‘Priceless Experience for Students and Badge of Honour for the University’
Once a month, the HSE campus on Pokrovska hosts meetings of the Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series. This is a joint initiative by the HSE Alumni Centre and the ‘University Open to the City’ project team, where alumni give short talks sharing their experiences in career development and professional fulfilment. Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of where they study or work.
Olga Gaevskaya, Head of the HSE Office for Alumni Relations and Career Development, explained that the lecture series was initiated by the alumni themselves. She explained, ‘There is already the “University Open to the City” project, where HSE staff give public lectures to city residents on various topics. We began receiving emails from alumni expressing their wish to share their expertise and experience with students, other graduates, and interested audiences. Our team realised this was a great opportunity for students to meet professionals and learn about their career paths, which can sometimes be rocky, filled with unexpected twists and turns.’
The Head of the HSE Office for Alumni Relations and Career Development also added that the speakers act as role models for students. They demonstrate how a career can be built, what helped them succeed, and the role HSE played in their lives. ‘This is a priceless experience for students and a badge of honour for the university, which takes great pride in showcasing its alumni’s achievements,’ emphasised Olga Gaevskaya.
The 2024/25 academic year marked the third season of the lecture series. This season featured alumni working in various fields, including fundraising and charity, government relations, consulting, international banking, product management, the film industry, and education.
The Speakers of the Third Season
— Mariam Margaryan, graduate of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, Director of Fundraising at the charity platform Tooba; in 2024, she was shortlisted for the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ ranking in the Social Practices category;
— Vyacheslav Grishin, graduate of the Faculty of Law with over 25 years of experience at T2 (Tele2), Uber, and other companies, as well as in the State Duma and local public authorities;
— Olga Lykova, graduate of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, Group Director at Kept, one of Russia’s largest audit and consulting firms;
— Nadezhda Markova, graduate of the International College of Economics and Finance, Director for Deal Strategy and Market Research at Kept;
— Diana Murova, graduate of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, Vice President for relationships with major Russian and international corporate clients at a leading global bank;
— Emilia Arslanova, graduate of the Faculty of Social Sciences, founder of Booster career project, former product manager at DomClick and T-Bank and a researcher at Nielsen;
— Alexandra Zonina, graduate of the Faculty of Humanities and the Film Institute, Creative Editor at Smotrim media platform, former editor at MTS Holding’s NUUM platform and Kino-Teatr.ru, creator and scriptwriter for projects at Sberbank and Yandex;
— Konstantin Seregin, graduate of the Doctoral School of Psychology, Head of the Laboratory for School Administration and Associate Professor at the Institute of Education’s Department of Educational Programmes, HSE University.
Vyacheslav Grishin believes that this type of exchange provides a unique opportunity for students and alumni of HSE University to meet, discuss current topics related to professional and personal development, and receive feedback on important questions and issues from both sides.
‘Undoubtedly, HSE alumni have built up a wealth of expertise and have much to share with current students. However, young people also have a lot to offer to alumni. The world is changing and developing rapidly, with technology becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives. Students have a high level of knowledge, and when this knowledge meets the experience and professional perspective of alumni, a discussion can create a unique and valuable format for developmental dialogue,’ believes Vyacheslav Grishin.
During the lecture series, the alumnus shared his professional and career journey with the audience, describing a non-linear yet coherent path with a clear progression in expertise. ‘I encouraged the students to explore different competency models, embrace lifelong learning, act with social responsibility, and be open to change,’ added Vyacheslav Grishin.
Returning to her alma mater and attending the Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series was a great honour for Nadezhda Markova. ‘I gladly accepted the invitation,’ she said, ‘because I sincerely wanted to share my journey from an HSE student to a Group Director at a consulting firm. If my experience can help any of today’s students make informed decisions, find their path, or simply believe in themselves, that would be the greatest reward.’
In a conversation with students, Nadezhda Markova spoke about the key factors for successful career growth, the role of university networking, and the necessary background for working in consulting. ‘Our meeting was interactive, with the students actively participating in the discussion. They asked questions about the challenges of a career in consulting, work-life balance, and choosing a specialisation,’ she shared. According to Nadezhda, one topic that sparked particular interest among the students was alternative career trajectories: ‘I understand how difficult it can be to choose from so many options. I hope my story inspired the students and reminded them that a career is an exciting journey that requires curiosity, learning, and courage to embrace change.’
To become a speaker, simply send an application to alumni@hse.ru and describe your area of expertise.