Mihaela Iordanova
Regional Sales Manager
Jungbunzlauer
Mihaela Iordanova, Regional Sales Manager at Jungbunzlauer Inc., embodies resilience, reinvention, and a deep belief in living with purpose. Her story spans continents and career pivots, motherhood and migration, loss and leadership. What sets Mihaela apart is her ability to move through life’s most profound challenges with curiosity, grace, and a desire to grow. Whether navigating the scientific world or personal heartbreak, she leads with heart and intention and her journey offers valuable lessons for anyone charting their own path.
Turning Challenges into Growth: Born in Bulgaria and now based in the U.S., Mihaela’s path has been anything but linear. She began her academic journey in agricultural engineering and later studied molecular biology and tissue engineering. Becoming a mother at just 21, while pursuing her education, came with skepticism from others and pressure to follow a more traditional path. Instead, she chose resilience. Moving to the city alone with her son, she learned to manage her time with incredible discipline and leaned into her own vision of the future—one fueled by love, drive, and self-belief.
Reinventing Across Borders and Careers: Mihaela immigrated to Canada in search of greater freedom and opportunity, even though it meant leaving behind financial security and professional independence. She quickly realized that to grow in a new country, she’d need to immerse herself completely. She returned to school, learned French, raised a family, and worked as a research assistant—proving that adaptability and persistence are the cornerstones of success. When she later moved to the U.S., she embraced unexpected career pivots, including a role in quality assurance, which ultimately led her back to her passion for sales.
Embracing Setbacks with Resilience: Mihaela's professional milestones are deeply interwoven with personal trials. She endured a five-year divorce that tested every part of her being. Through it all, she never compromised her dignity or courage. Later, after the unimaginable loss of her son in a hiking accident, she found herself navigating grief with the same discipline and spiritual openness that had guided her through life. She allowed space for healing and held onto her relationship with him by choosing to live in a way that would make him proud. These moments shaped her perspective, reinforcing her belief that strength often finds us when we least expect it.
Living with Purpose and Leading with Heart: Today, Mihaela brings a holistic view to her work and life, deeply rooted in gratitude, love, and the belief that everything we experience carries meaning. She starts each day with intention, seeking joy even amid uncertainty. To her, leadership means showing up authentically, staying curious, and empowering others to do the same. She encourages women in science and sales to trust their journeys, even when they don't look the way they imagined—and to use setbacks as fuel for transformation.
Advice for Women in Chemicals: Mihaela urges others to embrace fear as a catalyst, pay attention to their emotional compass, and pursue knowledge that expands both mind and spirit. She’s inspired by thought leaders like Dr. Joe Dispenza and Carolyn Myss, and believes in the science of happiness as much as the science of chemistry. Her advice? Say yes to opportunities that stretch you, eat well, stay curious, and choose joy, even when its hard.
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