Victoria Zavyalova’s Post

What is THE BEST 😀 way to network?  "When you get real, it resonates universally across cultures." This liberating message comes from The Vertical’s new contributor, Aditi Bhargava Tandon. Aditi is an expert at building teams and connections. She is also a talent advisor, a multidimensionally gifted individual, a movie fan, and an international founder. As we know, Immigrant entrepreneurs often arrive in the U.S. with big dreams but little social capital.  They face cultural differences, language barriers, and bias. In her article (link in comments), Aditi shares invaluable networking tips for immigrants. Here are a few: 🤸♂️ Aim to Win: Those who aim to win are more likely to network successfully. Believe in positive outcomes and practice positive self-talk. 🙇♂️ Reflect on Biases: Consider how your own biases might influence interactions. Staying a step ahead of your preconceptions can help diversify your networks. 🗣 Engage in Big Talk: Sometimes, it’s beneficial to switch to “big talk” with questions like, “What is your competitive advantage?” I'd like to add one more to this impressive list: put your ask out there. Aditi and I met at our Sales & Exits event (pictured) at Civic Hall At the event, I mentioned our search for great contributors to elevate our content.  I’m really glad I asked! Thank you, Aditi, for sharing your thoughts and expertise 💐

"Why did you move to the U.S.?" The short answer: for freedom. Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be free “when I grew up.” 😜 😁 Whether we leave home for idealistic dreams or economic opportunities, we all face tough choices.  We must reinvent ourselves and discover where we truly fit in. The most important part of this process is our environment and social circles. We have to choose it wisely. Do the people around you uplift you or bring you down? Do you wish success or failure upon others? That’s why I created The Vertical, for this sense of community of like-minded people who want to grow together. True freedom comes from accepting who you are and embracing others, regardless of any negative perceptions or biases. Freedom also means not letting your past or present define you. It's about consciously choosing the best people and paths for yourself. There’s no freedom without freedom of mind. Happy 4th of July!

I’ll be posting regularly on LinkedIn from now on. Here’s why 👇🏼 Since 2017, I’ve been helping innovative companies navigate through the information overload. A few years back, I co-founded a media platform focused on immigrant founders — because I’m one of them! Here’s what I’m still figuring out about LinkedIn: “Can we really use it to make our voices heard?"  I sure hope so. I'm excited to share my perspective. As a media pro: → I’ve got tons of tips on pitching to journalists As a publisher: → I have thousands of inspiring stories to share As a human: → I’m looking to maybe co-create some amazing things together   Starting today, I’m excited to chat about this weekly. My goals? ✅ Connect with new and inspiring people ✅ Share years of experience in helping entrepreneurs succeed ✅ Dive into the “behind the scenes” of my industry Connect with me here: https://lnkd.in/eGtC4fJy I'd love to hear from you! ⬇️ What topics would you like me to cover?

Dealing with rejection? Yeah, it can be tough 😉 Early on, I got tons of “NOs.” What kept me going was knowing who I am and, more importantly, who I could be. When I was 16, trying to break into journalism, I faced rejection after rejection. Each time, I thought: “Okay, this isn't about me personally. It's just how I show up to this editor in a moment. I will improve, and eventually, they'll see the REAL me. And I could be really good.” Thanks to my tough editors and their criticism, I got better. Later, when I moved to new countries, applied for jobs, launched my own business, and started pitching to clients and media, rejection struck again. But it didn’t hurt anymore. I realized it’s just part of the process. Building something from nothing takes time, especially if you don't have loads of cash to speed things up. Sometimes it takes so long you start questioning yourself. These days, I see many founders struggling with the pressure of rejection, whether from VCs or media. It’s hard, especially when everyone says, “Believe in yourself.” But how? I’d say, “Believe in what you could become and where you want to go.” Someday, when you finally reach that finish line, you'll look back and realize how much fun the journey was. Here's a snapshot of me running the SF half. Can't wait to do it again!

Our audience are our co-creators The Vertical Why? No one can do it alone. Many thanks to lovely Neelam Patel for reminding me of this with her poem. She wrote it specifically for our event #SalesExits, a highlight of TECH WEEK by a16z for many #immigrantfounders. A picnic blanket is a beautiful metaphor for togetherness 👏as we head into summer. “If one of us is sitting on the grass — The blanket proves too short. May one of us reach into the same suitcase For a piece of our own fabric. And lay it out to extend the party.” Sharing a glimpse into Neelam’s lyrical representation of what business and immigration are meant to be 😀 P.S. Stay tuned for more from Neelam in her upcoming contributor pieces for The Vertical!

Wow, what an incredible night! Last week, we The Vertical hosted our very first event in New York for immigrant founders as part of TECH WEEK by a16z. Many thanks to all of you who made it such a success! A huge shoutout to: The beautiful diverse crowd who joined us on Friday evening (!!! 😀 ) to learn and network, bringing fantastic energy and unique perspectives; Our brilliant speakers: Vlada Lotkina, Tomer Morad, Chris Brown, Feargal O'Sullivan, Kalyan Gautham. Your authenticity and insights were truly inspiring 😊 My co-host and moderator, Ayse Eren Senguler, for her lightness, thoughtful questions, flexibility, positive vibes, and a feminine touch; Jim Malatras and @William Edwards for welcoming us at The Global Partnership for Civic Engagement with such kindness and generosity; A HUGE THANK YOU to our Premium Partner, USAM Group Inc., for their invaluable (and much-needed) support; Mariano Balcarce of Draper House LATAM, for generously offering a scholarship to our attendees; V Food Spot Team, for providing delicious vegan food with some LatAm twist that everyone loved; Azniv Sargsian for being such a wonderful and pleasant host, a people magnet and a fantastic connector; Neelam Patel, for her beautiful poem written specifically for our event, adding a special spark to the evening; Sagnik Basu and Andrea Garau who are building their own international/diverse tech communities yet found time to support us. Tech Week was a great success overall. I just wish I could've attended more than 5 events a day 😂, so many fantastic connections and inspiring people. Can't wait for more and keep growing this amazing network. Below is just a sneaky preview. More photos coming soon!

In 2017, I moved to New York (and the U.S.) with just one suitcase and $2K, started my own business and landed my first client within a month. How did I manage that? I pitched a partner (also a woman and an immigrant) at a major NYC accelerator. She trusted me, despite me being new to the country and having an accent. In the beginning, I was terrible 😂 but what I lacked in market knowledge, I made up for with enthusiasm and effort. Ultimately, the engagement was successful for both of us. I never thought I was good at #sales, but sometimes you have no choice but to sell what you've got — whether it's a product or a service. And you have to start right away to suck, learn and improve. But… I wouldn't have started climbing this mountain if I hadn't seen successful immigrant entrepreneurs who had already reached the top. That's why tonight at Civic Hall I'm hosting a 'Sales & Exits' panel with lovely Ayse Eren Senguler featuring exceptional international founders Tomer Morad Vlada Lotkina Kalyan Gautham, sales pro Feargal O'Sullivan, and industry expert Chris Brown of NVIDIA. Come learn from them. It’s gonna be awesome. Link in comments. P.S. We just closed the registration but DM me if you feel like you HAVE TO be there.

The next industrial revolution is here. Will you be a part of it? Join us at Sales & Exits for International Founders, a part of TECH WEEK by a16z to learn from the tech industry’s best! Our The Vertical panel features: - successful entrepreneurs who have built effective sales pipelines and achieved profitable exits Tomer Morad Vlada Lotkina Kalyan Gautham - exceptional sales professionals Feargal O'Sullivan and strategists Ayse Eren Senguler - market leaders Chris Brown #Nvidia. Nvidia’s sales have more than doubled, and its profit was up sevenfold. Next quarter, the company aims to generate over $28 billion in sales. 📅 Date: Friday, June 7th 🕕 Time: 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Unlock the secrets of tech sales and master exit negotiations https://lu.ma/i5jgpqkl Many thanks to our sponsors USAM Group Inc. Civic Hall Draper House LATAM for their support!

What makes us human is the irrational. Can #AI completely replace voice actors? I spoke with creatives and technologists on the frontline of voice AI to find out. + The quality of TTS technology in many languages is now so advanced that it sounds convincingly human to untrained ears Christoffer Weiss - AI can't deliver the same emotional depth as human actors Tjasa Ferme, the artistic director behind #Bioadapted - Great movies require emotional range, tonality, inflection, and a variety of voices that AI can’t yet provide. Only humans can guarantee 100% quality, AI will never stop making mistakes Anton Dvorkovich, Dubformer + within the next year, AI will be able to change inflection and tonality in a sentence, making it sound more human-like + There will be both human and AI actors, including licensed digital replicas like George Clooney-2050 Dustin Gallegos, Kmeleon + Some people might prefer AI-generated content, and pricing could be a significant factor. A subscription to an "AI Netflix" might cost just a fraction of a traditional streaming service. + Distinguishing between human and AI content might become more challenging, especially for older generations with changing sensory perceptions, Heidi Boisvert, Assistant Professor of AI and the Arts at the University of Florida. Check out my article to learn more (link in comments). Many thanks to The AI Journal for the publication. #VoiceAI