Empowering Women to Invest with Lena

Lena is a passionate advocate of change in education.  It is her strong belief that understanding finance, business and economics by the general public would diminish inequality and improve social equilibrium. 

She currently manages two entrepreneurial initiatives : FunFinanceAcademy.com is a virtual business school for kids. And WomenInvestorsClub.com which empowers women by providing them with financial skills and supportive community. 

Hi Lena! Tell us a little about yourself.

I am 43, married and have two adorable daughters. Born in Russia, I spent my twenties in the Netherlands and feel a little bit more Dutch than Russian. After living 10 years in Spain, I grew to love this country. I live in Madrid and consider this place my home, at least for now. 

In my 20s and 30s I worked for big companies and travelled the world. I enjoyed my corporate career and booked successes which still make me feel proud. I left employment to give full attention to my kids and never regretted that decision.

Entrepreneurship allows me to do what I am passionate about while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

I love my independence and the fact that I am the one who defines the direction and priorities.

The feeling of constant learning is very important for me. Running a business means there is never a boring day. Finally, I value the flexibility to arrange my agenda: I plan my weeks and days around my daughters’ schedule and always make sure I pick them up from school and put them to bed.

What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule?

The key is focusing on your priorities and starting the day with what is really important.

My most useful trick is to take time to “close” the week and plan the week ahead. This usually means preparing a list of the first things to do on Monday and blocking time in the agenda for the activities which really makes a difference or require urgency. 

What advice would you give people just starting out in your field?

Find people ready to pay for what you have to offer before you spend money on creating fancy branding and sophisticated website. Make a prototype, simple nice-looking presentation and get out there to sell your product or idea. 

Personal contacts are the key, no real business can be built from the comfort of your home. Don’t hide behind social media and email, set up physical meetings, sit across people and talk to them. 

Feel comfortable with numbers, learn finance and accounting. 

What have you learned through your professional experience that has helped you with your own business? 

Corporate world is a great place to learn and build your capital before venturing into entrepreneurship. During 15 years of my professional experience I learned sales, marketing and project finance, saw successfully run operations, met amazing professionals and saw businesses go bankrupt. I think I have a  strong base, but I still need to learn a lot.

What is one goal you wish to accomplish by the end of the year?

I would like to grow #investingisforwomen community. We welcome women who are willing to learn and start investing, but also women who are investing already. 

Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years? 

Life has always brought me amazing experiences and I am sure the next 5 years will be no different. I expect my  business to grow organically, as I would like to keep my independence. I hope to find more time to write and travel. As long as I can meet new people and learn new things I will feel fulfilled and thankful. 

The best way to connect with Lena is through LinkedIn or joining her community on Facebook.