Dayana Nikolova, marketing director of FastKlean, explains why Antoaneta Tsocheva should win the Leader of the Year category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition:
At FastKlean we have a young and innovative workforce, led over the past 15 years by our leader Antoaneta Tsocheva. She has a selfless devotion to FastKlean as a cause rather than work, a natural talent to lead and educate, and a philosophy that success can be achieved by discipline and consistency.
She is a leader who is available to her business and staff round the clock. What makes her a leader rather than a manager is the focus on people that she has, the risk-seeking attitude and the way she inspires us to follow her rather than just tell us what to do.
She would have no qualms about going out with us for a bite to eat or a cup of coffee, and would use this time to get to know her team and discuss their concerns and suggestions. She also organises monthly team building events. This dialogue has proven absolutely vital so far. Antoaneta is a broad-minded individual with a diverse background. She is an excellent listener and an even better motivator. She recognises those who have gone an extra mile for a client or above and beyond to complete a task.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the top three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
