VIKA

Born in the former Soviet Union, I was just a toddler when my family emigrated to theUnited States. We chased the “American Dream” hard - and by my mid-twenties I was closing multi-million dollar advertising deals. 

Seven years later, I was burnt out. Disillusioned by this singular narrative of success, I used my savings to buy a few years of freedom. I needed to find my story. 

I embarked on a 28-month solo backpacking adventure around the world in pursuit of perspective. I created my own alternative MBA - training with the best teachers across multiple disciplines. At the same time, my recent MOTH win was discovered on YouTube and thus my speaking career was born. 

Spurred by the death of my grandfather, I launched a global men's dinner salon to explore cross-cultural notions of masculinity. The stories shared on those nights were profound and they fundamentally shaped how I relate to men. 

Through my experiences, I learned how to transmute trauma, grief, and depression into purpose, mission, and vision. I went from backpacking the world, to backpacking my mind. 

Today, I run a storytelling advisory STORIES THAT SHIFT that supports leaders and teams around the world. I teach on stage at conferences, design learning experiences for corporations, and empower those hungry to lead with story.