I was born and raised in the heart of Russia, Bashkortostan, and just like my ancestors who were always on the move, I spent my entire childhood dreaming of travelling the world. Yet, my first journey abroad happened when I was 17, when I flew to the US to begin my lifelong adventure — starting with a full scholarship to study at Duke University. Since then, I’ve been to 20 countries, and I’m nowhere near stopping.
While I’ve dedicated my professional journey to marketing, communications, digital technology and social innovation, my biggest personal dream is to become a famous explorer — on par with Isabella Bird and Annie Londonderry — a fabulous old lady, cooped up somewhere in a cottage in Fethiye, writing books about her adventures.