From VC to Operator: Olga Shikhantsova on Growth, Humility, and Alignment

What does it take to achieve success early—and stay grounded while chasing more?

In this episode of The Emotional Business Show, Olga Skipper sits down with Olga Shikhantsova, former VC partner at Speedinvest, Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, and now Head of Product Strategy at Finom, to explore the emotional undercurrents of rapid achievement and reinvention.

Together, they unpack:

• How family values, moving countries, and sheer hunger shaped Olga’s path
• The paradox of early recognition: confidence on the outside, self-doubt on the inside
• Why humility and doubt can be powerful drivers of growth
• The role of personal “boards of directors” and support systems in navigating high-stakes careers
• Her transition from investor to operator — and what it means to move from strategy to execution
• The qualities that distinguish leaders who simply grow from those who truly transform

This conversation goes beyond the headlines of Forbes covers and venture capital wins. It’s a candid look at ambition, alignment, and the courage to choose what matters again and again as your story evolves.

Tune in to discover how to lead with clarity, act through doubt, and keep growing when your career accelerates faster than your identity can catch up.

 

https://finom.co 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shikhantsova/