MY STORY

Option 3 ryskiMy life story is a story of a perpetual change, navigation of  challenges, and amazing discoveries.

When asked ‘What is your professional background?’, I am tempted to ask-back “Which one?“. I pursued multiple careers and lived through a historical societal change: from a brush with the Chernobyl disaster, crumbling of the Soviet block that changed the equilibrium of the ‘world order’ to a full-on Covid19 pandemic and de-globalisation. It seems I experienced uncertainty, complexity and change all along.  I witnessed real leadership in tough times and learnt that we have a choice on how to respond to adversities.

I commenced my university education in Linguistics which grounded me in Humanities and provided me with appreciation of languages, histories and cultures. Unexpectedly, I got involved in politics and briefly studied International Relations, only to move into a marketing and advertising career as a result of an unpredictable twist of my work with the EU organisations. As if there wasn’t enough change in my life, I moved to Australia in the late 90s where I branched into education management. I later transitioned into business consulting, coaching, and solopreneurship.

Life and career transitions made me into a life-long learner and explorer. Every time I missed an opportunity, I learnt resilience: trying new approaches is a path to success. 

Change and Uncertainty are challenging for most of us. However, we can learn how to anticipate change and be ready to respond if we learn to think strategically. These are learnable leadership skills.  

I am passionate about expanding people’s mindsets by applying effective problem-solving and decision-making approaches. I see my role as a translator of abstract strategic concepts into practical business applications that  enable solopreneurs, business owners or organisational leaders make the right choice at the right time.

MORE FACTS ABOUT ME: I have lived in 3 countries, and worked short-term and long-term in over 10 (including a year in Russia in a diplomatic service). I speak 3 languages, have lived through 2 military coups (in 1990s), participated in political events and was awarded a state medal. I received a recognition for creativity while working in advertising (Saatchi & Saatchi), first time it was awarded to an individual rather than a team. I am passionate about travel (not tourism) and traveled to more than 35 countries. I am interested in global politics, world history and cultures, and I love classic architecture and arts.

WHAT I DO:

  • I am a strategy consultant and coach
  • I design business and leadership training programs
  • I facilitate organisational transformation by applying business theory concepts in practice
  • I support not-for-profit organisations by offering affordable coaching and training services
  • I sometimes work on my own projects for social impact – see StrengthsProject2019 here
MORE about my career:

I have over 20 years of business, leadership and adult education management experience. My career started in government and European Union organisations, I later moved into global marketing communications agencies (Saatchi & Saatchi, FCB) and ran my own marketing consultancy until I moved to Australia in late 90’s where I worked in a HR company, local government and higher education. Since 2008 I had a strong association with Swinburne University; I currently lead a business strategy design module at Swinburne Professional, a business partnership department. Overall, I have over 10,000 group facilitation hours experience in Australia and overseas. I worked internationally with business and educational projects: collaborated with the UK universities, was invited as a guest lecturer to India and Scandinavia; a speaker to international conferences in the EU (Netherlands and Lithuania).

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Master’s Degree in Business, Charles Sturt University, Australia
  • Graduate Certificate in Management, Charles Sturt University, Australia (postgraduate qualification)
  • Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching, Swinburne University, Australia (postgraduate qualification)
  • Executive Coaching Program Certificate (ICF accredited), Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
  • Certificate in Group, Team & Systems Coaching (ICF accredited provider Coaching Development, UK/L-CON Global, LT).
  • Genos Emotional Intelligence Certification Program
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by International Coach Federation (member since 2016)
  • Strategic Planning and Foresight professional development course, University of Oxford, UK (2018)
  • Design Thinking professional development course, University of Oxford, UK (2020)
  • Accredited Mental Health First Aider (2020)

I work within the ICF Code of Ethics by respecting your privacy and confidentiality.  As a professional coach, I acknowledge and honor my ethical obligations to my coaching clients, colleagues and to the public at large. I pledge to comply with ICF Standards of Ethical Conduct, to treat people with dignity as free and equal human beings, and to model these standards with those whom I coach.