What would you say about yourself and your business?
At the moment, I find myself in the middle of digital world being the head of marketing and PR in a law firm in Moscow, Russia. I am in charge of all digital innovations in our firm catching up with trends and resources which our business can benefit from.
On a separate note, part of my life is devoted to innovative education as I’m a mother of a bilingual kid and the author of an educational book for parents who want to raise children speaking two or more languages in a monolingual environment.
I never stop learning and exploring my professional spheres as I live only when moving.
How would you describe yourself with a few words?
This question made me stop and think for a minute. A few words I would use to describe myself is energetic, hard-working, and able to concentrate on the goal.
To elaborate on this, I should say that I am fond of making lists with my goals and I am immensely glad when I finally reach a goal and can cross it off my list. This technique is not just for fun, but it proved to be quite efficient and motivational.
How did your career growth begin?
I’ve been working in law firm marketing since 2013. For over 5 years I was a marketing expert in one of the BIG-6 audit and consulting companies. In early 2020 I became the head of marketing in a boutique law firm specializing in intellectual property. I’ve been accumulating experience and skills throughout these times.
Is there something career wise so far that you haven’t done?
Sure! As I’ve mentioned my list of goals including career objectives, I have a lot of things to reach and go for so far.
Would you change anything in your career path you could go back?
I am a person who sometimes reflects on other paths and where they could have possibly led me. But then, after a short while, I kind of wake up and tell myself – all this thinking about the past is merely a waste of my time and energy. So, I stop killing time and go back to my list of objectives. The human brain is lazy at times and it doesn’t mind daydreaming for hours but our rational part should take the reins and focus on the essence.
Tell us about a hard decision you had to make in your career. How did you deal with it?
Before I entered the corporate world with all its strict rules, routines, and hierarchies, I was my own boss – a fully-booked English tutor working offline and online with adults and kids. Being self-employed was always rewarding – I met amazing people and learned a lot from them as well. At the same time being an extravert, I desperately needed a working environment – office and colleagues with who I could share everyday routines and news. So, for about a year I was taking courage to quit my comfort zone and go exploring into the unknown. Eventually, I took a big leap and never regretted it.
Were there moments when you wanted to give up and if not, what stopped you (or not)?
There are moments when you want to turn off the light, hide under the cover, and become invisible for the whole world. It means only one thing – you need to reboot. Fresh air, a long walk in the woods, a nice book to read, and you will be as good as new. Take time to relax sometimes.
Is there such a thing as a balance between personal and working time?
Never heard of such a thing as a balance between personal and working life.
Just kidding – of course, it’s possible and a lot of people manage to achieve it. For me, it is quite hard to draw the line and unwind after a workday. Especially nowadays when due to COVID-19 most of us work from home, it seems to me that I never stop thinking about my work. Too bad. In the long run, it’s not the best thing to do. I should change this.
What would you like to say to your readers?
I like this saying “You choose the life you live. If you don’t like it, it’s on you to change it because no one else is going to do it for you” (Kim Kiyosaki). These words sum up quite well the wisdom of life.
