Women's start: how successful careers begin. Women's Start: Where Successful Careers Begin Mary Kay Russia CEO Alla Sokolova Receives AmCham Business Person of the Year Award

Yulia Solovieva, CEO, Google Russia

First work: translator

I was a hothouse home child and started working only at the institute. It is clear that my sister and I helped at home, we also did something at school. So, in grades 9-10 at school at the bottom of vocational training, we made small motors for toys. Once a week they went to the factory and made these motors with their own hands - at first they stripped the wire for a long time, then wrapped it with something. Pieces 50 could be done in a day.

And my first earnings were at the institute, then I studied in foreign language at the Faculty of Translation. I never washed cars, never worked as a waitress, like American children. I immediately decided to work by profession - to be a translator. And in my 4th year I got a job as a translator for a couple of weeks. It was the beginning of the 1990s, when foreign businesses began to actively enter Russia. I worked with an American couple who came here with the idea of selling popcorn. They wanted to set up a popcorn machine business and traveled to different ball bearing factories to find partners. Where am I and where are the ball bearings? That was my first job. We traveled to different cities and negotiated. I especially remember the trip to Vologda, because the day before, for some reason, I dyed my hair bright red, and I had a short haircut. Probably, then in Vologda they took me for an alien or also for a foreigner. We walked around the plant, they told us in detail how everything was done. And then, of course, we were taken to drink, after which the American was carried to the station all over Vologda. And when it was necessary to translate documents from English into Russian, he asked me to print the information on the first analogue of a laptop - it was called a word processor. I tried to refuse and write by hand, but they insisted. The first day I suffered, I learned to type with one finger. Then I found textbooks on fast typing and I still type like a professional typist with all my fingers. And then it seemed to me that such a skill as typing, I absolutely do not need and will never need. At that time, the translator's rate was $20 per day, and in 2 weeks I earned about $200. At the time, that was a lot of money. What did I spend it on? To be honest, I don't remember. Probably put it off for the future. When I left for the United States at the end of my studies, I bought myself a radiotelephone with caller ID with the money set aside.

And my first real job was at the Moskovskaya cellular"- and also by profession. I came there immediately after college in 1994 as a translator and assistant to Fred Ledbetter, who was the company's deputy general director for commercial matters. Communication went to the regions, and we began to travel all over Russia and open regional cellular companies. My first trip was to Vladivostok, where I quickly turned from a translator into his partner, because I had to do everything at once - write job descriptions, negotiate and even stand in line together for gasoline indefinitely. On the Far East At that time there was no gasoline. And at 18:00, the lights were turned off throughout the city. This is how we worked. Then there were already the first laptops and there was even an email, we went together every evening to the post office, and for a long time he tried to connect via dial-up to e-mail and write a letter. I perceived it as something prohibitively cosmic and had nothing to do with me. But my boss was an advanced person, he typed his letters himself, while all his Russian colleagues wrote letters by hand and the secretaries retyped them. At the same time, I got my first cell phone the size of a suitcase. My boss gave it to me, although the phone was not assigned to me by status. I was quick, agile, quickly redid all the cases and ran away to the sales department to the young salesmen and laughed there with them for half a day, and the boss could not find me. So he gave me a phone number. So I got an Ericsson "suitcase" weighing about 1 kg. I remember the dawn of the development of all these technologies in Russia. It was very interesting and fun.

Natalya Pochinok, Rector of the RSSU

First work: athlete-instructor

At the age of 13 I had employment history and the first entry in it is “athlete-instructor of the Moscow Federation of Trade Unions”. I have been involved in sports since childhood, was a member of the Russian junior team in athletics (1991-1994), became the winner of all-Russian and international competitions in the 800 and 1500 meters and the 4x400 relay. I earned the title of master of sports. And an instructor athlete is one of the forms of immersing athletes in methodical activities. I worked in this position for four years - before entering the university and a couple of years after.

My first salary as an instructor athlete was either 30 or 40 rubles, while my mother, a certified neurologist, received 95. I brought the money I earned to the family, and, of course, this was a significant help to the family budget.

But the first real job was related to my immediate profession - a financier in one of the leading companies in the field of audit and consulting Arthur Andersen. I started working there when I was a third-year student at Plekhanov University. At this real, “adult” job, the salary was about $600. I always dreamed of having a car and, to be honest, I already knew how to drive, but I did not have a driver's license and my own car. In two months, I raised $1200, bought a used Zhiguli, got a license.

Career lesson: Today, having reached a certain level of professionalism in management, leadership, primarily in the financial and banking sector, you undoubtedly manage more effectively. family capital, personal savings.

Children and money In children, it is necessary to encourage the desire for work, for active life position. There are wonderful lines: “Do not let your soul be lazy! In order not to crush water in a mortar, the soul is obliged to work day and night, and day and night! Therefore, of course, children must understand that in order to become successful in life, you need to work hard, have a clear goal and, of course, study, because at their age, study is the work that must be done responsibly and efficiently.

Ksenia Ryasova, President of Finn Flare

First work: Moscow polyclinic receptionist

I started working at the age of 13, during the summer school holidays I got a job at the receptionist in the 15th medical unit in Moscow. My grandmother, who worked there as a doctor, helped me get to work. I issued cards, recorded patients, answered phone calls. I am from a low-income family, and I wanted to dress beautifully, look good, I needed boots, a coat. For the first salary - it was 70 rubles - I bought autumn gray low boots. It seems that the entire salary went to them, boots cost that much at that time. Few of my classmates and friends worked, but my parents supported me, and besides, I only worked for two months out of three and took one month off. It seems to me that this is normal - at the age of 13-14, you start thinking about money, about work. My son is now 16 years old, this summer he first started working as a courier in his father's company. He understood how hard money is.

I worked at the polyclinic for three consecutive summers, I didn’t have time to work at the institute, I studied at the full-time department of the Moscow Institute of Management. Ordzhonikidze, except that she went to construction teams for student holidays, but not for potatoes. So, once I worked as a sales assistant in a confectionery department in a high-rise building on Krasnopresnenskaya. I survived only a week and left, during which time I managed to gain two extra pounds.

But after the 3rd year of the institute, in the early 1990s, my husband and I left for Vietnam, where my husband was a diplomat, and there I started own business. She brought clothes from Vietnam and sold them through sellers in Moscow markets.

Olga Podoinitsyna, Member of the Management Board, VTB Capital, Head of Corporate Relations and Marketing Department

First work: transcription of documentary film recordings

I was not specifically looking for a job, there was no question of any way to get a livelihood. But the work found me. The first job appeared, it seems, in the 8th grade of the school, that is, I was 14-15 years old. I was asked to help print texts for documentaries by my mother's friend, a first-class translator from Intourist. She gave me some of the materials, and I received little money for it. I actually became her subcontractor. I had to listen to the film and type by ear from the recordings on audio cassettes. Back then it was only possible to print typewriter- computers appeared a little later. I still remember how it was necessary to observe a certain impact force so that the letters were printed, to be able to reload the film if it was time to replace it. With the cassettes from which it was necessary to print the text, it was also sometimes necessary to mess around. After all, you constantly turned the sound on and off in order to manage to print texts in parts. I must say that this experience is invaluable as the first attempt to have your own income, and, most importantly, the opportunity to learn something new - attention, patience, new skills, quality of work and its execution in the right time. And, of course, business communication. After all, you entered into a relationship, if not with the employer, then with his representative, and you had certain obligations. I think, if the opportunity presents itself, I should somehow ask my mother's friend how she assessed me at that time and the results of my work.

True, I tried to remember what kind of films they were, and realized that I didn’t remember it at all. Apparently they didn't interest me at all. I don’t remember how much they paid me either, but I definitely bought something for tea at home with this money. After all, this is such a tradition: to bring something into the house from the first salary.

A little later, it seems, in the first year of the institute, I chose the job of compiling a catalog of the home library of a well-known Soviet philosopher. He had recently died and his widow wanted to clean up the library and perhaps publish his papers and notes. It was a real philosophical library with famous books and old editions. This was the golden mean, which is difficult to get in life, when you do what gives you pleasure, and at the same time earn money. I love books, since childhood they have been a part of my life. And of course, students always need money. I studied then at the Lenin Pedagogical Institute. In addition, an important point for me was communication with interesting people. It was an intelligent Moscow family with a philosophy, culture, and the right values. And that was an added bonus. Communication is priceless, especially when it brings something new to you. If I were older, I would have talked more with that lady, because when you are young, you are always in a hurry somewhere.

I had different options for earning from case to case. There were offers, and I did not refuse them. In addition to printing the texts of documentaries and compiling a library catalog, I then also worked at the Institute of Patent Examination, and in the fourth year I prepared 10th grade for the final exams in literature sports school. They all passed it, which was incredible. It was also income. But for me it was more a new difficult experience of overcoming, developing character, communication skills with a new audience, the experience of being able to get results.

What did I spend money on then? For example, several times I bought fabrics and sewed dresses for myself.

My parents approved of my desire to work. I think all parents are happy when the child is doing something useful. In addition, when a child receives money, he must be able to manage it. And this is another important lesson.

My parents did not educate me in this regard, but the best upbringing is always a personal example. So, my dad was a mining engineer, but he always worked part-time in order to be able to pay for the cooperative, buy a car - he was engaged in translations, wrote articles, scientific work while still a student he taught mathematics.

Children and money With my children - a daughter and a son - I behaved in much the same way as my parents. Children have always participated in the life of the family, we have always talked with them on an equal footing. They understood where the money comes from, what the budget is, no one ever hid from them how much it costs to rent an apartment and how it compares to the cost of a kindergarten, and later preparation for college and study in Russia and abroad.

It seems to me that it is necessary to encourage in children the desire to work and get results. This is important in school, in sports, and in work. All of them teach discipline, instill a sense of responsibility. Children can earn money, probably, from the age of 16 for sure. It could be participation in family business, if there is one, there may be lessons in the subject that the child is good at, or training if he excelled in some kind of sport. Yes, at least New Year cards if it is possible to attach them. After all, sales is a special talent. It is one thing to produce or be a bearer of knowledge and skills that are in demand on the market, another thing is to be able to sell. In any case, if the child has the need and opportunity to work, why not.

Elena Yurgeneva, Regional Director of Residential Real Estate at Knight Frank

First work: radio program "Pioneer Dawn"

My first job was the Pioneer Dawn program, if you remember, in Soviet time there was such a morning daily program that became an alarm clock for many generations of children. In the program, the children spoke in cheerful voices in the morning about what good news the pioneers had. I got there at the age of 13, participated in the audition. I remember when the competition was announced, there was a queue across Kachalova Street. There were about ten of us presenters who changed on the air. I came to the studio two or three times a month, and we recorded several programs at once. It was interesting to work, we seriously prepared for the programs, we were taught how to breathe correctly, taught the correct diction, pronunciation. And after that, these qualities were very useful to me. I believe that public speaking skills are useful for anyone, regardless of where they work.

I remember that I had a fabulous first salary, I was paid 3 rubles 55 kopecks, for me it was a lot of money. I did not buy anything, I just gave it to my mother. And she said that she would put it off so that later I could buy something.

But I don't think we ended up buying anything. They just squandered that money. Our family lived very modestly.

I worked on the radio until the end of school and at the age of 17 I found another part-time job - I worked as a model at presentations and did promotions - I distributed samples, yogurts, cigarettes near the metro. The little money she earned as a promo girl (up to $20 for an evening of work) was spent on cosmetics and ice cream.

Back then, I started selling real estate - the first time-shares, when Soviet people were persuaded to buy a lifetime right to a week of vacation in the Canary Islands. This service cost $15,000. I think that few of our customers made it to the Canary Islands, they probably bought for the exotic.

And my first job with a serious income was also in real estate. I then studied at the institute - in the Moscow State Academy fine chemical technology, at the Faculty of Semiconductor Physics, my specialty is electronic engineering. Already in the second year I wanted to have own earnings. And I got a job as a real estate agent at InterOccidental. It was the first agency in Russia, it was it that set the rules of the game in the market. One of the founders of the agency was Dan Corcoran, an American, and it is thanks to him that now all realtors in Russia and the CIS work for interest.

My first deal was the sale of a one-room apartment in Novokosino. As I remember now, an apartment cost $16,000. Those were the days when apartments were cheaper than cars, and some people sold an apartment in order to buy a car. Now it seems incredible, and the price per meter was about $600, the most expensive housing was about $1000.

Children and money It seems to me important that children start thinking about part-time work with early age. My parents have always supported me. Now I am very surprised when I receive a resume, which says that a person started working after graduation. Even in rich families, it is wrong to take money from mom. It is not necessary to wash cars and unload newspapers, of course. But it may not be a dusty job in the company of parents. The desire to earn money and help the family is important. This is how I raised my daughter. Now she is 13 years old, she is studying in England, and there schoolchildren do a lot with their own hands - they bake cakes, make crafts and sell them at fairs, and all the money they earn is transferred to charitable foundations. It seems to me that this brings up responsibility, respect and a serious approach to work in children.

Alla Sokolova, CEO of Mary Kay Russia

First work: sale of fast food at the festival

I earned my first money at the age of 15 - at the international youth festival, selling sandwiches and sausages. It seemed to me that I was awarded a great honor - to provide uninterrupted energy to the participants of this important international event. Perhaps, at the time of youth, it was not so important what to do, but the involvement and importance of the moment, the value of the very opportunity to have own funds. The first 20 rubles earned burned our hands so much that they were immediately capitalized as a birthday present for my mother and our beloved grandmother, who lived with us. But the most striking was the feeling of independence, self-sufficiency. The opportunity to express myself in a new way in relationships with loved ones was very motivating, and I thought about a career.

Children and money Most parents, at least in Russia, try to protect their children to the last. On the one hand, I want to let the child know the joy of a carefree life in its own way, on the other hand, it is important not to overdo it with guardianship, risking taking away the most valuable thing - independence, freedom of choice, the ability to search, make decisions, make mistakes, and ultimately their life motivation and responsibility for their own implementation. But it's good to understand, harder to do - my daughter is 12 years old and, frankly, it's quite difficult to imagine her as a working lady in a couple of years.

Should our children follow our path and start working from their youth? I don't think there are fundamental changes here. Situations are different for everyone, and it is they who determine the choice of each.

Elena Ischeeva, journalist, partner of the Banki.ru news agency

First work: rhythmic gymnastics and rock ballet

My work began at the age of 6, I was professionally engaged in rhythmic gymnastics and every day in the heat and cold I went through the whole city to train. It was an Olympic reserve school in Zhukovsky, where during the training camp we were given food stamps, since we were part of the Moscow Region team. My family used these coupons to receive sausage, stew, delicious sweets, condensed milk in special closed tables of orders. These were my first earnings, which turned into a food ration - this was remembered for a lifetime. In the 1980s, the country with food was bad...

I ended my career in sports at the age of 14, becoming the master of sports of the USSR in rhythmic gymnastics. By that time, my parents and I had moved from Zhukovsky to Moscow, and I got a job as a dancer in the rock ballet Patron, which was founded by a former soloist of the Bolshoi Theater. I went to rehearsals every day, like to work. Came from school, dined and went to the ballet. We have prepared good program and planned to go abroad, but I was not released because I was underage.

However, it was in rock ballet that I began to receive my first official salary, I had a work book there. How much exactly I earned was erased from my memory, but I remember exactly that I spent the first salary on decoration. Then everyone was engaged in fartsovka, and the girls brought an Italian 925 silver chain, as thin as a thread. And I spent almost all the money on it, for which my mother strongly scolded me. She said that you shouldn't spend money so thoughtlessly. I remember this episode, and I drew conclusions ...

My parents and I made a rule - to save my money for the future. They took part of my salary from me and took it to the safe at work. Over time, this helped me a lot when I had to organize a wedding on my own, that is, at that time I turned out to be a rich bride.

I worked in ballet from the age of 14 to 16, and then left to enter the journalism department of Moscow State University and, having scored a semi-passing score, got into the evening department. In those days, if you study at the evening, then you must definitely work. And my mother helped me get a job as a courier at the Smena radio station in the USSR State Television and Radio Broadcasting System.

Why did I go to work so early? Sports have had a big impact. It is important to consider the psychology of young athletes. When you go in for professional sports, you grow up very early: training camps, competitions. By the end of my career, I had already traveled the floor Soviet Union, performed at tournaments in Georgia, Armenia, Moldova. Thus, my desire to go to work as early as possible was natural, I was used to being independent.

Children and money You can not compare Soviet families and modern ones. For today's children, the topic of earning money is not as acute as ours. They live in a different reality, in a different Russia, they have a lot of things, toys, all kinds of food, this is a completely different generation. And we found the collapse of the Soviet Union and remember what empty shelves are. After going through this, you understand how much a pound is dashing.

Of course, it is necessary to instill respect for money from childhood. It is important that children understand that the wealth of the family is not taken off the shelf, but is earned at the cost of the strength and health of the parents.

My eldest son Danila is now in the 10th grade, he is 14 years old. Recently, at a family council, we decided that in the summer, during the holidays, he would work for a month as an intern on our banki.ru portal. When we voiced this idea to him, he gladly agreed. And he asked: “What, just go to work every day?” The husband says: “Yes, every day.” This is important in order to understand what kind of load lies ahead. Let him work in the marketing department, let's see what ideas he will have in terms of promoting our products. I hope that he will work his first salary honestly and in full force.

Ekaterina Turtseva, director of corporate communications at Acronis, co-founder communication agency Advertos

First work: potato weeding

I started making money at the age of 10. All summer I worked in the village weeding collective farm potatoes - it was unrealistically hot and hard. The first earnings - 25 rubles. Of which I immediately spent 5 rubles on gifts for my parents (I bought some nonsense in the form of combs, soap and something else in our store). For this I "received" from my mother: "Aren't you ashamed?! In our family, everyone in the family always gave money to mom in family budget and you're squandering." I had to pay my first paycheck. They bought me everything for school - notebooks, pens, pencils.

In the second year, at the age of 11, I managed to earn 140 rubles over the summer. I really, really, really wanted a tape recorder, I already knew all the records in the house by heart. Dad was against it. He believed that this would distract me from my studies and discourage me (although I studied for one five). I had to come up with a legend that in a music school they give us the task of learning pieces in 4 hands. I can learn one part and record it on a cassette, and play the second part on the piano at home. Ride! I even demonstrated this case once. At the age of 12, they took me to grain. Barely persuaded. She was skinny and they were afraid that I would not stand it. They paid more. I no longer remember how much I earned during the summer at the grain market - but it was hard and very fun. I worked there for 2 summers, at 12 and 13 years old. Feeling that I can help my parents by the fact that they will spend less on me, I got a job in Kindergarten music worker. After school, I went to work. The monthly salary was 65 rubles. Finally, the following summer, they took me to brickworks. We dragged raw bricks, laid them out on the scaffolding to dry, then we were taught how to properly stack the brick before sending it to the kiln - I really liked it. At the age of 15, I did not finish the summer there - a toe was broken, a brick accidentally fell. And then I went to study in Kazan in a pedagogical college. And from the age of 17, I started to go to work in the camp every summer for 4 shifts. In total, I worked 34 shifts in the camp. The last two, being a Beeline employee, during the New Year holidays.

Children and money My parents were calm that I was doing useful work. They themselves went through similar, even more difficult, work.

And is it really bad that a child goes to a music school and at the same time teaches small children music and earns money? An excellent practice. And the rest is the same. And physical labor should be 100% - it forms willpower and character, the core of personality

Theoretically with school years you have to know how to make money. Develop your knowledge, train them. I would be glad if my son finds a business from his early school years that he will enjoy and benefit from. I will do my best to guide and support him in this.

Ksenia Podoinitsyna, director and co-owner of the gallery of contemporary art "Gallery 21"

First work: accountant's assistant

I got my first job right after my first year internship at the Russian Academy of Economics. Plekhanov. I studied at the faculty of the International School of Business with a specialization in Finance and Credit.

I have always been attracted to real action. And the schedule of the second year already allowed to combine study and work. I had a good result and my supervisor offered me a job. So I became an assistant to the chief accountant of DWS Investments - this is Deutsche Bank's asset management.

At that time we were actively SAP implementation, my responsibilities included testing the program, transferring data from paper media, reconciliation of cash flow and balance. I really liked it. I felt responsible, I understood that even the slightest discrepancy in the calculations should not be allowed. The result of the activity of the business unit depended on this, which was evaluated financial director jar.

It was then that I realized that even being in junior positions, you are responsible for the result and the results and effectiveness of others depend on your work. Moreover, the better you do your job, the more likely you are to get new and interesting tasks, and this is an opportunity for development and growth, without which work loses its meaning for me.

This offer was a great opportunity to get to know the world of finance and prove myself. Of course, no less important was the opportunity to start earning money yourself. This is proof of independence and professional viability at the same time. And it's not that you have nothing to live on. It is very important to understand that you can contribute to the family budget, have your own money, and at the same time be a team member, be able to cooperate, work in a large team. This is the feeling of independence, which, in my opinion, everyone needs. But it must be backed up with specifics. What about work, Professional Development and compensation for results is the best basis for self-sufficiency. I then received 30,000 rubles a month. It was very good for a sophomore. I spent money on food, on movies, on clothes. I didn't buy anything serious. But it was then that she felt the strength in herself for further independent life.

Career lesson: The ability to treat money responsibly helped me during my further studies in Germany and England. And the work experience that I got after the first year showed how much Russian students, who by age, for obvious reasons, are younger than their Western classmates, were more self-confident and, due to the knowledge gained during work, more freely oriented in most subjects. Therefore, I believe that working and making money is an invaluable development practice, both professional and personal. Moreover, the ability to professional results and earn money directly affect the formation of leadership qualities.

Children and money I don’t remember at what age and how my parents began to tell us about money. But I remember exactly that my brother and I were given, as an encouragement, one hundred dollars each, which we were advised not to spend if possible.

We understood that money can bring profit in the future, and not just be spent on momentary needs. I must admit that money was still spent when the dark days came. For example, there was an irresistible desire to buy something. But nevertheless, these were the first lessons financial discipline and savings management.

CEO Mary Kay Russia Alla Sokolova wins AmCham Business Person of the Year award

On December 2, 2017, the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia summed up the results of the outgoing year and noted the achievements of the AmCham business community. For the first time in the past 12 years, the AmCham Russia Business Person of the Year award was given to a woman, CEO of Mary Kay Russia, Alla Sokolova.

“It is incredibly pleasant to receive the recognition of the professional business community, because this is confirmation of the correctness of the set path for the development of our company. I believe that every woman's dream is to be the woman of her dreams, so all my professional activity I dedicate it to this mission. If today another woman has discovered a new self and believed in her success, then for us this day has not been spent in vain, ”- Alla Sokolova, General Director of Mary Kay Russia.

“As we announce Mary Kay Russia CEO Alla Sokolova today as the winner of the AmCham Russia Business Person of the Year nomination, we would like to acknowledge her outstanding contribution to the development of the company's business. Under her leadership, Mary Kay has become one of the leaders in Russian market cosmetics and expanded its business to new territories - Armenia and Belarus. With our award, we also express our gratitude to Alla for her active participation in the life of the entire community of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia and her contribution to its strengthening,” said Alexis Rodzianko, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.
John Huntsman, US Ambassador to Russia, personally congratulated Alla Sokolova on her well-deserved award.

Alla Sokolova joined Mary Kay in 1996. Having gone from Deputy Chief Accountant to executive director in Finance, Operations and Administrative Affairs, having made a significant contribution to the development of the company in Russia, in 2005 Alla was appointed to the post of General Director of Mary Kay Russia, which she currently holds. In 2010 and 2014, under the leadership of Alla Sokolova, Mary Kay branches were opened in Armenia and Belarus.

In September 2017, Alla Sokolova entered the Top 250 of the best Senior Executives of the annual rating "Top 1000 Russian managers» Association of Managers and Kommersant Publishing House.

Yulia Solovieva, CEO, Google Russia

First work: translator

And my first real job was at the Moscow Cellular Communications company - and also by profession. I came there straight out of college in 1994 as a translator and assistant to Fred Ledbetter, who was the company's deputy general manager for commercial affairs. Communication went to the regions, and we began to travel all over Russia and open regional cellular companies. My first trip was to Vladivostok, where I quickly turned from a translator into his partner, because I had to do everything at once - write job descriptions, negotiate, and even stand in line together for gasoline indefinitely. There was no gasoline in the Far East at that time. And at 18:00, the lights were turned off throughout the city. This is how we worked. Then there were already the first laptops and there was even an email, we went together every evening to the post office, and for a long time he tried to connect via dial-up to e-mail and write a letter. I perceived it as something prohibitively cosmic and had nothing to do with me. But my boss was an advanced person, he typed his letters himself, while all his Russian colleagues wrote letters by hand and the secretaries retyped them. At the same time, I got my first cell phone the size of a suitcase. My boss gave it to me, although the phone was not assigned to me by status. I was quick, agile, quickly redid all the cases and ran away to the sales department to the young salesmen and laughed there with them for half a day, and the boss could not find me. So he gave me a phone number. So I got an Ericsson "suitcase" weighing about 1 kg. I remember the dawn of the development of all these technologies in Russia. It was very interesting and fun.

Natalya Pochinok, Rector of the RSSU

First work: athlete-instructor

At the age of 13, I got a work book and the first entry in it was “athlete-instructor of the Moscow Federation of Trade Unions”. I have been involved in sports since childhood, was a member of the Russian junior team in athletics (1991-1994), became the winner of all-Russian and international competitions in the 800 and 1500 meters and the 4x400 relay. I earned the title of master of sports. And an instructor athlete is one of the forms of immersing athletes in methodical activities. I worked in this position for four years - before entering the university and a couple of years after.

Career lesson: Today, having reached a certain level of professionalism in management, leadership, primarily in the financial and banking sector, you undoubtedly manage family capital and personal savings more effectively.

Children and money In children, it is necessary to encourage the desire for work, for an active life position. There are wonderful lines: “Do not let your soul be lazy! In order not to crush water in a mortar, the soul is obliged to work day and night, and day and night! Therefore, of course, children must understand that in order to become successful in life, you need to work hard, have a clear goal and, of course, study, because at their age, study is the work that must be done responsibly and efficiently.

Ksenia Ryasova, President of Finn Flare

First work: Moscow polyclinic receptionist

But after the 3rd year of the institute, in the early 1990s, my husband and I left for Vietnam, where my husband was a diplomat, and there I started my own business. She brought clothes from Vietnam and sold them through sellers in Moscow markets.

Olga Podoinitsyna, Member of the Management Board, VTB Capital, Head of Corporate Relations and Marketing Department

First work: transcription of documentary film recordings

I was not specifically looking for a job, there was no question of any way to get a livelihood. But the work found me. The first job appeared, it seems, in the 8th grade of the school, that is, I was 14-15 years old. I was asked to help print texts for documentaries by my mother's friend, a first-class translator from Intourist. She gave me some of the materials, and I received little money for it. I actually became her subcontractor. I had to listen to the film and type by ear from the recordings on audio cassettes. It was then possible to print only on a typewriter - computers appeared a little later. I still remember how it was necessary to observe a certain impact force so that the letters were printed, to be able to reload the film if it was time to replace it. With the cassettes from which it was necessary to print the text, it was also sometimes necessary to mess around. After all, you constantly turned the sound on and off in order to manage to print texts in parts. I must say that this experience is invaluable as the first attempt to have your own income, and, most importantly, the opportunity to learn something new - attention, patience, new skills, quality of work and its execution in the right time. And, of course, business communication. After all, you entered into a relationship, if not with the employer, then with his representative, and you had certain obligations. I think, if the opportunity presents itself, I should somehow ask my mother's friend how she assessed me at that time and the results of my work.

I had different options for earning from case to case. There were offers, and I did not refuse them. In addition to printing the texts of documentaries and compiling a library catalog, I then also worked at the Institute of Patent Examination, and in my fourth year I prepared the 10th grade of a sports school for the final exams in literature. They all passed it, which was incredible. It was also income. But for me it was more a new difficult experience of overcoming, developing character, communication skills with a new audience, the experience of being able to get results.

What did I spend money on then? For example, several times I bought fabrics and sewed dresses for myself.

It seems to me that it is necessary to encourage in children the desire to work and get results. This is important in school, in sports, and in work. All of them teach discipline, instill a sense of responsibility. Children can earn money, probably, from the age of 16 for sure. This may be participation in the family business, if there is one, there may be lessons in a subject that the child is good at, or training if he succeeded in some kind of sport. Yes, at least New Year's cards, if there is an opportunity to attach them. After all, sales is a special talent. It is one thing to produce or be a bearer of knowledge and skills that are in demand on the market, another thing is to be able to sell. In any case, if the child has the need and opportunity to work, why not.

Elena Yurgeneva, Regional Director of Residential Real Estate at Knight Frank

First work: radio program "Pioneer Dawn"

My first work was the Pioneer Dawn program, if you remember, in Soviet times there was such a morning daily program that became an alarm clock for many generations of children. In the program, the children spoke in cheerful voices in the morning about what good news the pioneers had. I got there at the age of 13, participated in the audition. I remember when the competition was announced, there was a queue across Kachalova Street. There were about ten of us presenters who changed on the air. I came to the studio two or three times a month, and we recorded several programs at once. It was interesting to work, we seriously prepared for the programs, we were taught how to breathe correctly, taught the correct diction, pronunciation. And after that, these qualities were very useful to me. I believe that public speaking skills are useful for anyone, regardless of where they work.

But I don't think we ended up buying anything. They just squandered that money. Our family lived very modestly.

And my first job with a serious income was also in real estate. I then studied at the institute - at the Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology, at the Faculty of Semiconductor Physics, my specialty is an electronic engineer. Already in my second year, I wanted to have my own earnings. And I got a job as a real estate agent at InterOccidental. It was the first agency in Russia, it was it that set the rules of the game in the market. One of the founders of the agency was Dan Corcoran, an American, and it is thanks to him that now all realtors in Russia and the CIS work for interest.

Children and money I think it is important that children start thinking about part-time work from an early age. My parents have always supported me. Now I am very surprised when I receive a resume, which says that a person started working after graduation. Even in rich families, it is wrong to take money from mom. It is not necessary to wash cars and unload newspapers, of course. But it may not be a dusty job in the company of parents. The desire to earn money and help the family is important. This is how I raised my daughter. Now she is 13 years old, she studies in England, and there schoolchildren do a lot with their own hands - they bake cakes, make crafts and sell them at fairs, and all the money they earn is donated to charitable foundations. It seems to me that this brings up responsibility, respect and a serious approach to work in children.

Alla Sokolova, CEO of Mary Kay Russia

First work: sale of fast food at the festival

I earned my first money at the age of 15 - at the international youth festival, selling sandwiches and sausages. It seemed to me that I was awarded a great honor - to provide uninterrupted energy to the participants of this important international event. Perhaps, at the time of youth, it was not so important what to do, but the involvement and importance of the moment, the value of the very opportunity to have one's own funds. The first 20 rubles earned burned our hands so much that they were immediately capitalized as a birthday present for my mother and our beloved grandmother, who lived with us. But the most striking was the feeling of independence, self-sufficiency. The opportunity to express myself in a new way in relationships with loved ones was very motivating, and I thought about a career.

Elena Ischeeva, journalist, partner of the Banki.ru news agency

First work: rhythmic gymnastics and rock ballet

I ended my career in sports at the age of 14, becoming the master of sports of the USSR in rhythmic gymnastics. By that time, my parents and I had moved from Zhukovsky to Moscow, and I got a job as a dancer in the rock ballet Patron, which was founded by a former soloist of the Bolshoi Theater. I went to rehearsals every day, like to work. Came from school, dined and went to the ballet. We prepared a good program and planned to go abroad, but they didn't let me out because I was underage.

Why did I go to work so early? Sports have had a big impact. It is important to consider the psychology of young athletes. When you go in for professional sports, you grow up very early: training camps, competitions. By the end of my career, I had already traveled half of the Soviet Union, I played at tournaments in Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova. Thus, my desire to go to work as early as possible was natural, I was used to being independent.

Ekaterina Turtseva, director of corporate communications at Acronis, co-founder of the Advertos communications agency

First work: potato weeding

I started making money at the age of 10. All summer I worked in the village weeding collective farm potatoes - it was unrealistically hot and hard. The first earnings - 25 rubles. Of which I immediately spent 5 rubles on gifts for my parents (I bought some nonsense in the form of combs, soap and something else in our store). For this I "received" from my mother: "Aren't you ashamed?! In our family, everything in the family always gave mom money to the family budget, and you squander.” I had to pay my first paycheck. They bought me everything for school - notebooks, pens, pencils.

In the second year, at the age of 11, I managed to earn 140 rubles over the summer. I really, really, really wanted a tape recorder, I already knew all the records in the house by heart. Dad was against it. He believed that this would distract me from my studies and discourage me (although I studied for one five). I had to come up with a legend that in a music school they give us the task of learning pieces in 4 hands. I can learn one part and record it on a cassette, and play the second part on the piano at home. Ride! I even demonstrated this case once. At the age of 12, they took me to grain. Barely persuaded. She was skinny and they were afraid that I would not stand it. They paid more. I no longer remember how much I earned during the summer at the grain market - but it was hard and very fun. I worked there for 2 summers, at 12 and 13 years old. Feeling that I could help my parents by spending less on me, I got a job as a music worker in a kindergarten. After school, I went to work. The monthly salary was 65 rubles. Finally, the following summer, I was hired by a brick factory. We dragged raw bricks, laid them out on the scaffolding to dry, then we were taught how to properly stack the brick before sending it to the kiln - I really liked it. At the age of 15, I did not finish the summer there - a toe was broken, a brick accidentally fell. And then I went to study in Kazan in a pedagogical college. And from the age of 17, I started to go to work in the camp every summer for 4 shifts. In total, I worked 34 shifts in the camp. The last two, being a Beeline employee, during the New Year holidays.

Children and money My parents were calm that I was doing useful work. They themselves went through similar, even more difficult, work.

Theoretically, from school years, one should already be able to earn money. Develop your knowledge, train them. I would be glad if my son finds a business from his early school years that he will enjoy and benefit from. I will do my best to guide and support him in this.

Ksenia Podoinitsyna, director and co-owner of the gallery of contemporary art "Gallery 21"

First work: accountant's assistant

At that time, we were actively involved in the implementation of SAP, my responsibilities included testing the program, transferring data from paper media, reconciling cash flow and balance. I really liked it. I felt responsible, I understood that even the slightest discrepancy in the calculations should not be allowed. The result of the activity of the business unit, which was evaluated by the financial director of the bank, depended on this.

It was then that I realized that even being in junior positions, you are responsible for the result and the results and effectiveness of others depend on your work. Moreover, the better you do your job, the more chances you have to get new and interesting tasks, and this is an opportunity for development and growth, without which work loses its meaning for me.

This offer was a great opportunity to get to know the world of finance and prove myself. Of course, no less important was the opportunity to start earning money yourself. This is proof of independence and professional viability at the same time. And it's not that you have nothing to live on. It is very important to understand that you can contribute to the family budget, have your own money, and at the same time be a team member, be able to cooperate, work in a large team. This is the feeling of independence, which, in my opinion, everyone needs. But it must be backed up with specifics. And work, professional development and compensation for the result are the best basis for independence. I then received 30,000 rubles a month. It was very good for a sophomore. I spent money on food, on movies, on clothes. I didn't buy anything serious. But it was then that she felt the strength in herself for further independent life.

Career lesson: The ability to treat money responsibly helped me during my further studies in Germany and England. And the work experience that I got after the first year showed how much Russian students, who by age, for obvious reasons, are younger than their Western classmates, were more self-confident and, due to the knowledge gained during work, more freely oriented in most subjects. Therefore, I believe that working and making money is an invaluable development practice, both professional and personal. Moreover, the ability to get professional results and earn money directly affects the formation of leadership qualities.

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