Beyond The Handshake

Q: Ivan, as a business development manager, what do you do on a daily basis, and what do you feel incredibly enthusiastic about in your position?

A: As Business Development Manager at Belatra Games, my daily responsibilities involve identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, managing relationships with existing clients, and negotiating deals that benefit the company. You might also be involved in market research, strategic planning, and collaborating with different teams to ensure the company's products and services align with market demands. I am enthusiastic about my position, which includes the thrill of closing deals, the excitement of expanding the company's presence in new markets, and the satisfaction of building and maintaining strong business relationships. I greatly enjoy my role's creative and strategic aspects, such as developing innovative solutions to meet client needs or finding ways to differentiate Belatra Games in a competitive industry.

 

Q: Did you have a determinative deal earlier in your career that made you think, “This is what I want to do,” regarding business development as a role? 

 

A: My first experience in the company was a business trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for SiGMA in 2023. From the early start, I realized that it was totally what I wanted to do. I met a lot of interesting people and had tense business meetings. I agreed to the first few contracts and got a powerful energy boost for further work.

 

 

Q: Every business development manager can tell quite a few “war stories” from the initial years of their work experience. Are there any distinguishable moments that you still find amusing? 

 

A: I have one interesting fact about my work. I have one client from the city where I live. But the first time we met was at an exhibition in Cyprus. After that, we became good friends with him and could meet with our families and discuss daily things without discussing work. We discuss business deals only during expos.

 

Q: Starting from the relationships in your childhood, what insights do you deem pertinent to your professional life, and what lessons did you take from those stages of your life?

A: In our work, it is necessary always to be friendly and open. This makes it much easier to start new relationships with potential partners. As they say, you need to be simpler, and people will contact you.

 

 

Q: Career setbacks can be powerful learning experiences. Can you state any significant issues you dealt with and what you learned from them, helping you advance as a business development professional?

 

A: Yes, of course. For example, I had the following problem: Inconsistency with a colleague, which could have led to a contract failure. We were communicating with one client at the same time. As a result, the client needed clarification and needed help understanding whether he was communicating with actual employees. From this, I learned an essential lesson about constant communication with colleagues and discussing daily tasks.

 

Q: Could you explain how you go about pursuing new business opportunities by identifying them? What key factors do you assess at each stage of your working process? 

 

A: Work in Belatra Games involves a strategic and systematic approach. For example, we look at key components of our work:
Market research and Analysis with Key Factors: Market Size and Growth Potential, Competitive Landscape, Customer Needs and Preferences.
Targeting Potential Clients and Partners with Key Factors: Client Alignment and Partnership Potential.
Pitching and Negotiation with Key Factors: Client Feedback, Negotiation Leverage, and Contractual Terms.

Closing the Deal and Follow-Up with Key Factors: Implementation Success, Client Relationship Management, and Feedback Loop.
Monitoring and Evaluation with Key Factor: Performance Metrics

 

 

Q: The nature of the business field and organizations is dynamic in today’s world. What changes do you plan to apply to your strategies and tactics to ensure that you will always be one step ahead and sustain the growth? 

 

A: Our company always strives to be on the wave. We stay current with all the latest trends and innovations to achieve this goal. Our team regularly changes the approach to creating games and looks for new mechanics and opportunities to develop the best product.
We also do a lot of work to create an impeccable brand image and invest considerable efforts in marketing strategies.