Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina spoke about her career, family, and hobbies in an interview.
Her responsibilities include issues of socio-economic development of the region, industry, innovation, investment policy, and many others.
However, our conversation was built not on official duties, but on personal attitudes towards various life topics.
– When I was going to meet you, I was warned: you can't be late, you are a strict person. But you greet me with a kind smile…
– More precisely – not strict (although that is also present), but disciplined. I try not to be late myself and encourage others to be punctual. I believe this is a sign of respect and good upbringing. My position also requires strictness. I believe a leader needs to show firmness in decisions, although softness in some cases is also appropriate.
– Most people know you as the Deputy Governor, a serious leader overseeing important economic issues. Do you think your organizational skills were innate, or did they develop with experience?
– Probably, the basics are laid from childhood. I was born in a village, in a large family by today's standards, my parents had three daughters, I was the eldest, which meant I was responsible for my younger sisters. My mother worked as an accountant in a collective farm, and my father was a tractor driver. The family kept a large household. My grandparents were also very responsible and decent people, upright in life. Naturally, all these qualities were instilled in the children. And life experience also influenced the formation of organizational skills. I am, to some extent, a perfectionist. I always strived to do everything better. I graduated from school with honors. I started my working career as a sales assistant. I received my first specialty, "Commercial Activities," at the Vitebsk Polytechnic College. There was a high competition for admission; I was the only one from a village in my group, all the others were from the city. At first, I felt a certain condescension, but then it passed, I am a sociable person, I found a common language.
– We all come from childhood. What did your parents teach you? They say your mother is also a leader by nature? Do you visit your homeland often?
– Yes, my mother is a very active person. She comes from a large family, and responsibility for others was in her blood. She was demanding of us children, but we also understood that we needed to study, work, and help. My mother commanded respect, and it's no coincidence that she has now been elected village elder. She sets an example. The flowers in the yard must be the best. The household must be in exemplary order. And she taught us this. My father's parents were also leaders; my grandmother worked as a foreman, and my grandfather was an agronomist. Apparently, organizational skills are passed down genetically. I am grateful to my parents for my childhood, for teaching me to make decisions. If I am entrusted with something, I approach it with a high degree of responsibility. I don't visit my homeland as often as I would like. When I come, I rest my soul.
– Although the word "economy" is feminine in Russian, it has a masculine character. Was it difficult to gain and maintain authority among men?
– To be respected by managers, you need to be a knowledgeable person, understand the nuances, and grasp the essence of the issue. If I don't know something, I take a pause and study the issue. I am constantly learning. When solving management tasks, it is important to know that the leaders of large and small enterprises trust you, consider your opinion, and see you as a reliable partner.
– You are a busy person, do they complain at home about being deprived of attention?
– My daughter is 14 years old, she is an independent child, very responsible, and not spoiled. At school, they ask her: are your parents strict? She answers: Mom is very. My daughter and I are very close, I try to understand her, I give her some advice. At home, I am both demanding and gentle. It is important, first and foremost, to instill in your child important qualities that will help them overcome all difficulties and remain a human being.
– What qualities do you value most in people and what can you not forgive?
– I value integrity in people. I do not forgive lies. I can understand when a person has been disingenuous or has omitted something, but when they lie purposefully, with some selfish intent – that is unforgivable.
– As a business person, you need to adhere to a dress code. Is it convenient for you? When you are abroad, do you showcase outfits by Belarusian designers?
– The dress code is a mandatory requirement, but I am comfortable with a business style of clothing; one might say it is my favorite. At home, I prefer jeans and a fleece jacket. For a restaurant or visiting guests, I wear an evening dress. I try to choose clothes that I like. I have a lot of clothes; sometimes, my wardrobe is not enough to hang everything. Like any woman, I enjoy shopping. I really love brooches. When I buy clothes, I look for suitable brooches for them, sometimes two. I especially like handmade items. I have jewelry with the Belarusian flag and cornflowers. During business meetings, people notice them. When traveling abroad, I always take suits and dresses by Belarusian designers, particularly from linen. I believe that the prestige of our country is formed, in part, by clothing. Linen is a brand of Belarus. Often, foreign colleagues come to us and ask where to buy linen products.
– Do you have any hobbies? Do you enjoy cooking or gardening?
– I enjoy working in the garden, planting flowers, and doing landscape design. When I moved into the apartment I bought in Vitebsk, I decided to create a flowerbed under the window. Then, other neighbors joined in. It's pleasant to approach a house that is drowning in flowers. In childhood, I was involved in needlework. I attended various clubs and even played the bayan. I love to cook; when I have time, I try to make something original and tasty. We also have traditional dishes – Caesar salad and weekend shashlik. We gather with family at my mother's or sister's place. We are close and try to support each other. I think this is also a result of upbringing.
My daughter and I love going to the cinema. During the "Slavianski Bazaar" festival, I try to attend not only concerts in the Summer Amphitheater but also street performances. I like our Vitebsk folk ensembles, and my daughter introduces me to modern music.
– How do you prefer to spend your vacation?
– With my family, with my child. If it doesn't work out in the summer, I try to schedule my vacation for the winter or autumn school holidays. Sometimes I just want some peace and quiet, so we go to my parents' place and spend at least a week there. We also vacation by the sea. I believe there are many beautiful places in Belarus. You can have a great time at an agro-ecotourism estate, go on a hiking or cycling route. Or live in tents. My friend, whom I've known since kindergarten, and I gather a small group and go to the lake to live like "wildlings" for a few days. We have a wonderful time! I travel on business a lot, but no matter what countries and cities I visit, I always miss home.
– What are your thoughts on pets?
– We have a ginger British cat named Venya at home. There were always animals at my parents' house; I think I brought home all the stray cats. When my daughter was little, we had hamsters and guinea pigs.
– What book would you recommend reading?
– "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. I've read Tolstoy's "War and Peace" twice. I'm drawn to the era depicted in these works and the female characters.
– Are you a person of your time, or would you like to travel to another century? What era attracts you?
– Probably my own time. I doubt I'd want to be in the distant future. Given my personality, I'd prefer the pre-war and post-war years. I enjoy watching films that tell stories about those times when people faced difficult choices. I probably associate myself more with the Soviet era. It seems to me that people communicated more then, gathered together more often. My grandmother was very lively, and people often gathered at her house for holidays. We celebrated carols in the village, organized "ogonyoks" (gatherings), and carnivals. I would like to travel back to that period. But this time has chosen me, and I want to live in it with dignity, usefulness, and richness.
– We are meeting just before March 8th. What gift would you like to receive for the holiday?
– A day off! To spend at home with my daughter. To go to a spa. To sit at a table with my parents and sisters. The company of loved ones is a gift for me.
Photo from the personal archive of Anzhelika Nikitina