
'I Have Two Projects in Development in Hollywood and 20 in Russia'—HSE University Graduate Shares Experience of the Film Industry
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.

'I Am Doing Something That No One Else Has Done Before Me. This Is the Karma of Innovators'
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).

‘I Have Always Dreamt of Participating in an Academic Mobility Programme’
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.

‘Embrace the Challenges ahead with Enthusiasm’
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.

‘Be Prepared to Do Your Best Because Your Resilience Will Be Tested’
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.

'Our Country Has the Best Fintech: Foreign Markets Do Not Have Such Management Technologies'
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.

‘My Dream Is to Help as Many People as Possible, Making the World a Healthier and Happier Place’
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.

‘Closing a Deal Gives an Exhilarating Sense of Achievement’
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.

Moscow, Music, and Maths: A Graduate’s Story
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.

'The Innovation Market in Russia Is Something We Can, and Should, Take Pride in'
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.
Registration deadline - April 30