"Even mistakes give some results."
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina is a multi-industry entrepreneur with specialization in biotechnology, cryptocurrency, fashion and capital markets, she has collaborated with a wide variety of companies across the world, providing unsurpassed public relations & business development services. She currently leads as Head of Global Markets at Transdisciplinary Agora for Future Discussions (TAFFDs).
Her futurist and multidisciplinary vision of a better world has led her to endeavor in consolidating a progressive-thinking hub for exponential organizations worldwide, having a close relationship with some of the most impressive scientists, philosophers, artists, and entrepreneurs worldwide. Victoria Ustimenko (Laskina) is a volunteer at various charity initiatives among which are TAFFDs, and CEO at PRETO Business PR Agency.
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Table of Contents
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffet, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: PRETO Business – PR Agency takes a 360-degree approach to communications—shaping narratives, crafting strategies, activating audiences, and elevating your story above all. We are home to innovators, trend-setters, and problem solvers.
Together, we foster a collaborative environment that unites diverse backgrounds and individual expertise. We are people who want to implement all new technologies into everyday life. Our services include PR, general, digital, and social media marketing, business development, strategic planning, search engine optimization; and online reputation management.
In the past year, what is the greatest business achievement you’d like to celebrate with your team? Please share the details of that success.
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: We were rebuilding our business very fast and being flexible for new trends and innovations in business activities. The agency sponsored Gen4ir (gen4ir.org) conference last August. Additionally, the event was sponsored by different organizations, including CodyLinks, D@LEO Consulting, StreamYard, Tshwane University of Technology, and the South African government. And we also opened an office in Johannesburg.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, are an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle keeping talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are adapting to the current shift we see?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: The main thing is to be a leader in your company, and to talk with your team because not everyone wants to talk with their big boss. CEO in my humble opinion is the one who serves people. And if someone feels unwanted but could give good results it is on the duty of the general manager to manage this crisis situation. At least it is how it should be in small teams of various startups or boutique pr agencies.
What advice do you wish you received when you started your business journey and what do you intend on improving in the next quarter?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: Even mistakes give some results. The only advice that I could give to myself is to travel more, and move to Mexico before the war in Eastern Europe started. The next year I will be traveling a lot for sure.
Online business keeps on surging higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for the year to come and how are you capitalizing on the tidal wave?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: We are helping to various startups in this field, and expecting on the rise of Web 3.0 , cyber security services, and AR/VR.
Here is a two fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: “Funky business”, because you could not work good if you are not love what you do.
Christopher Hitchens, an American journalist, is quoted as saying that “everyone has a book in them” Have you written a book? If so, please share with us details about it. If you haven’t, what book would you like to write and how would you like it to benefit the readers?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: I could write a book about my life, but I prefer to make a movie.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: We are moving not so fast as it was expecting, besides that the war in Ukraine influenced on our business a lot. Couple years our target clients were in Ukraine and Russia, but currently it is hard to work with both sides, and our core are EU, Africa, US and Asia based companies. And it is a challenge for me as well, because I am rebuilding my mindset as well.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: Every CEO should have a mentor or psychotherapist to manage the stress. It is a core of almost any business owner to be a leader for the team, especially in some crisis moments which we have all these years.
2020, 2021, 2022 threw a lot of curve balls into businesses on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past years, how can businesses thrive in 2023? What lessons have you learned and what advice would you share?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: Anarchy will rule the world. And it is important to be a problem solver, and work hard.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: Communication skills.
What does “success” in the year to come mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina: I don’t like to share my dreams or plans. But of course I have a lot of tasks to be done.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Victoria Ustimenko-Laskina or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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