We are pleased to introduce you to Olga Piven - not only a caring wife and mother, but also a successful businesswoman. She is behind such large-scale projects as the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia conference, the SO.KNOW forum, the Co-Lab platform, and is also the author of the PostNeverTruth telegram channel. 

In this interview Olga will tell us how she combines career and motherhood, how she sees the future of her children and what attracted her to Cambridge International School. 

- Good afternoon Olga, your list of achievements is impressive! Tell us more about what you do.

I have been involved in marketing communications and organising major events for many years. This year I will be organising the 10th CIPR conference - the largest digital technology event in the country and the region. I also work on projects in the field of sustainable development, urbanism, healthy lifestyle and blogging on social networks.

- You are in an active business environment. Is there no conflict between your personal life and work? 

I run several companies and spend most of my day working. Sometimes this raises the question of how to keep up with everything. I don't believe in the concept of work-life balance. It seems outdated to me, because work, family and friends are interpenetrating areas of life. Even the word ‘balance’ implies tension. To balance requires the utmost concentration of the mind, and the slightest deviation leads to a loss of balance. 

That's why I prefer the word ‘harmony’. That's what I'm trying to achieve. I believe that it is quite possible to be a mother, a wife, a friend and a professional, if you don't fixate on one of the spheres.

- How do you plan your day? Depending on your priorities? 

Yes. Luckily, I don't have such young children anymore and most of the time they spend in classes. In the morning I see them off to school, then I go to the gym, after which I work. In the evening I attend activities or take time for family. Saturday is a day for the kids and Sunday is a day for me and my husband.

- How do you think one can succeed in today's world? What qualities are needed for that?

I believe that in addition to academic education, soft skills - personal qualities that help you interact with others and solve complex problems - are important. Emotional intelligence is especially important. My 20 years of management experience proves that it is impossible to manage a team without it!

Nowadays, the boundaries between industries are blurring and hybrid professions are gaining popularity. Decentralised companies with employees in different countries are becoming more and more common. In such conditions flexibility and adaptability are required. Soft skills are becoming a prerequisite for a successful career!

- How did you choose a school for your children? It is an important decision, given your employment.

I consider education in Russia to be one of the best, so for a long time my child studied in an excellent state school. But at some point I realised that our family was closer to the concept of private education and an individual approach.

I looked at several schools and decided on CIS (Cambridge International School), the main feature of which is the combination of Russian and international programmes. This approach implies the development of creative and analytical skills, as well as multicultural education. This is important for the formation of hard and soft skills.

In addition, I believe that in the modern world, knowledge of English is still extremely important. I studied English in depth at university and I am sure that communicating with native speakers is much more effective than classes with tutors. It shapes your linguistic thinking and gives you a different result.

- You said that individual approach is important to you. How is it provided in this school?

First of all, due to the small number of pupils in a class. The teachers always listen to my child and adapt to his or her needs. The educational programme itself is also flexible: there is an opportunity to replace classes, for example, with additional English or a neuropsychologist.

The school has individual learning plans: my eldest child does maths on a complicated track and does tasks with an asterisk. 

- And how do you assess the quality of teaching and the professionalism of the school's teachers?

I assess the level of education quite highly. My children are in primary school, at this age there is no serious academic load. Now the emotional approach is important: teachers need to involve children in the educational process. And at this level they are doing a great job! I hope that thanks to them my children will be passionate about learning in middle and high school.
 
- What is the role of parents in the educational process? How does the school co-operate with families?

Teachers always inform us about children's progress and psychological state. I like the fact that I get information, thanks to which I can help my child in time. 

- How do you see the future of your children after graduation?

I want my children to have a choice in the future: to study at Russian universities or to get an international education. Thanks to the experience gained at CIS, they can easily fit into an international environment if they want to.

- What advice would you give to other parents who want to send their child to Cambridge International School? 

I would not delay in making the decision to switch to an English-speaking school, as the language barrier can seriously complicate the process in the future. At an older age, the child will encounter children who speak fluent English and it will be difficult to catch up with them. 

A multicultural environment, study in two programmes, development of soft skills - all these are also advantages of Cambridge International School. In my opinion, this is a great place to start a successful career for your child!

Give it a try and let your child get the best out of their school years!


Author of the interview

Daria Turovskaya