Four Lessons I Learned Along A Rough Road To Becoming The CEO Of An AI Startup
05 January 2023
I grew up during the fall of the Soviet Union. Many people lost their livelihoods and were thrust into poverty. Because of that, my family could only afford to send me to an average local literature school instead of a mathematics or economics lyceum, which are specialized schools that open opportunities for their graduates.
Unlike kids in other parts of the world, I didn't have many opportunities to explore hobbies. Still, I eventually picked up the button accordion and ballroom dancing, which surprised my parents, as they weren't musically inclined.
Although I excelled in my extracurricular activities, my school grades took a slump. I barely achieved the minimum, which prompted my father to give me an ultimatum that shook me to my core: Either I work hard and get into a university or be forced to join the military and serve in the Chechen War.
