I spent my early childhood in Russia before moving to Los Angeles, where I discovered my passion for ice skating and trained with an Olympic coach. At 16, I relocated to the French Riviera, eventually earning a master's degree in Marketing. I've spent the last 11 years in France, working in both corporate and startup environments. My entrepreneurial spirit led me to found an ice skating academy, collaborating with world champions and promoting sustainable ice rink technology. I also had the unique opportunity to star in a documentary film by acclaimed director Virgil Vernier.
1. As a successful business founder and a professional ice-skating coach what deep down drives you?
I am deeply driven by a passion for figure skating and a desire to make a lasting impact in the sport. I thrive on taking action and seeing the results, whether it's witnessing the progress of my students on the ice or the success of my business ventures.
I believe that the intersection of these two worlds allows me to create unique opportunities for myself and others, and that is what inspires me to push forward.
2. And on your journey to date, what would you say has been the most significant moment or milestone that has shaped the person you are today?
The challenges my family faced early on instilled in me a resilience and determination that have shaped my entire life. At 16, I was confronted with the responsibility of building my own path due to unforeseen circumstances.
More recently, I experienced the precariousness of the job market firsthand, losing two positions within a short span due to factors beyond my control. This was compounded by the complexities of navigating a new country and the uncertainties brought on by global events.
However, throughout these trials, my figure skating students always found me, no matter where I was. They reminded me of what I love to do. This led me to create my own security by starting my own business.
3. Professional sports coaching can be very rewarding but also demanding. Against this backdrop, how do you stay grounded and open to new opportunities?
Life's challenges have taught me resilience and the ability to turn obstacles into opportunities. This unique experience fuels my passion for empowering students to reach their full potential, both on and off the ice.
Currently, my focus is on providing joyful and effective instruction to beginner and intermediate skaters. My proven technique allows students to quickly achieve impressive results with ease.
By delegating tasks to a team of coaches worldwide and maintaining a structured schedule, I ensure flexibility in my business while prioritizing my own well-being.
4. Founding a business often involves taking risks. But what role do you believe risk-taking plays in achieving success?
Embracing calculated risks has been a catalyst for my personal and professional growth. By viewing setbacks as invaluable learning experiences, I've transformed them into stepping stones towards greater success. I prioritize financial risks as a cost-effective way to gain knowledge and expertise.
5. What is your personal success philosophy, and how do you use this to inspire and motivate those around you, especially your students?
My philosophy of success is simple: do, do, and do what you believe is necessary without judging the results as "good" or "bad." The key elements are discipline and a deep conviction that I will definitely achieve what I want, as I have already confirmed this many times in practice.
I use this philosophy to inspire and motivate those around me, especially my students. At each training session, we record the results on video, and when I show students what they have achieved in 4 lessons – something that seemed impossible to them yesterday – it is incredibly disciplining and motivating and instills confidence in their own abilities.
Seeing their progress, my students understand that nothing is impossible if you work on it and believe in yourself. This approach helps them not only in their studies but also in life in general.
6. Over-coming challenge and displaying resilience is increasingly important. Can you share any setbacks you've encountered and how you've used that experience to learn and grow?
Having spent years on the ice as a figure skater, I'm no stranger to falling. It's a part of the learning process, and I wouldn't have landed a single jump without countless stumbles along the way. Similarly, my early experience in the world of commerce taught me that the words "no" and "failure" are just temporary setbacks on the path to success.
When I first organized two sports camps at the request of a partner who had asked me eagerly and planned to bring 15-20 people from another city to learn my technique, the partner disappeared. In the end, only two families attended each camp, thanks to the advertising I did myself.
At that time, I was at the peak of burnout. Even though the ice rental, logistics, and accommodation were covered, I was working for free. It was tough. I cried from exhaustion. It was fundamentally important to me to establish partnerships with the ice rinks after the initial contact, so I decided not to cancel the camps but to pay the full rental fee and conduct them.
But two days into the first camp, the new students enjoyed the private nature of the training so much that they asked me to conduct a private camp for their family in a resort town, of course, at my standard rate, including the cost of ice rental, flights, and my accommodation. That's when I was convinced once again that I needed to keep going.
I have implemented a flexible pricing structure for my ice camps, which adapts to the number of attendees. Furthermore, the appointment of a director to my academy has successfully addressed and eliminated these previous issues.
7. Uncovering, supporting and backing ideas can often make a difference. But what do you believe is important when seeking to foster a culture of innovation and creativity?
In my experience, fostering innovation requires a positive and supportive environment, encouraging open communication and diverse perspectives, and embracing continuous learning and experimentation. Just as I encourage my students to embrace challenges through a fun atmosphere, I prefer to unlock my business potential by cultivating joy and possibility for my partners and employees.
I've seen firsthand how collaboration and trust lead to innovative solutions, whether it's developing new skating techniques or building an international ice rink in Monaco.
Valuing every team member's input and fostering collaboration lead to innovative solutions. Finally, embracing continuous learning and viewing failures as learning opportunities are key to staying ahead of the curve.
8. Successful people often face challenges in balancing work, commitments and personal life. How do you manage this balance, and what strategies do you use to prevent burnout?
I maintain a schedule with my students that's planned a month, if not a year, in advance. I've developed effective workflows that streamline my work. I delegate tasks to professionals in their respective fields, providing guidance while respecting their creative process.
I derive immense satisfaction from my work and the generation of new ideas, concepts, and proposals. These often come to me during moments of rest, meditation, or when I change my environment. This process energizes me.
9. With 12 years of international coaching experience, you've already achieved a great deal in your career, so what keeps you going and ensures you bring your best self to your endeavours?
First and foremost, it's an inexplicable internal drive to create and execute. I derive both joy and energy from this process. I feel physically unwell when I'm not materializing and testing my ideas. Even if the actions taken don't yield immediate success, they clear my mind and bring a sense of lightness and calm, knowing I've done my best.
Secondly, I find happiness in bringing joy to others and unlocking their potential. I want to further popularize figure skating, demonstrating that it's a sport accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. Currently, coaches and skaters critically lack free ice time for safe training with minimal crowding. My aspiration is to own ice rinks and provide comfortable conditions for both children and adults to reach their full potential in this beautiful sport.
Additionally, I coach children with developmental differences. Perhaps I have a gift for maintaining their focus and finding approaches that lead to rapid progress in this sport. Figure skating, with its complex movements, creates new neural connections. Parents report that their children's speech improves with regular lessons, and they maintain focus during our sessions.
I'm passionate about developing this area of coaching and ensuring equal opportunities for success, at least within this field.
10. Finally, we've all been inspired by the Paris Olympics, what is the one key piece of advice you'd offer to those who want to improve their own sporting performance or indeed get a new sporting habit going?
To establish a new habit, start with regular 30-minute workouts each day – after two weeks, it will become difficult to go without exercise.
To enhance your skills, seek out the best specialists in your field, invest in quality training, and diligently follow your coach's recommendations.
