"I am glad to be among the dreamers, the thinkers and the doers"

Meet Anatoly Onufriev, 1-year MIB student from Moscow.

Hi Tolya! Please tell us a bit about yourself, your previous education and experience.

Hi! My name is Tolya, I was born in Russian Siberia close to the polar circle, where I used to go to school while it was 35 degrees below zero. My whole family are industrial constructors who moved to Moscow in early 2000s. All my life I was into music, theatre, literature, history and global pop culture. After school I entered Moscow State University of Law where I had the unique experience of organizing scientific and networking events, and public perfomances. During my university studies I was lucky to be a part of several business projects and finally found myself in a very ambitious international investment firm Tranio. Currently I am working as a foreign investment advisor specialising in commercial real estate and development. Besides a broker career, I am happy to be a part of two other potentially successful projects - an experimental music band PAHNET SALOM (can be translated as "It smells like salo") and a boutique legal firm Indemnity. PAHNET SALOM is a collaboration of a talented underground beat-maker, a professional drummer from the popular Moscow band, a kundalini-yoga-master playing bass-guitar, english freshman and a brave vanguard poet (check us out on Soundcloud and Yandex music). Indemnity is the partnership of my close friends, gifted business lawyers focused on corporate conflicts and bankruptcy.

Why did you choose Master of International Business at HSE?

I found MIB while I was searching for the best international management programs available in Russia. After the Open House day of MIB, where I talked to the people with the same attitude as mine and learned about the exchange opportunities, some of which are really unique, I had no more hesitation about my further education. 

How did the application process go for you? 

The application procedure to the program was very structured and clear. Thanks to the MIB office staff who are always responsive, hardworking and nice, I entered quickly and painlessly.

Nine months of studies at HSE MIB are over. How were your expectations met? Can you share with us some of the most exciting or challenging moments? Courses and lecturers you find the most exciting, and why? 

Having almost no experience in economics, accounting and corporate finance I faced some difficulties in these courses, but my overall experience was still positive as well as the marks and I can claim with all the confidence that the collected knowledge is practically applicable in my daily business routine. The greatest pleasure I had during the courses of Business negotiations and Cross-cultural relations which are taught by the extremely enthusiastic and passionate instructors through the prism of tolerance, emotional intelligence and psychology. So yeah, almost every class is like a celebration.

The big part in the educational process plays the team, the people that surround me in a class. These are all open-minded and conscious people, trying to make their attempts in finding love and happiness in life. I am glad to be among the dreamers, the thinkers and the doers who teach me no less than the instructors. 

In your opinion, what are the most important and useful skills you acquire while being an MIB student? 

Aside from the soft skills and practical skills that you develop during the program, the biggest value that I earned is the friendships, the unique networking that can be compared to any global business administration programs in the world with the shade of Russian authenticity.

What would you recommend to MIB prospective students?

I would recommend all the youngsters to trust yourself, to believe in yourself disregarding the losses and haters, not to chase the money or fame ever in your life, to chase only happiness and self-awareness which we always have to fight for. I believe that empathy and execution will inevitably lead to success, that often is followed by the money. And what to do with the money you will be explained in the MIB :)

p.s. find me on instagram @ana1toly