insider
Elya Yudit
San Francisco. Newsman, TV employee, life coach. For more than eight years, I worked for major Russian television channels. I enjoy revealing peoples’ unique personalities through interviews as well as telling success stories.
When a person engages in life correctly without being afraid of trying new things, life has its way of giving presents—even the most unexpected ones. Whatever the outcome, the result becomes a step to a new level. Ruslan Gafarov is just one of those who often receives such gifts. Whenever he is down, he keeps his chin up, and he never toots his horn when ending up at the top.
From a Locksmith in Russia to a businessman in Silicon Valley Ruslan, tell us please about the businesses you currently own?
We, San Francisco Innovation Hub, are the innovation infrastructure for businessmen support and development around the world. Most of our audience is Russianspeaking, but we also have customers from Europe, South America, Brazil, and Austria, who are themselves reaching others. We used to work with Vienna University of Economics and Business, which brought in guys from China, Africa, Australia, eru In order that our customers are able to incorporate useful knowledge and skills, we are creating a crash course program for them. This is a weekly program where businessmen or managers visit Silicon Valley to adopt the best practices from businesses established therein, changing the business context in all other parts of the world. We study business models, management, venture investments, and the way start-ups raise money. The second trend is management consulting. I wrote several books about organizational culture, and my team and I assist businesses from diferent countries in implementing advanced team management approaches. And the third trend involves venture investments the way money is invested, and the things venture investors pay attention to. We cut deals with partners¤from SpaceX to various deliveries.
Who are your key customers? 80% of our audience are businessmen, all self-made. Namely those who made business from scratch. They have tried many things already of which they are tired, and they want something new. And they get it from us. Like what? Inspiration from other peopleÄ
30
RUSSIAN TIME MAGAZINE
WWW.RUSSIANAMERICANMEDIA.COM
For example, when our customers interact with people who used to work with Steve Jobs and are currently dealing with venture investments, controlling billions of dollars, a concept of what the future will look like is developed among them (the customers). They are inspired by communicating with successful people, recalling the ambitions that were deep in their heart at the dawn of the business development. It seemed to them that they had come a long way and that their fellow citizens are staring at them as if they’re gods. But suddenly they realize that they are nobody. Managers from Google or Facebook earn more and still are the ifrst ones wearing sneakers without breaking into a sweat.
As a result, our customers gain a fresh approach to what they do. Einstein would say that a problem cannot be resolved at the point it was caused. I would repeatedly ask myself why in Russia or the countries of the former Soviet Union can you not do what you can do at Silicon Valley? Once I found out that Google costs more than the entire securities market of Russia, I realized that none of my fellow citizens know the way things work. Until you come and see and talk with such people who know the inner workings, it’s impossible for one to understand how things really work. Our customers from this place right here (the Valley) are beginning to see new business strategies. Upon completion of our crash courses, many of them have moved to America, launched their start-ups, opened new businesses, and now are very successful. Firstly, their mentality changed, and a new approach emerged. Secondly, they obtained certain tools and started networking, which began helping them resolve the tasks which they formulated when completing the course.
nd how did everything begin? Five years ago, you moved here with your family. But how did you get the idea to start such an endeavor? A