Elena Zheleznyakova

Dominance-submission relationships are something that simply goes against my nature. Being a sympathetic boss is far more rewarding.

There are women who seem to have been born with a very strong maternal instinct. I believe it to be a gift and a colossal labour.

There are a few things that make creative people different from all the other people: they’re a bit disorganized, almost never persistent, and absorbed solely into their creative activities. But if you think about it, when you’re trying to be innovative and create something fresh and outstandingly remarkable, sometimes to accomplish a success talent alone can be not enough. One needs a person who would guide him and prepare a favourable ground for his creative ambitions. This person is me.

When everything is going fine, this only means that you’re not developing.

Being an executive means being the one to shoulder the responsibility.

Death is the result of life. It’s an undeniable fact!

In the patriarchal world of ours, the primary task of the women is to assume the role of the neck.

I’ve always been drawn to risky ventures, even if it involved walking on the razor’s edge. I make mistakes, I learn from them, analyze things I do, and take certain steps, active and sometimes quite risky, to correct them. And I realize it clearly that there is no way back.

I’ve always wanted to work in the fashion industry. I have an inborn aesthetic sense and have developed a taste in style, but because the profession of a designer doesn’t quite appeal to me, I’ve made the right decision by investing my resources into an undoubtedly talented couturier. To me it seems like a perfect symbiosis.

The head of my family is the Alaskan Malamute Fedor!

A woman should stand half a step behind the man, securing his retreat and being there for him throughout his life. I’m old-fashioned and conservative in this sense. The question is though, if there are modern men out there to fit into this model?!

A man, due to the abstract thinking, sees the big picture. A woman was designed that way that she notices more minor details and roundabout ways. Combining these skills can change a lot.

I love men and feel comfortable in their company.

Some people are meant to be halves of a greater entity, but there are also people who constitute entities of their own, those who find it crucial that uniting the two worlds leaves the borders of each intact. People like that look for a partner who would be there at their side, moving along with them, but at the same time parallel to their way, both of the two evolving in their own direction. Absolutely everyone looks for one and the same thing, but those who find it are few.

I’m a spirited and energetic iron lady. Can’t argue with that (laughs).

I never rely on luck alone. To achieve success, one has to be persistent, has to be able to assess the situation soberly, and know what he’s doing. I’m not the type of person who sits and waits for a miracle.

Moving higher and higher up all the time is not the most rational approach one can adopt. Unlike moving forward. One needs time to explore the resources of the captured territory, learn to employ the gained power and experience for making the next step. The lows each of us goes through every now and again help one stay toned and take well-reasoned decisions based on the contrast.

I used to fear heights. To get rid of this phobia, I even went for a parachute jump. I wouldn’t say that the fear has now gone away completely, but at least I know that I’ve done it.

There are no limits but those that my conscience sets for me.

You have found a perfect job if you enjoy what you’re doing and strive for becoming a professional in this sphere. When you can see the result of the efforts put into a project, the coherent teamwork, you realize that the path you’ve chosen is the right path. And you just do it because you simply can’t live otherwise.

Those who grow wiser with age don’t make up majority of all people. You can be old and wise at 20 and young and frivolous at 70!

I’ve been smoking for quite a while now and have long stopped worrying about it.

I want to surround my children with love. A child who’s been raised with love is genetically inclined to be happy. One shouldn’t bring up his kids, but facilitate their development.

A man has to be distinguished in every way.

Russia equips one with a type of a very global experience from the moment he’s born, which is no experience at all. Sometimes it feels like if you’re born in Russia, you must have done something wrong and are now being punished for it. Compared to us, foreigners look a bit naïve. Russians just can’t live without problems. Besides, we often disagree with things, so our brain has to work harder to get the full view of the picture and take action to change the situation.

Why waste time bothering about what other people think about you?