Mariia Plotkin Young Female Entrepreneur Russia

Young Female Entrepreneur of The Year Europe Award winner introduced amid calls for larger aid for women and females to begin businesses

24.10.2020
• Mariia Plotkin, Founder of Geek Teachers in Russia, wins Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2020 and will acquire USD$5,000 funding to assist the improvement of her business
• Giulia Pettinau, Founder of Orangogo in Italy, positioned 2d runner-up, and Mathilde Cortinovis, Founder of Équilibres Café in France positioned 1/3 runner-up
• Female adolescence entrepreneurship will be key for monetary recovery, and future resilience and boom throughout Europe
• Greater guide is required for younger girl entrepreneurs to unencumber their potential
• Citi Foundation and YBI’s Youth Business Europe five-year application has supported 26,000 younger entrepreneurs and 6,500 agencies throughout Europe, Russia, and Kazakhstan
23 October 2020 – Youth Business International (YBI) and Citi Foundation introduced Mariia Plotkin as the winner of the Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Europe Award 2020 at some point in a digital ceremony yesterday. Plotkin used to be introduced with the award by using Pip Jamieson, Founder, and CEO of The Dots, for her splendid work in establishing, running and increasing Geek Teachers, an enterprise supplying online guides and in-person fairs to assist instructors using science to decorate the pupil experience. Plotkin obtained training, enterprise improvement support, and mentoring thru Youth Business Russia and Impact Hub Moscow.

Commenting on the award, Mariia Plotkin said, “When we started, my co-founders and I have been instructors and about to go away college collectively due to the fact we felt defeated with the kingdom of education. Instead, we determined to prepare an edutainment tournament to inspire instructors to use new science in class, equip them with IT capabilities, and sense inspired in their job. We had no journey in the business. In the first match we organized, 300 human beings took part, and 1,300 human beings grew to become up to our remaining party. We’re on our way to involving greater instructors in our neighborhood for humans to have excitement at their work. You can make training fun, you can analyze with fun. I don’t desire instructors to ever go away to school. I would like to say thank you to Impact Hub Moscow and Youth Business Russia who have supported me and assisted me in being capable to take part in this Award.”

With the financial shock of COVID-19 contributing to rising early life unemployment throughout Europe and around the world, it is extra necessary than ever to free up the monetary attainable of girls via supporting them to set up businesses, and making sure all ladies and younger ladies discover entrepreneurship as an attainable and on hand profession option. Yet, females nonetheless face structural limitations at nearly each and every stage in the entrepreneurial journey, which includes limitations of their race, culture, and even authorities policies.
Bonnie Chiu, Managing Director, The Social Investment Consultancy, congratulated Mariia and all of the eleven award finalists however highlighted that their tales of success would grow to be an increasing number of uncommon if these boundaries are no longer damaged down, “Growing up I didn’t have the position fashions to seem to be up to. When I suppose of an entrepreneur, of the entrepreneurs who are on the ground, serving their communities, doing the humblest of jobs. They are the ones retaining our economies going. Most woman entrepreneurs appear to their corporations as a way to aid society. In instances like this, we want them extra than ever.”
Pip Jamieson, Founder, and CEO of The Dots championed the assist networks that are so vital to the success of woman entrepreneurs, “There are very awesome challenges as a woman entrepreneur. You are no longer alone. Being phase of this fantastic community is so important”, and highlighted the significance of growing an enterprise targeted on social good: “The issue that made me resilient used to be that we continually had a social reason at the coronary heart of the business. The social motive has helped me persevere thru the challenging instances when I ought to have given up. I’ve mixed what I love doing, what I’m properly at, and most importantly what the world needs. It’s about attempting to make the world a little better. There’s by no means been a higher time in records to be a lady entrepreneur.”
A ballot held throughout the tournament highlighted the entrenched limitations that girls face in entrepreneurship and the significance of seen position models. 29% of the target audience referred to that gender bias was once the largest barrier to girl entrepreneurship and a lack of position fashions was once voted as the 2d most entrenched barrier with a 24% share of the vote.
Anita Tiessen, CEO of YBI, referred to as for larger help from governments in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, stating, “I am fantastically proud of what all of today’s finalists have achieved. Every female who succeeds brings us one step nearer to gender equality in the entrepreneurship space. But as governments international format for monetary recovery, we can't chance to leave a technology of women and younger female behind. We urgently want them to construct lower back higher and create the SMEs that are indispensable to our economies and communities.”
Anna Samokhvalova, Director for Public Affairs Department at Citi in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, said, “Citi permits increase and monetary growth in all its activities. The partnership application for early life entrepreneurship improvement helps radically change thoughts into profitable businesses. Our congratulations to Mariia Plotkin, the participant of our software and the winner, we want her in addition success in business.”
The Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award took location on twentieth October and celebrated eleven of Europe’s most inspiring younger female entrepreneurs, who are section of 26,000 younger entrepreneurs Youth Business Europe Programme has supported over the previous 5 years, with a tailor-made package deal of commercial enterprise training, get right of entry to networks, mentoring, and economic advice. As the phase of the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative, the intention of the software is to assist tackle early life unemployment and getting admission to
respectable work.
The Youth Business Europe Programme has educated and mentored younger woman entrepreneurs to equip them with the skills, confidence, and connections they want to turn out to be profitable commercial enterprise owners. The YBE partnership consists of eleven YBI member agencies in 10 countries: Belgium (micro start), France (Adie, Positive Planet), Germany (KIZ), Italy (MicroLab), Ireland (Inner City Enterprise), Kazakhstan (MOST Business Incubator), the Netherlands (Qredits), Russia (jointly supported via YBI member Youth Business Russia alongside Impact Hub Moscow), Spain (Youth Business Spain), and Sweden (Swedish Jobs and Society).

This year’s eleven finalists were:
• Christina Plaka, I am mangaka!, Germany
• Emma Duncan, Pawfit, Ireland
• Giulia Pettinau, Orangogo, Italy – Runner up – 2nd Place
• Lara Prendes, Despensa 77, Spain
• Lola Arias, Maison Dolores, France
• Lorie Meurmans, Small if Biotiful, Belgium
• Mathilde Cortinovis, Équilibres Café, France – Runner up – third Place
• Mariia Plotkina, Geek Teachers, Russia - Winner
• Mariya Abadiyeva, Step Clap Art School, Kazakhstan
• Mia Bremer, Gastronomi á la Mia AB, Sweden
• Nanke Over, Flamingo Services, Netherlands


• NOTES TO EDITORS
• Youth Business International (YBI)
• YBI is a world community of specialist companies assisting younger humans around the world to start, develop and preserve businesses, leveraging entrepreneurship to create first-rate work and pressure inclusive financial growth, at the same time as remodeling livelihoods and strengthening communities.
• Our efforts are specially centered on deprived younger people, equipping them to build the skills, confidence, and connections they want to beat the odds and turn out to be profitable commercial enterprise owners. By running at the crossroads of enterprise and social development, we guide the entrepreneurs that are shaping the future, working to remedy some of the best challenges of our time, and developing possibilities – now not simply for themselves but for us all. www.youthbusiness.org
• Citi Foundation
• Citi Foundation works to promote monetary development and enhance the lives of human beings in low-income communities around the world. We make investments in efforts that enlarge economic inclusion, catalyze job possibilities for youth, and reimagine techniques to construct economically bright cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” method leverages the great know-how of Citi and its human beings to fulfill our mission and power idea management and innovation. 
• Youth Business Europe
• In 2015, Youth Business International and Citi Foundation launched Youth Business Europe, a regional software to help younger human beings to start, develop and preserve their businesses. Through this partnership, we are working collectively with the Citi Foundation to address adolescent unemployment and force sustainable financial increase throughout Europe. The software has supported greater than 26,000 younger entrepreneurs, leading to over 6,500 corporations being begun or strengthened. For extra information, go to www.youthbusiness.org/initiative/youth-business-Europe
•
2020 YOUNG FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
• For a full listing of finalists, visit: https://www.youthbusiness.org/event/young-female-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2020
•
• AWARD SPEAKERS
• Adenike Adeyemi, YBI Trustee and Executive Director, FATE Foundation
• Adenike is a YBI Trustee and used to be a choice in the Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She is the Executive Director of the FATE Foundation in Nigeria. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to layout and put into effect techniques and applications that allow aspiring and rising Nigerian entrepreneurs whilst fostering company improvement in Nigeria. We are thrilled for Adenike to be a part of us for this online match as Master of Ceremonies (MC).
• Anita Tiessen, CEO, YBI
• Anita is CEO of YBI and leads the world network’s efforts to join members, partners, and younger humans to improve and scale new options that leverage the energy of entrepreneurship to pressure social and monetary change. Anita has a vast ride in global development, human rights, and main world networks. She chaired the judging panel for this year’s Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
• Bonnie Chiu, Managing Director, The Social Investment Consultancy
• Bonnie Chiu is an award-winning social entrepreneur, a gender equality advocate, and a main social have an effect on and have an impact on investing consultant. She is a senior contributor to Forbes on gender and variety and the Managing Director of The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC), a world community of consultants specializing in influence evaluation and have an effect on investing strategies. Bonnie has additionally been coordinating the Women in Social Finance network.
• Pip Jamieson, Founder and CEO, The-Dots
• Pip Jamieson is the Founder & CEO of The Dots an expert community for humans that do not put on fits to work -' dubbed “The subsequent LinkedIn?' with the aid of Forbes. She was once named by way of The Sunday Times as one of the Tops a hundred Disruptive Entrepreneurs innovating in their respective fields & by way of Ad Week as one of the forty-one trailblazing leaders having a fine have an impact on on the world.
• Being a dyslexic sole girl tech founder, Pip has put advertising social accountability and assisting companies to construct various groups at the coronary heart of the whole thing they do! 68% + of The Dots neighborhood is female, 31% + BAME & 16% + LGBT+. The Dots additionally do a lot of work around socioeconomic variety and neurodiversity to gasoline an extra balanced industry of the future.

Entrepreneur Coaching And Business

What are the common traits of an entrepreneur?

The entrepreneur is a different animal to your average coaching client. They are futurists and have the capacity to see opportunities where others cannot. They are highly creative and are strategic thinkers. They operate best free of constraints. They are impulsive and risk takers. The opportunity will often outweigh the risk. Their impetuosity and spontaneity often leaving a trail for others to clean up. They love to have multiple ideas or projects on the go. They thrive on starting things and can quickly become bored. They often work best alone. They move at a rapid pace. They may experience frustration if those around them cannot keep up.

What common mistakes do coaches make with entrepreneurs?

Don't try to change them or slow them down

Successful coaches appreciate the entrepreneur for who they are and don't try to change them. Let them run and get out of their way. Watch and learn. They move at such rapid pace they may omit to consider risks or challenges. Help them expand their thinking, use brainstorming techniques, run scenarios, add clarity and detail to the vision, identify blind spots. 

Preserve balance and sustainability

In their haste the entrepreneur may neglect basic aspects of their lives, egg diet, exercise, relationships, birthdays. Watch out for sustained periods of neglect. They are optimists and masters of illusion. Look for hidden signs of stress. The entrepreneur has the capacity to make small things big things - both opportunities and problems. Call it gearing. A good coach will realize this and role-play whatever role is appropriate. This is an art. 

Respect their creativity and risk threshold

Entrepreneurs have a high threshold for risk. Accept it and work with them. You may need to be the flexible one. Their tolerance for risk, not yours, should determine the basis for strategies and objectives. Entrepreneurs love to brainstorm ideas. They also love to talk. So, let them. Coaching is about listening. Entrepreneurs want someone to listen and respond enthusiastically to their ideas. They seek positive reinforcement.

What advice would you give to public practitioners dealing with entrepreneurs?

Much of the above is also true for the professional advisor. There is one basic distinction. True coaches will not give advice. They will facilitate self-discovery through questioning techniques. Professional advisers such as accountants are expected to give professional advice. They are subject matter experts and required to interpret the law and share their knowledge. Remember entrepreneurs are the decision makers so offer them your considered opinion and let them decide. Give them options.

Be proactive

Entrepreneurs move fast. They subject themselves to risks and make frequent decisions. They do not and cannot know everything. They place a premium value on astute professional advisers who can give them considered opinion proactively and foresee scenarios or risk exposure they cannot.

Be accessible and responsive

When entrepreneurs want an answer they want it now. They make rapid fire decisions and have short concentration spans. They don't want to dwell on the detail. Big picture, clear guidance, fast turnaround.

Service focus

Tune into what your client wants. Take time to learn how they tick. Be flexible with your communication style to accommodate your client. They talk fast, you talk fast. They want succinct information, give it to them. They want options, run scenarios. They expect you to be there when they need you not return my call two days later.

Questions are the answers

Learn how to listen. Learn how to ask powerful questions. The techniques of a skilled coach are just as relevant for an accountant or sales professional. Ask open questions, eg what, where, when, how. Praise questioning techniques such as probing, clarifying, paraphrasing, summering.

Restate commitments

Once you have reached agreement with your client, repeat it back to them for clarity, "So, it is my understanding that you want me to submit your tax return by Monday, 31 July, is that correct?" or "My expectation is that you will sign and return the contract to me by Wednesday, is that reasonable?"

Real-time information

Nothing irritates an entrepreneur more than old information. Time is money. They want both lead indicators (prospects, conversion rates, average sales, purchase frequency) and lag indicators (customers, sales, profits) in their management reports. Sales pipelines are essential management information.

System and structure

The entrepreneur needs system and structure. They often aren't the best person to deliver it. That's why they hire a coach, personal assistant, consultant or accountant.

Coaching an entrepreneur is an exhilarating and rewarding experience. It can be a roller coaster ride and is never a dull moment. Supporting them in your role as a public practitioner can be just as rewarding.