Russia

Valeria Bognibova
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I count myself lucky because I love what I do. As long as I can remember, I have been coaching people to believe in themselves and never give up trying to reach their full potential. I rejoice when I see people achieving their goals and reaching their dreams.

Working in Russia gives me many opportunities to see people develop and I really enjoy consulting with leaders to help their organisations become more effective and profitable. After running a training workshop, I feel like I have been to the gym: I want to rest and then go back and do it again and again!

Since 2004, I have been licensed in the Thomas System (business assessment tools) and I find it a great method for helping people develop in their lives, both personally and professionally. My company is proud to be the distributor for this system in Russia and I give training on this subject to HR managers and other specialists. I really love this work.

I have worked with many big companies in Russia running training workshops, cultural change programmes and working with the Thomas System. My clients include IKEA, Readers Digest, Tesla, Volvo and Avon. For MEGA shopping centres, I was proud to be part of a cultural change programme involving 7000 people, from top managers to shop cleaners.

I live in St Petersburg with my husband and son.



Bo Ottenback
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I enjoy change and development and have been working in these fields as a consultant for more than 20 years. During the first five years, my focus was on business development and market research. Over the last fifteen, I have been working primarily in organisational development and leadership training. I have facilitated and developed management teams in several different organisations.

My main focus now is on coaching, leadership, team building and communication. I am certified in the Adler Workplace Programmes and I hold a license to deliver these in Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic States.

I split my time between clients in Sweden and Russia.

In Sweden, my clients include companies such as Ericsson, Volvo, ABB, IKEA and also some government departments.

Over the last ten years I have often worked in Russia, training and coaching managers. I have a continuing partnership with a Russian team in St Petersburg and my experience with big international companies includes the training and coaching of Russian managers who work for IKEA, Volvo, Scania and the Baltic shipyard. I also enjoy my work with smaller, local clients in Russia.

I run my own consultancy and have a business partnership with some larger groups of consultants, including Snowball.

As well as my substantial business experience, I have a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Stockholm. I live in Sweden with my family, in a small town close to Stockholm and often travel to Russia for work.



Olga Strokina
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It’s wonderful what you can do when you have to. If you can identify the problem, it’s much easier to see the answer. Then you can start doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible. For me that is everlasting development. It’s all about the right attitude, learning new skills and seeing positive changes in yourself and others.

I have been working with SLG Thomas International since 2006, combining the roles of trainer, consultant, R&D manager and coach. I’m always surrounded by people and I love what I do. I focus on the best in each person and I’m passionate about finding the right way to interact with everyone. We are so different and it’s amazing when you find understanding and a basis from which to work well together. Our interaction with other people influences our state, mood, emotions and life in general. It’s important to understand this influence and learn how to act so that we feel positive about ourselves.

Since 1998, our company has represented Thomas Key in Russia. We are proud of what we do: “Solving your people puzzle”. Thomas Key is a tool that develops, uses and channels talents, knowledge and resources for greater effect. It provides deep understanding and enables better performance of individuals and organisations.

I have a bachelor's degree in History and English. I’m a certified trainer and coach in the ADLER Coaching program and a certified trainer in the Thomas System.

I live in Saint Petersburg, which I consider one of the most beautiful cities in the world.