How did you decide to launch your own business? After all, doing business in this country is often said to be for men only.

I had wanted to travel to India since childhood, then I met the boss of a travel firm. She suggested I work as a rep in India for a while and, of course, I agreed immediately. It would be strange to turn down the chance of working in such a wonderful country and earn good money. Then I learnt all the nuances of the tourist trade, which served as a good basis for opening my own firm. My being a woman did not frighten me and the example of my tutor was always in front of me.

There are quite a few travel agencies in Moscow. What made you decide to go into this particular line of business?

Yes, there are plenty of travel agencies, but you can always offer a type of service that nobody else does — you just need to improvise a little. I want to give our clients the maximum of comfort.

What difficulties do you come across?

Of course, when you open your own business, there are a whole host of problems. One of these is finding a sponsor, but they also have to be a like-minded person. Of course, when you are searching for staff, you meet some good and some bad, but there’s no getting away from that — either you’re lucky or you’re not.

Do you agree with the opinion that a woman should stay at home and a man should go out to work?

Business has no gender. I think a woman needs to express herself. What man will like a woman who sits at home all day? If a man is unhappy that his wife or girlfriend is working somewhere, then he is simply very insecure.

How do you manage to combine work with your private life?

It’s very simple — you just mustn’t mix the two. I give work every day except for the weekend, when I don’t think about work and don’t let my partners bother me. I think there should be a clear line between work and family.

Are you complacent with what you have achieved or do you plan to launch new projects in the future?

Of course I want to carry on. There are two more projects that I would like to bring to life, but that is confidential for the moment.

How should a company’s employees relate to one another?

There is a very fine line which you must not cross. I suppose friendly but formal relations are the optimum.

How do you find your employees?

Often after work I go to a restaurant, and I think these places are the best for choosing personnel. Here I can just watch the young people. You sit and watch — today there are a lot of people but there are occasions when there’s nobody. They don’t suspect anything and so behave normally and I just ask casually where they study. I think this is the best way to do it. I don’t understand how agencies can really test people. When a person comes to interview, they only show their best side — and in Russia you can’t trust references.

How would you advise women who want to start their own business?

I think that, before starting your own business, you need to be quite tough. There’s no place for softness and regret in business. You can keep qualities such as idealization and trust for your family.