LAUNCHING: GALYNA NITSETSKA
Current Employer:
Silkarmour
THE BIG QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL TITLE?
Founder / CEO
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
Acting as the founder and CEO of a startup means I have to wear many different hats on any given day: from hiring and managing a team to developing the business strategy, organising photoshoots and dealing with logistical nightmares - every day is as crazy as it is fun.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD AND WHAT CHANGED?
As a child I very much wanted to become a ballerina - now I just wear ridiculously high heels whenever I feel like standing on my tippy toes.
WHAT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?
I finished the European Baccalaureate at school level (and embarrassingly still always get the spelling wrong) and have an undergraduate diploma from UCL.
WHAT’S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
I have a new favourite t-shirt which has the following slogan on it: “Lord, give me the confidence of a mediocre white man”. It’s obviously supposed to be tongue in cheek, but I think it also contains advice that’s relevant to many women (and anyone not in the overconfident middle aged white man category).
I come from a banking background and used to think that the men who spoke up confidently in meetings despite having no idea what they were talking about were exclusive to that industry, but with the rise of Trump, that’s clearly not the case. Here’s a man who has none of the qualifications required for office, and yet strides in confidently into the white house.
I think if we all started negotiating our salaries, asking for promotions and applying for jobs with that amount of confidence, rather than wasting our time asking the people in power to kindly treat us as equals, society as a whole, and women in particular, would see massive shifts in the balance of power.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?
I’m a big believer that you are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with, so I always try to surround myself with people who I see as role models (whether in real life or through books / media). Some of my favourites are my sister, who turned from Storm Model, to Investment Banker, to start-up founder; Diane von Furstenberg, who is as fabulous as she is philanthropic and extremely hard-working; and Helena Morrisey, founder of the 30% Club and all around superwoman.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORKING ENVIRONMENT?
I’m surrounded by kickass women, we have an office kitten, and there’s guacamole on demand - my work environment basically contains all of my favourite things.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR DAILY WORK ROUTINE IF YOU COULD?
More exercise to break up the work day (I’m terrible with any exercise).
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
Running a group of companies which empower women, with an even bigger team of empowered women.
DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN BE THE SAME PERSON AT WORK AND IN PRIVATE?
Absolutely - I believe in living your truth whatever the circumstances.
WHERE AND IN WHAT ROLES ARE WOMEN IN THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AT YOUR COMPANY?
All female team!
DOES DIVERSITY MATTER TO YOU?
I believe diversity isn’t just the ‘nice’ thing to do, it is also imperative for anyone who wants to run a successful company in the modern world.
HOW GOOD IS YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE?
When you enjoy what you do enough, work becomes your life.
WHAT QUALITIES DOES BEING IN YOUR ROLE NECESSITATE?
Grit and willingness to learn.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
Next time you’re walking into a negotiation put on some rap music and remember that if Trump can convince a country he should be President, you sure as hell can convince the person at the opposite side of the table to give you what you want.