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Start at Zero
My only visit to Moscow was to the local offices of the largest beer brewer in the world for a conversation about zero budgeting.
At the time, I was the COO for a supermarket business in Bulgaria, and our CEO for Europe, a former executive of this beer brewer, inspired my European peers and me to visit and learn from them. This was in 2012 when Putin hadn’t completely lost his mind yet (No offense, Vladimir, if you’re reading this).
Beyond this primary purpose for visiting Moscow, I discovered many lessons about the city and Russia. The city was booming with vibrancy and dynamism, comparable to the energy felt in Central Europe after the fall of the wall.
Witnessing people eager to grow, learn, and create a better future for themselves and others was invigorating.
This eagerness to improve fills me with excitement. It’s why I love emerging markets.
On different levels, I noted the tremendous potential for growth in the supermarket business, the vast gap between rich and poor, the surprisingly small Kremlin, and the outrageous traffic. I also found the metro stations to be incredible works of art.
When change occurs, it is crucial to guide people along the way. You can offer the latest innovations, but challenges will arise if they…
