Stockholm School of Economics in Riga Students' Magazine

Does education in the economics/business area in Latvia increase your chances to be successful in life?

This connection between the education and success is not always obvious. In business a lot of things depend on personal features, strong will, on how well does the person cultivate his abilities, on the set goals. Of course good knowledge is a big plus here, but you have to know how to apply it. Nowadays it is very important to learn all your life, to be interested in things happening in your sphere. Today it is more difficult for young people to choose the future career path, than it was for us; the market demand and overall tendencies in the world change too fast. But I think that when choosing your career, a person needs to take two factors into account: first is the possibilities of career growth and future welfare. Second – your natural abilities and talents, because a person is happy when he gets satisfaction and joy from his job.

How do you combine being a vice-president of Rietumu Banka and the chairman of Jewish Community?

As one of the bank leaders I deal with the strategic development of our business. The everyday running of the Bank is done by the management team. That is why I have time for social work, and as a chairperson of the Jewish community I deal its problems and projects. Of course it is not that easy to combine these two things. I think it would be even impossible, if not the support of my business partners and family. I am also a person who needs a long time to make a decision, but when it is made, I follow it without a doubt, putting all my heart into it.

How do you feel yourself, more like a businessman or like a public figure?

Of course in the first row I am a businessman. Already around 20 years I have been one of the shareholders and leaders of Rietumu, the biggest private bank in Latvia. This is very big and demanding job, and I hope to do even more things in this area. But with the Jewish Community I started to deal much later. And of course there will be a day, when today’s leaders of the community will be replaced by the new ones, who will take care of its welfare and future…

Have you ever had to face a situation when you had to choose between your family (or friends) and your career? What did you do?

I think a person won’t be able to succeed in life if he or she can’t set priorities. And for me my familyhas always been a top priority. I am a determined person and have positive, at least I hope so, ambitions. Of course, I understood that if I couldn’t realize myself, this would affect my family’s life. And thank God I didn’t have to make a choice between my career and my family; but if I had to, I am confident that, all other things constant, I would choose the family. I have always thought that if I managed to achieve success, it is my duty to help other people. As soon as I realized that I made enough for my family’s welfare, I started actively to do charity work.

Do you plan your future? Did you imagine 20 years ago that you would achieve all this?

Back then, in 1990, I understood that life gave my generation and me personally a unique opportunity– start our own business almost from nothing, with very many things, if not all, depending onlyon me and my personal contribution. One has to keep in mind that not a long time ago many ofmy contemporaries could show their energy only at kitchens’ discussions. Of course, many wereleaving the country at that time. On the other hand, we were given a chance to build something new inour lives, something able to survive and develop. Of course, in 1990 I didn’t know which positionI would hold in 20 years, which car I would be driving and which salary I would have. But I wasabsolutely sure that I would be able to use new opportunities properly and achieve something better.

Whose mistakes do you learn from?

Unfortunately, as the majority of people do, – mostly from my own ones. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s inevitable. The crucial thing is really to analyze them, make conclusions, learn from them, and not repeat them again and again. Overall, it is very important to make decisions, not to avoid it. Every decision which is made is always better than a rejected, delayed one.

Do you believe in luck?

For me the word “luck” means the same as the word “fate”. And I do believe in fate. I think that without luck it is very hard to reach significant goals, to achieve success. On the other hand, I suppose that slow and steady wins the race.

What was the rashest action you have ever done?

Yes, there was such an action, I did it when I was 16. I threw a flower pot out of the school’s window, from the third floor, and I almost hit a passer-by. Neither now nor at that time I could explain why I did it. I felt very awkwardly and uneasily, primarily with myself, and I promised myself not to do anything rash anymore.

What do you hate the most?

I am a quite tolerant person. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking that I could be harsher in somesituations. But I am the way I am, and I don’t want to change myself. What I completely do not accept isfanaticism in any form: religious, ideological, national – any kind.

Which talent would you like to possess?

I love theatre and music, but I don’t have an ear for music. If I had it, I would play guitar for friends andsing with pleasure. It would also be nice to have extrasensory talents, so that I could heal my nearestand dearest.

If you could change something in yourself, what would it be?

It happened so that I am used to hold all my emotional stresses inside. It would be easier to live if I could “let off steam”.

What is your motto?

Don’t do to others things which you wouldn’t like to be done to you.

by Kirils Strukovs