My career and background

Where I come from

I was born in Russia, yet I lived most of my adult life in France and a short while in Spain.

Today, I live and work in Austin, Texas.

I’m fluent in English, French, and Russian, and I also speak a little bit of Spanish.

My background and education

• Certified Professional Coach (CPC, accredited by International Coaching Federation ) - (IPEC), November 2022

• Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) -(IPEC), February 2022

• Life Coaching Certification (The Academy of Modern Applied Psychology), 2019-2020

• Energy Leadership Coaching: Life & Leadership Potentials Training (iPEC), 2020

• Life Coaching Certification (New Skills Academy), 2019

• Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health course (The University of Sydney), 2019

• Master’s degree in Management Science and Business Administration (The Aix-Marseille University Business School), 2008

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Social Sciences (Department of Psychology and Sociology, The Aix-Marseille University), 2004

• Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy (Volgograd State Socio-Pedagogical University), 2002

• DALF in Social and Human Sciences (Saratov State Socio-Economic University), 2001

After earning my first master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy, I decided to continue my education at the Department of Psychology and Sociology at Aix-Marseille University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Sciences.

I also hold a master’s degree in Management Science and Business Administration from the Aix-Marseille University Business School.

As a kid, I was pretty shy. I was constantly worried about what people thought of me and what they expected from me.

I’ve always loved dreaming… dreaming about my future: where I’ll go, what I’ll do, how many languages I’ll speak, who I’ll become, what I’ll look like … It was my refuge and greatest pleasure.

My Dad was the first one to tell me:

-You’re the one who chooses if your dreams remain just dreams or become life projects.

Anything is possible if you believe it and work hard.

It was such a powerful message!

- Wow! I get to choose! it’s all my responsibility, no one else’s, not even my parent’s!

My first diploma dissertation was about self-confidence: “The concept of self-confidence in the twentieth century French literature”. This thesis was a cross-disciplinary research combining different human and social sciences (linguistics, psychology, sociology, linguistic anthropology, rhetoric,  philosophy and history).

I was actually asked to continue my research as a PhD, but I had other ideas in mind.

My second dissertation was about the social dimensions and consequences of Russian immigration in France, which was also a big cross-disciplinary research centered on human life and society.

I have always had genuine interest in people, their stories, backgrounds, beliefs and what they have to say. As a child, I found it fascinating to observe people and engage with their minds. Searching for cues from their behavior, using their non-verbal signals, trying to figure out where they are coming from and what they are thinking.

I enjoy listening to others. I truly believe that every person knows something I don’t and has something to teach me.

Today, I hold several Life Coaching Certifications and blend that knowledge together with my previous studies and experiences to bring you uniquely enriching and insightful life coaching sessions.

My professional career

For 10 years, I was a Human Resources Manager at a big international company. I enjoyed all aspects of this profession, especially inspiring others to GROW and SUCCEED.

I gained a lot of experience working with managers at different levels of the organization and employees from different cultures, ages and generations, with very diverse backgrounds, talents and sexual orientation, and with different perspectives, abilities and disabilities.

To me, there’s no greater reward than making a positive impact in someone’s life, making them realize they are better than they think they are and capable of more than they know.

I also worked with Labor Unions and unhappy unionized employees. That was a unique challenge and at the same time an enriching experience in terms of gaining further understanding about the social-psychological basis of human relations.

As a HR Training and Development Manager, I closely collaborated with company executives and hired leadership and life coaches to help develop our talent. That was the time when I realized I wanted to become a life coach myself one day. 

When I quit my HR manager job in France and came to the United States to join my husband, I created an online language school where I was leveraging my knowledge in different fields (human relations, pedagogy, sociology, psychology, etc.) to make the learning process more authentic, enjoyable, dynamic and challenging.

Most of my former students told me our classes were also in part self-discovery sessions that helped them increase their self-awareness.