Success Builder

HSE graduate Nadezhda Markova became Director of the Deal Strategy and Market Research Group at Kept, one of Russia’s largest consulting firms, two years ago. In an interview with Success Builder, she spoke about modern ‘consulting with a human face,’ women’s mentorship, and why not every soldier should dream of becoming a general.

Ihsannudin, from Indonesia, graduated from the GSB Master's Programme 'Electronic Business and Digital Innovations' in 2023. He is the CEO and founder of a tour operator specialising in travel from Indonesia to Russia. The company has organised more than 60 group tours, serving over 1,500 Indonesian travellers. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Ihsannudin shares his insights on building an international business, the importance of a competitive academic environment, and the knowledge and skills essential for becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Warda Tariq, from Pakistan, completed her Master’s in Data Science at HSE University–Moscow in 2024. She is now undertaking a PhD at the Faculty of Computer Science while working remotely as an AI/ML developer. Warda spoke to the HSE News Service about blending theory and practice, what an HSE education provides apart from academic knowledge, and her advice for making the most of university.

Anna Gonzales, a Peruvian graduate of the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at HSE University, completed her Master’s in International Business in 2024. Currently based in Moscow, she works remotely as Marketing Team Lead at Digital Tide, an international IT company. In this interview, Anna reflects on her academic journey at HSE University. From landing her first job as a student to advancing through roles in marketing and technology, Anna shares her insights on cross-cultural collaboration and the lasting value of her HSE education.

A year ago, Inna Andreyanova, Director of Corporate Development at the Foundation for the Development of ISTC 'Intelligent Electronics–Valdai' and graduate of the Master's Programme in Management in Higher Education at HSE University, took up the position of General Director of the Foundation for the Development of the UNITY PARK Innovative Scientific and Technological Centre in Surgut. In this interview, Inna Andreyanova talks about working on the development of a major federal project, her studies at HSE University, and the motivation she draws from a job that makes full use of her skills.

Polina Yurova studied integrated communications at HSE University, and later, when she cofounded the EGGSELLENT gastronomic project, she experienced firsthand the importance of bringing people together for everyone's benefit. In this interview with Success Builder, she talks about the evolution of her business, the value of mistakes as a source of unique experience, and the importance of always leaving room for chance events.

Valery Kolesov is a seasoned and accomplished director, screenwriter, and producer. He was also the first student to enrol in the Film Production Programme at the HSE Campus in Perm. We spoke with Valery about his journey into the film industry and why there's no need to fear starting a new career—even if you've never worked in film before.

After earning a degree from the Moscow Banking School, Ekaterina Dvoryantseva planned to pursue further studies in the field, towards a career in banking. However, her plans were derailed by the 1998 financial crisis. After working in several roles unrelated to aviation, she joined Aeroflot and quickly advanced to become manager of innovation. In this interview with Success Builder, she discusses how the company implements and integrates innovation, why you might run a polygraph test on a dog, and how to reclaim one's youth (spoiler: enrol in a master's programme at HSE University).

Amal Saidov is a 2022 graduate of the Bachelor's programme 'Economics'. During his studies, Amal made the most of the opportunities available at HSE University: he participated in an academic mobility programme, spent a year in Spain, got transferred to a state-funded place, and participated in case championships and educational schools. This experience helped him to start a career in the Big Four, work in several countries, and continue his career path at B1 as a senior consultant in the Business Tax Advisory department.

Md Naoshad Jaman Chowdhury, 31, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance and an MBA (International Business) from Dhaka University and graduated from the Master’s Programme in Management and Analytics for Business of HSE University in St Petersburg. Now he works as an HR Analyst at Brain Station 23 PLC, a prominent software company in Bangladesh. Naoshad Jaman talked to the HSE News Service about his career path, the skills he acquired during his studies at HSE University, the challenges he faced while learning Russian, and his plans to become an academic—complete with a big cup of coffee and professor jokes.

Maryann Asemota, from Nigeria, graduate of the Master’s in Science, Technology, and Innovation Management, now works as researcher at the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK). In an interview with the HSE News Service, she shared her experience of working at HSE University, her future plans, and gave some advice on pursuing a career in academia.

Fyodor Tikhonov, graduate of the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics is responsible for internal analytics focused on large corporate businesses at Absolut Bank and also mentors startup founders, helping them adopt a broader perspective and successfully navigate the stages of growth. In this interview with Success Builder, he shares his experiences working in the financial sector, pursuing an MBA with his last remaining funds and immersing himself in the world of venture capital and startups, and discusses the upcoming changes in the field of education.

Nikolay Bogdanov, 28, from Sofia, Bulgaria, graduated from the Psychology programme of the HSE Faculty of Social Sciences in 2022. Currently, he is based in the Netherlands, where he pursues a master's degree in behavioural sciences at Radboud University and works as a life coach. In an interview with the HSE News Service, Nikolay shares his experience at HSE University, his professional challenges and achievements, as well as the importance of teamwork, persistent curiosity, and self-improvement.

Bhaskar Kayathwal, 26, from India, completed his programme in Master of International Business at HSE University in 2021. Currently, he is responsible for business development at an influencer marketing company. In an interview with the HSE News Service, Bhaskar shares his experience at HSE University, the importance of seizing unexpected opportunities, and the parallels between business development and chess.

Petr Garmider, 27, from Uzbekistan, received his master’s degree from HSE University in 2022. Today, he works at one of Russia’s most popular music streaming services, where he develops algorithms that recommend music tracks for users. In his interview with the HSE News Service, Petr shares his experiences as a graduate student and early-career data scientist.

Maxim Tsaturyan first became interested in innovation as an undergraduate student, and in 2018, he completed the Master's in Innovation Management at the HSE Department of Innovation Management. Today, Maxim heads a project office at Skolkovo and delivers lectures to HSE students. In this interview with Success Builder, Maxim elaborates on why working in the sphere of innovations requires one to embody the roles of a financial director, engineer, and PR manager all at once; how HSE University helps students acquire the most invaluable asset, which is social capital; and what types of projects most investors, with the government leading the way, actively seek.

In 2021, Anatoly Vilikotsky and Victoria Sharapova, as students of HSE University, participated in the BioMedTech business incubator. Their project to develop a leukaemia treatment drug and launch it on the pharmaceutical market was deemed the best one and awarded residency at Skolkovo. In this interview with Success Builder, they explain the process of creating a pharmaceutical product from the ground up, offer insights into fostering a synergy between science and the market, and suggest avenues for applying academic education in the industry.

Maria Maslennikova, a graduate of HSE FES, chose two paths at once as a specialist: she succeeded in both consulting and investment banking and gained the trust of the international market to such a degree that she now works as an independent consultant. In this interview with Success Builder, she talked about how the HSE community contributes to career success, why working in a boutique company is more interesting than working in a global bank, and how to conduct multibillion-dollar transactions for state corporations.

Emilia Arslanova holds a bachelor's in sociology and believes that a degree in humanities provides a strong foundation for a successful career in the field of IT. In her role as a product manager at Domclick, she maintains a strong emphasis on professional development in the digital sphere, both as a researcher and a supervisor. In this interview with Success Builder, Emilia shares her insights on how sociology students can make informed decisions about their future career and choose the right employer, why a humanities education is well-suited for managing digital projects, and what prospective students of her upcoming course at HSE can expect.

HSE Perm graduate Anna Bykova built a successful academic career while also narrowing the gap between science and business as the head of the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises of the Perm Region. In this interview with Success Builder, Ms. Bykova explained how to express leadership skills in an academic environment, why modern graduates are reluctant to go into the public sector, and why an HSE professor needs expertise in track.

A former Goldman Sachs consultant and the architect of numerous Yandex projects, ICEF graduate Vahe Ovasapyan now holds the post of Head of Fintech at Ozon. In this interview with Success Builder, Vahe shares his views on how to remain an overachiever and why it’s good to take risks.