Katia is a Bulgarian-American businesswoman, real estate broker, international affairs reporter, producer, actress, humanitarian, and former tennis player. Katia spent a decade as a competitive tennis player followed by nearly a decade in a variety of corporate positions including Management Consulting, Real Estate, Mass Media, Language Services, Behavioral Coaching, and Academia, prior to founding EnCourage Companies, a conglomerate of businesses ranging from management consulting, coaching, and mentoring (EnCourage Group) to real estate (EnCourage Realty) and non-profits (EnCourage Foundation), all dedicated to empowering people and organizations globally.
Philanthropically, Katia is an avid supporter of education, entrepreneurship, and world peace and prosperity. Katia serves as President of EnCourage Foundation, supporting education and the practice of entrepreneurship.
Katia served as President and chair of the 2013 Celebration of Entrepreneurship Gala held at the Petroleum Club of Houston, Advisory Committee Member of the Houston International Trade Development Councils’ Annual Global Seven ‘G7’ Awards, Co-Chair of the 2018 Humanitarian Awards benefitting the Latino Learning Center, Board of Directors Member of Americle Foundation, Business Development Committee Chair of LiftFund YPB, Education Committee Member of World Refugee Day–Houston, Business Plan Mentor for the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, Houston Food Bank Volunteer, Goodspero Benefactor, and as a Publicist to William W. Sherrill–former Federal Reserve Governor, FDIC Director, and U.S. Commissioner to UNESCO. In 2013 Katia traveled to Madagascar to visit Akany Avoko Children’s Home and has acted as a Benefactor for Nourish the Children, Children International, and Texas Children’s Hospital.
Katia has served as a pro bono business consultant to start-ups and small businesses, as a guest lecturer at young professionals groups and organizations, and has been a member of the World Affairs Council of Houston Council Cabinet, Greater Houston Partnership, and Petroleum Club of Houston.
