Let’s start at the beginning, can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Ukraine, studied business in France and US, and worked in corporate finance for firms such as Johnson & Johson in the US and a startup in Belgium before getting my PhD. During my doctoral research, I studied business model innovation and have been researching and teaching entrepreneurship and innovation-related subjects in France and in Spain over the last decade.
Who are the most influential figures in your life?
I have been inspired by the resilience and endurance of my parents.
At IESE, we aim to develop leaders who will have a deep and lasting impact through their professional excellence and spirit of service. What are your thoughts on the role of entrepreneurship in society?
At its best, entrepreneurship sparks innovation and renewal, it helps bring about social and economic change. It offers opportunities for personal and community growth through imagining the future and related possibilities. It also requires leadership and wisdom on the part of founders that are responsible for their creations when they set and manage expectations of customers, partners, employees, and investors.
What inspires you most about your work in and outside IESE?
Working with entrepreneurs and sharing in their contagious optimism. Learning from my colleagues on our beautiful campuses. Helping students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset to shape a better world.
What do you think is going to be the next big thing or trend in business model innovation in the next 2 years?
I would like to see more research on the topic of how AI can enable new business models. I am also looking forward to entrepreneurs developing such new business models that will be very interesting to study.
Finally, what words of advice would you give to your students or anyone considering the entrepreneurship route?
Resilience, openness to continuous learning, and humility are important as entrepreneurship is a journey rather than a destination.
Thank you Yuliya. Now, for the speed round:
What do you do in your free time?
Rock climbing in the gym and in the mountains.
Dog, Cat, Parakeet, Goldfish, Pet Rock?
Green plants.
What are you reading, watching, or listening to these days?
“Narrative Economics” and “Where Good Ideas Come From”.
Something that makes you happy
Working on a challenging project.
Favourite place?
Rodellar, a village at the end of the road in Sierra de Guara.
Explain innovation to a 10-year-old.
Innovation involves new solutions to problems. For example, to see during the night, people used fire or candles. Candles are expensive and give little light. Electrical light made it possible to have better and safer lightning during the night. This innovation helped people work or read books without fire or candlelight. A company was founded by the inventor of the electric light, Thomas Edison. The company, General Electric, sells many products that use electricity. They also came up with ways to bring electricity to houses so that people could use the lights. With electric lights, children could play in the evening and do homework when it got dark.