“I’m a Molotov cocktail of Russian, Jewish & Ukrainian blood (if you know, you know). I was born in Russia during the nineties; a time of unemployment & scarcity but also of change and the promise of a different life.
When I was six my mom left for Greece searching for work, so my grandma became the central character in my upbringing. A Soviet Jew, she knew all too well about discrimination, but always stayed true to her integrity no matter what. She worked her way up to become the head engineer at a Soviet factory. She taught me to be humble and kind, to work hard, and to follow my heart.
At age ten I was meant to join my Mum in Greece, but instead demanded to go back to mother Russia. Looking back, I’m so grateful for this decision because Russia’s culture taught me many things and left a unique footprint on my character. It’s a culture of contradictions & drama, of hard reality and the deep appreciation of beauty. I always loved the Arts and studied Russian literature & languages; it’s where my love of storytelling comes from.
And then in high school… reality hit. I realized my best bet was to join my mom and explore opportunities abroad. Getting a scholarship from a foreign university was hard work, but one year later I found myself in a Swedish Business School studying Marketing & Business Administration. I got my degree, and then landed a social media marketing internship in one of the first digital marketing agencies in Canada. I loved the idea of honest human-like communication over advertising and promotion; telling a story instead of selling one.
For six years I’ve been combining full-time jobs with freelance projects; an experience which has helped me find work with more purpose. I practice yoga and mindfulness too, so when I saw that Insight Timer was looking for a SMM, I just knew straight away; this was it. And despite all the possible cultural differences, plus the fact that I live on the other side of the planet, the team believed in my capabilities and gave me a chance. I feel grateful and empowered.
Today I flew back to Moscow and saw my grandma for the first time in two years. Swipe right to say hi.”
#womensequalityday
