Power Women: Marianna Boguslavsky On How To Successfully Navigate Work, Love and Life As A Powerful Woman - An Interview With Ming Zhao
(The interview feature below was originally published in Authority Magazine by Ming Zhao - thank you for the opportunity to share my story with you Ming):
How does a successful, strong, and powerful woman navigate work, employee relationships, love, and life in a world that still feels uncomfortable with strong women? In this interview series, called “Power Women” we are talking to accomplished women leaders who share their stories and experiences navigating work, love and life as a powerful woman.
As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Marianna Boguslavsky.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
I was born & grew up in Riga, Latvia — my parents emigrated from Latvia to South Africa when I was still in primary school so I was quite young and adopting to a new country was pretty easy along with learning a new language. By the time I hit grade seven, I was learning/speaking three languages — English, Russian, & afrikaans.
Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?
I got into digital marketing completely by accident. I had studied psychology followed by a rather random Master’s Degree in Health Management and then moving to London upon graduating to get into the qualitative research type of role. Instead, my first job in the UK was in marketing and the rest is history. I fell in love with digital and luckily still feel this passion for my industry many years later.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
In 2014, I was interviewed for an online magazine in Dubai as I was living there & running my digital strategy agency. Few weeks after this interview went live, I received an email from the editor of this online magazine putting me in touch with a Hollywood Film Producer who was also the co-founder of one of Dubai’s PR agencies as he read my interview and requested a meeting. To cut a long story short, that is how I ended up working on my very first Hollywood film marketing project — award winning US feature film ‘’Before I Disappear’’ based on the 2013 Academy Award winning short film “Curfew”.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Dogged determination — never give up attitude. I’m quite a resilient person which has helped tremendously in my career especially when running my own business which at the beginning can be quite heavy in rejection when it comes to business development.
Passion for my industry & work — this comes across with almost all of my clients — I am repeatedly told that they love my energy,
Enthusiasm is a big one — I show up for any meeting with bucket loads of enthusiasm & excitement which tends to be contagious! For both clients and team members.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. The premise of this series assumes that our society still feels uncomfortable with strong women. Why do you think this is so?
I’m not convinced ‘society’ feels uncomfortable — more like 50% of society, namely men, might still feel uncomfortable.
Without saying any names, can you share a story from your own experience that illustrates this idea?
Few years back, I worked in a Head of Marketing role at a tech startup, with a pretty toxic ‘tech bro’ culture, perpetuated by senior management / C-level executives. Women in the company were expected to be seen but not heard. This was a pretty difficult experience as a woman who likes to lead and have a say.
What should a powerful woman do in a context where she feels that people are uneasy around her?
She should lead with integrity, positive energy, respect, and transparency. If someone in power makes someone else feel uncomfortable, the issue is with the other person.
In my own experience, I have observed that often women have to endure ridiculous or uncomfortable situations to achieve success that men don’t have to endure. Do you have a story like this from your own experience? Can you share it with us?
This is more culturally focused but when I was living in Dubai & had a business meeting with a businessman there, I was asked if my husband would ‘allow’ me to travel. It took me a few seconds to understand what he meant — I then explained I don’t have to ask for permission.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women leaders that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
Having to prove themselves in a new role/contract/venture — women are not always perceived as worthy of something until they prove their worth. But with men, it’s almost assumed that they have earned it.
Let’s now shift our discussion to a slightly different direction. This is a question that nearly everyone with a job has to contend with. Was it difficult to fit your personal and family life into your business and career? For the benefit of our readers, can you articulate precisely what the struggle was?
I am someone who has always been driven, ambitious, hardworking, and determined to succeed. I hustled on a daily basis because that is what it took to run my digital agency and sign clients. I worked right through my pregnancy (even labour!) along with managing to handle both a newborn and existing work projects. It wasn’t easy but I could not let down my clients. What was tough though, in the first year of being a mom and running a digital strategy agency, was that in almost every meeting with a new potential client (only the males ones), I was asked how I was going to juggle work and a baby. It’s like they could not get past the fact that I could do both (which I did!)
What was a tipping point that helped you achieve a greater balance or greater equilibrium between your work life and personal life? What did you do to reach this equilibrium?
Hah, school starting?! I must say childcare has been a crucial element in achieving the perfect balance between being a career woman and a mom.
I work in the beauty tech industry, so I am very interested to hear your philosophy or perspective about beauty. In your role as a powerful woman and leader, how much of an emphasis do you place on your appearance? Do you see beauty as something that is superficial, or is it something that has inherent value for a leader in a public context? Can you explain what you mean?
Interestingly enough this has been country specific for me personally. In Dubai, a significant amount of importance is placed on appearance — I would get weekly manicures, facials, and invest in designer bags, etc. In Joburg / London, it is more relaxed when it comes to appearances. To me, what is vital is to dress professionally & appropriately, and look presentable.
How is this similar or different for men?
Men can get away with jeans, tee-shirts & a beard!
Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your opinion and experience, what are the “Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Powerful Woman?” (Please share a story or example for each.)
Never give up — no matter the challenge, no matter how impossible it may seem, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, never ever give up. Persistence & determination is a key factor to success.
Never stop building relationships — I just had a former boss (and long time mentor) over for Sunday lunch after last seeing him In London in 2008. I managed to keep in touch this entire time. Some bridges might be toxic & you do need to burn them but for most relationships, try to build on them.
Show up with enthusiasm — I often get told by clients that one of the reasons they wanted to work with me was I brought wonderful energy & enthusiasm to all of our meetings. If you have a passion for what you do, share this passion!
Leave your ego behind — this has been a slow learning process for me but I’m getting there.
Don’t respond to any email that elicits an emotional reaction immediately — wait 24 hours — this was advice given to me by a former manager and has transformed the way I communicate and do business. Never respond in an emotional way, give yourself some time to think, process and calmly reply.
