I am a professional manager. I have been managing Kemppi business in Russia for last 10 years. And I am really good at managing. I managed to reach 17% annual average sales growth during these years taking into account long lasting political and economical crisis in Russia. The most challenging is to manage people and myself. I have chosen this role to share because I see that my experience can inspire other women to move forward. I am ready to share my experience how to make career and prove your professionalism, how to manage people and your own life. It is not easy to prove that you are real professional especially in men’s world and know what I say as I am working in welding business which is purely men’s world. My way was not simple and I managed to found right balance between successful professional and private life. Currently I am in harmony with all aspects of life but it was not always like these.
In 1994 – 2000 I studied at Izhevskiy State Technical University. I’ve got three diplomas - engineering, interpreting and managing. After my graduation from the University I worked as an ordinary engineer at Chepetskiy Mechanical Plant for 6 years. Scope of my responsibilities was to manage qualification process of products produced by ChMP for foreign customers. I’ve learned a lot there and finally I noticed that I could not develop myself anymore there. So I decided to move to Moscow in 2007. At first I worked as a sales manager dealing with American, Japanese and German companies and I had a dream to become Head of rep office of foreign company. In May 2009 I was invited as a sales director to Kemppi Russia and by December 2009 I was appointed as a general director.

Greatest challenges were:
1. Be brave to change my own life and make my dreams come true:
- To move from small town to Moscow and finally live where I always wanted to
- To take opportunity and ask for job which I always wanted to have
2. Keep developing myself every day and meet the highest standards which I established for myself

My three greatest achievements are:
1. Created best team at the market
2. Kemppi brand has become one of three strongest brands at Russian welding market
3. Initiated positive changes of Russian Vocational Education in Welding by brining best international practices through cooperation with World Skills Russia and training Russian National Team

What challenges do you see women in the future facing when fulfilling the same way of influence and what particular advice for them based on your experience?

Women should work 10 times harder than men to prove her professionalism. Men do not forgive or forget any women’s mistakes in professional life. My advice is to be professional no matter what it will cost you. Develop yourself, develop your personal brand and learn how to be successful in all aspects of life. My advice is to be professional no matter what it will cost you. Develop yourself, develop your personal brand and learn how to be successful in all aspects of life.

I believe that woman if they want can be very successful in business, politics, etc. I can influence by mentoring those women who want to develop in business.

FOCUS ON YOUR GOAL RATHER THAN ON OBSTACLES