Svetlana Mironyuk belongs to the list of top managerial personalities in Russia. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of job titles across multiple organizations, including First Vice-President, Editor in Chief, and Managing Director. Her involvement in the Russian business environment has been exceptional while looking at her career graph and the industries she served in. A personality with almost three decades of corporate existence has much to share, which contains valuable experience and an individual’s willpower to encourage our readers and young aspirants.
Join us as we explore the life journey of Svetlana Mironyuk, a woman who consistently sets her sights on achieving greatness.
Building Bridges of Success
Throughout her career, Svetlana Mironyuk has accomplished extraordinary success in various creative fields, including PR, GR, communications, media, and marketing. During her 11-year tenure as a crisis manager at a major national news agency, she played a crucial role in the organization’s recovery from salary arrears while implementing updated technological and infrastructure frameworks. Svetlana excelled in building strong teams of managers and journalists who could successfully navigate the rapidly changing digital landscape. With over 2,000 employees across 50 countries, she was instrumental in motivating them to adapt to changes or seek new opportunities.
In the 2010s, Svetlana reached the pinnacle of her media career, earning numerous accolades. However, as a forty-year-old CEO, she began to experience a professional ceiling and midlife crisis, which led her to question her next steps. Despite the challenges, Svetlana made a bold career move by enrolling in an EMBA program at Chicago Booth. It proved to be a transformative investment in herself that opened up new opportunities and perspectives. Svetlana met fascinating individuals from different countries, learned new concepts, and discovered new meanings that helped her find her true calling.
At Booth, Svetlana discovered her passion for developing complex and efficient working structures. She later applied this knowledge at one of the largest Russian banks, PwC, and the SKOLKOVO School of Management. In addition, her role as Vice-Rector for Digitalization and Professor of Practice at SKOLKOVO showcased her exceptional skill and proficiency in the field. Her strategic vision and expertise in digital innovation positioned the school at the forefront of educational excellence, empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the digital age.
Learning on the Go
Svetlana admires individuals who have found their career path and remained committed to it. However, her career path has changed over time. In different phases of her life, she has had other role models. Two significant icons for her were Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana, who were strong-willed, decisive, and unafraid to speak their mind.
Svetlana understands the importance of being adaptable and avoiding idealizing oneself or others. “If you demand from yourself a perfect match in knowledge and skills, you can actually never start doing anything,” adds Svetlana. Instead, Svetlana thinks learning as you go and gaining skills while achieving your goals is essential. The phrase “Just do it” motivates her to take action. Svetlana defines herself by her actions and doesn’t require a detailed plan to start. However, she does need a significant idea that matters to her and others, along with like-minded individuals to work with, as she is a team player.
Empowering Leaders through SKOLKOVO’s Unique Offerings
Personal growth through meaningful conversations and knowledge sharing is essential as an adult. Furthermore, mentoring and lecturing are great ways to achieve this. SKOLKOVO, the largest private business school in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, provides ample personal and professional development opportunities.
Founded in 2006 by the business community, SKOLKOVO School of Management has become the top business school in Eastern Europe, according to the Financial Times 2020 Executive Education. Additionally, it has secured the 49th spot among 95 other business schools across the continent in the Financial Times ranking of Europe’s leading business schools.
SKOLKOVO aims to train national and global leaders who can contribute to the school’s growth and become part of its community. Its mission, “To empower the leaders of tomorrow, guiding talent to succeed in shaping the future of the country and the world,” captures this vision. Starting from June 1, 2023, the SKOLKOVO School of Management opens a quota for special admission to its educational programs for leaders of the charity industry. As per the SKOLKOVO Pro bono initiative, more than 30 programs will be available to NGO professionals.
Furthermore, SKOLKOVO is dedicated to gender equality and has launched the Female Leaders Opportunities and Wholeness (FLOW) program, the first female leadership course in Russia. It helps women overcome gender stereotypes, achieve work-life balance, and advance their careers.
Moreover, the Leadership Identity Foundation and Transformation (LIFT) program assists successful professionals who feel burned out in rediscovering themselves. For MBA and EMBA students, SKOLKOVO provides unique communication modules, such as a role-playing game where students can practice speaking at a press conference and interacting with real journalists.
Approach to Digital Transformation
As the Dean for Development and Digitalization at the SKOLKOVO School of Management, Svetlana has been at the forefront of driving innovation and spearheading the school’s digital transformation for the past three years. With her expertise in digital marketing, data-driven communications, and digital transformation, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the school’s direction.
She showcased her visionary leadership during the pandemic by swiftly implementing an emergency strategy. In addition, she seamlessly transitioned the school to online operations, ensuring that classes continued uninterrupted despite the lockdowns. One remarkable outcome of this effort was establishing the GlassRoom virtual studio, a pioneering solution that became the school’s hallmark. This interactive learning platform revolutionized the educational experience by giving students a unique multimedia window into the school’s world.
Svetlana’s commitment to innovation extended beyond virtual classrooms. Under her guidance, the SKOLKOVO School of Management introduced cutting-edge AR studios. Additionally, she led a groundbreaking project that brought a virtual professor to life.
Constructive Changes to Empower Women Leaders
Svetlana has spearheaded concrete and constructive changes at the SKOLKOVO School of Management to empower women leaders. Recognizing the importance of education, the school offers educational grants exclusively for women through competitive selection processes. These grants provide financial support and open doors to exceptional learning opportunities.
To further foster gender diversity, SKOLKOVO School of Management implements quotas and special conditions for the enrolment of women in their programs. Notably, grant competitions have been held specifically for the FLOW program, offering deserving women the chance to participate and excel. Furthermore, taking empowerment a step further, a great school graduate has established the SKOLKOVO Women Club with an impressive membership of around 1200 women.
APAC’s Business Leadership Overview
Svetlana expressed optimism about APAC’s business leadership and highlighted important factors that indicate the region’s growth roadmap. Her insights were informative and valuable. Here’s what she shared:
In recent years, business leadership in the APAC region has undergone significant transformations, reflecting the region’s dynamic corporate culture. Leaders in this region embody vital qualities such as a strong work ethic, seizing opportunities with determination, and maintaining a positive outlook.
One distinguishing characteristic is the APAC entrepreneurs’ commitment to fostering partnerships. Recognizing the value of collaboration, they actively seek out strategic alliances to access adjacent markets, attract investments, and expand trade relations. This approach contributes to the region’s growing influence in the global business landscape.
Furthermore, APAC leaders understand the importance of innovation and adaptability in driving progress. The majority of entrepreneurs in the region, more than 90%, swiftly responded to the challenges posed by the pandemic. They demonstrated agility by swiftly adapting their business models to meet evolving demands and market conditions.
Insights Unveiling the Qualities of Successful Women Leaders
In the ever-evolving business landscape, gender-related characteristics take a back seat to the strengths of one’s personality when it comes to effective leadership, according to Svetlana’s perspective.
As we navigate the 2020s, the ability to embrace transparency and honesty in decision-making holds paramount importance. The modern world, with its unpredictability, demands maximum openness from leaders. Communication is equally vital, a versatile tool to shape mindsets and foster team motivation.
Another essential quality is the skill of delegation, which is often challenging for perfectionists. However, in business, relinquishing control becomes a catalyst for growth. Svetlana emphasizes the symbiotic exchange: trading decision-making authority for the opportunity to scale, expand influence, and enhance effectiveness.
From her wealth of management experience, Svetlana highlights the significance of active listening, valuing diverse perspectives, and empowering team members to feel appreciated and accomplished.
Proactive and Persistent Leadership in Dynamic Business World
Svetlana understands the importance of proactive and persistent leadership in today’s fast-paced and uncertain business landscape. She agrees with Nassim Taleb’s insight that “the payoff of a human venture is, in general, inversely proportional to what it is expected to be.” She emphasizes the need for quick responses, flexibility, and continuous learning to navigate these challenges.
Svetlana envisions bringing positive changes by fostering a culture of agility and open-mindedness. She believes that successful leaders invest in their development and prioritize nurturing their teams’ skills and competencies. By empowering her team, she ensures they are equipped to tackle any obstacles that arise.
Approach to Personal and Professional Harmony
Svetlana understands the significance of working on projects that align with her values and bring a sense of personal fulfillment. She considers achieving equilibrium a form of success. Svetlana believes that striving for professional goals should not lead individuals to compromise their authentic selves or sacrifice their personal priorities. While she acknowledges that she has not fully attained this equilibrium, she remains resilient against the impact of major geopolitical shifts or personal challenges, such as her second divorce.
Wise Words of Inspiration
Svetlana’s remarkable journey embodies the spirit of resilience, adaptability, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Her ability to transform organizations, navigate crises, and build dynamic structures has earned her recognition as a visionary leader. She is molding the next generation of pioneers with her powerful influence. Her legacy as a successful change-maker is sure to last. To spread the spark, she shares some sage advice here:
- Don’t let your inner limitations stop you! And don’t stop learning: abandon the old paradigms and don’t be afraid of the new ones.
- Unlearn and learn anew, as Toffler said. You can manage everything: build several careers, start a family—and more than just one—conquer mountain tops, scuba dive, and even start riding a mountain bike after you are 50, as I did.
Quote
“Successful leaders not only learn by themselves but also take care of developing and training their team so that it always has the most relevant competencies and skills.”
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