural part of the experience for many people. The goal is not necessarily to eliminate all anxiety, but to learn how to manage it so that it does not hinder our performance.
Drawing on his experience conducting hundreds of meetings - many of them online - the speaker discussed general principles for preparing to present to an audience, whether in a virtual meeting or a live setting.

The training laid the groundwork for further exploration of practical approaches to building confidence on camera and communicating more effectively in a digital environment. The initiative by the IER Alumni Club and the Department of International Economic Relations exemplifies the importance of the link between academic education and professional experience. Through such meetings, students have the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and skills that complement their studies and support their future career development.

🎬 You can watch the full video of the training session here: https://youtu.be/cScPGCApHGQ

The training is part of the scientific calendar of the Department of International Economic Relations for 2026 and the events dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Dimitar A. Tsenov Academy of Economics. More information about the activities and members of the Alumni Club IER can be found at alumnimio.club.