For those of you waiting for the announcement: The Coffee Stories are back!
And for those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about—don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Stick around to learn what this is all about, how it started, and why it might just be exactly what you need.
The Coffee Stories Idea
Let’s start with a little background. I’m passionate about Power BI, UX design, and creating user-friendly reports—basically, turning data into meaningful insights that people can actually use. This passion has fueled my journey, taking me from starting a new job to speaking at conferences and creating this blog you’re reading right now.
But let’s be honest: I wouldn’t be here without these incredible humans who believed in me along the way. Special shoutout to Nikola Ilic and Ben Weissman, for I feel incredibly lucky to have crossed paths with them.
Inspired by these amazing mentors who encouraged me to believe in myself, dream bigger, and aim higher, I realized something: not everyone has access to mentors or a little nudge to get out of their comfort zones. Trust me, I know! That was me just two years ago.
And so, The Coffee Stories Initiative was born—a simple way to bridge the gap and spark meaningful connections in a digital world. Because at the end of the day, it’s these connections that inspire us, lift us up, and keep us moving forward.
What is The Coffee Stories Initiative?
The Coffee Stories are created for humans who are:
embarking on their Power Bl journey
considering a switch to data
ladies in tech
curious about public speaking but dealing with doubts, impostor syndrome, or not knowing where to start
anyone in the community eager to connect, grow, and exchange ideas.
The concept is simple: anyone could book a 30-minute virtual coffee. And guess what? These “30-minute” coffees? They never stayed at 30 minutes! Some turned into an hour, and one even became a 2-hour deep dive with a like-minded human.
Time flies when you’re connecting with amazing people!
Why Is It Called Coffee Stories?
I come from Macedonia (okay, now it's North Macedonia, but for me, it will always be Macedonia ❤️). And if you’re not familiar with the Balkans, let me tell you: coffee is a BIG deal there.
Coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s a ritual, it's a way of life. We meet over coffee to share stories from our everyday lives and connect on a deeper level. We just sit there for HOURS over a single cup of coffee! Honestly, I don’t know how some coffee places stay in business!
And even though not everyone in the world drinks coffee (fun fact: I didn’t during most of these virtual coffees—it was late afternoon for me!), I wanted to carry this tradition into the initiative. Thus, The Coffee Stories Initiative was born.
When Doubt Creeps In…
The moment I hit the "Publish Post" button last year to announce the first Coffee Stories, self-doubt kicked in. What if nobody books a coffee? What if people think this is silly? What if…?
But then, magic happened. Within the first hour, someone booked the first coffee and left me the most heartwarming message. And before I knew it, all my coffee slots were fully booked within days!
The response was overwhelming (in the best possible way), and I even had to add more slots! And the feedback? Beyond incredible. Some humans even started their own initiatives, inspired by Coffee Stories, creating a beautiful ripple effect of inspiration!
I couldn't be happier!!
The Coffee Stories Initiative Continues—Join Me!
So here we are: The Coffee Stories Initiative is back!
Whether you’re sipping coffee, tea, water, or even something stronger (no judgment here!), what really matters is that we connect. It’s not about what’s in your cup—it’s about the stories we share.
Here’s what you can do:
Book a coffee with me. Let’s talk Power BI, data, public speaking, career shifts, or anything else on your mind!
Share this with someone who might benefit from it. Because sometimes, all it takes is one conversation to change everything.
In a world where fostering meaningful connections can feel harder than ever, this initiative is a reminder of the power of unity and support. We rise by lifting others!
P.S. Thinking about becoming a speaker? This is the sign you've been waiting for! The call for New Stars of Data is still open. Let me know if you need that final nudge, or just go ahead and schedule that coffee! You can thank me later.