Maria Todorova is a Creative Director, curator, entrepreneur, and Founder, CEO & CCO of NEXT-DC, an independent international creative agency focused on innovation. She is also the founder and curator of SHAPESHIFT Festival, exploring the intersections of creativity, science, humanity, and innovation.

With over 25 years of experience, Maria has worked with global brands including Coca-Cola, Heineken, Finlandia Vodka, Red Bull, Jack Daniel’s, Canon, Carlsberg, WWF, Twitter, Wacom, and Miro. Her work spans creative strategy, advertising, digital innovation, design, culture, and social impact, always driven by curiosity and the search for original ideas.

Maria is a frequent speaker at international design conferences and creative events, sharing perspectives on the importance of creative thinking, innovation, and culture. She has also served as a jury member at leading international creative festivals, evaluating work across multiple disciplines and markets.

Through her creative leadership and judging experience, Maria supports ideas that combine originality, relevance, and craft—ideas capable of creating meaningful change and positive social impact in a world defined by constant transformation and uncertainty.