My farewell letter to the team at Progress/Telerik

Hi team,

After 12 turbulent years of founding, growing, and running Telerik, then joining Progress and spending the next 2 years proudly carrying the Progress flag, my time has come to step down from active day-to-day management.

They say there's never a perfect time for such a decision and its communication. I feared it would be super hard to write this letter but, in all honesty, it was not. The moment I started thinking about the journey of those 14+ years I was filled with so many great emotions – reminding myself of the past and everything that our team has achieved!

It was the experience of a lifetime for me. We learned many invaluable lessons. We never stopped! Every day we challenged ourselves to do more and more and more. We failed many times, but we learned. And we got better. And we built one hell of a company. This is case study material, guys! And we did it together.?

So don’t stop trying, failing, and learning. Focus on the motion, get better at it, and in the end, the results will always come. Just look at yourself and try to make a change. All change starts with you – each of you, individually. Even the biggest change starts with a small spark in one human being. Remember that. You might be carrying that spark so don’t stop trying and protect the small fire. It’s contagious!

If I did not treat someone right, if I failed you as a leader – please forgive me. It’s as much as I was capable of. I did my best. And sometimes it was not good enough. But I genuinely tried to pass on as much as I could of my knowledge to others and to “institutionalize” it. I hope you will also continue doing the same – this is the only way to ensure that we build a better future for everyone to come – our future colleagues, and the ecosystem. We can’t be selfish about this. This is the one thing that needs to be everyone’s key focus in life – at home, at work, everywhere - to leave the world a better place than it was when you became part of it. It’s an imperfect world, the corporate included, and it cannot become better without your involvement, your hard work, and your belief that a great future awaits you. Don’t give up even though there will be many challenges along the way! Every small thing you do or don’t do affects the future in a big way – try to be the bearers of the positive force and change things for the better. It will make you stronger, better, and happier. There is no other feeling like giving – giving is the "true" living and it applies to the corporate environment too.

I was extremely privileged to work with all of you. Thank you for being the most wonderful friends, brothers-in-arms, and mentors, and for bearing with me as I was learning, growing up, and changing course. I might have not been the easiest person to work with but I honestly appreciate everything that you have given me and will continue passing it forward.

With the risk of being annoying, I wanted to share a few final thoughts:

• Be nice to each other
• Take care of what you do, to the last day, whenever it comes
• Create history! Make the world a bit more perfect with the choices you make every day
• Pass it forward: if you are successful, and happy in whatever you do you need to pass it on to others and ensure that good lives and multiplies
• Keep giving your best. It stays with you
• Remember everything is possible. You can do it, against all odds!
• Live and breathe as a team. You are playing a team sport
• Don’t forget you are more empowered than you think and you are FREE – every day you make choices. Do what’s right…. you know what’s right:)

Above all, stay healthy, stay strong, and stay positive!

Before you ask me what I will be doing next – I am not going anywhere. I will be in Sofia and will continue to stay close to you as a “Mentor-in-Residence” but will ultimately spend a bit more time on things that I had been neglecting throughout the years – health, sports, hobbies, and family. I need to change things a bit and bring back the balance. I also need to devote more time to mentoring others to help them be more successful. I have to restore the balance of taking and giving – I have been fortunate to receive a lot and as such it’s my responsibility to continue giving albeit in a new context.

Remember, relationships are for life! We will have a chance to cross paths again – as customers, partners, colleagues, advisors, and friends. For now, keep on making PROGRESS! Every day!?All the time. Personal and professional. You have an amazing chance in front of you and you should take advantage of it.

-V.