– Tell us about yourself, please. Where did you live before coming to Austin, and what did you do?
I am from the city of Orsk, Orenburg region. Before coming to Austin, I studied at the Faculty of Philology and Foreign Languages at OSU.
– How did you get to Austin?
In my third year of study, I decided to go to America on a student exchange program. I visited several states. I like America a lot and firmly decided to return here after graduation and continue my studies in the MBA program. And so it happened. After graduating from the institute, I moved to America, married, and entered the master’s program at St. Edward’s University.
– Did you study in the USA? Tell us about your studies at the University.
In 2009, I started my Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in corporate finance. It was an exciting experience. Never in my life have I had to study so hard. During the day: I worked and took care of a 2-year-old child; in the evening, I went to school, came home at 10 pm, studied further, prepared for tests, exams, etc. The whole education system is built in a completely different way than it was in Russia. Perhaps now, Russia’s bachelor’s and master’s programs are similar to the local education system since there was also an education reform. It was unusual for me that you can independently choose what subjects you want to take, while you need to calculate your strength and time accurately and go through a huge amount of material on your own. I was also surprised that no one tried to cheat on exams.
– Please tell us about your work (previous experience). How did you create your company? What were the difficulties?
After graduating from University, I received an offer of a remote job in a medical billing company. It was just what I wanted. I was a little exhausted during my studies, and I didn’t want to plunge headlong into my career, as I understood that I needed to have motivation for this, and I didn’t have it at that time. So I quietly worked from home, raised and educated my daughter, and gave birth to my second child. A few years later, the owner of the company decided to retire. I bought the business from him and became the CEO. There have been no particular difficulties since then. I already well understood how everything works. The entrepreneurial spirit is in my blood since my dad founded his own company, and I saw how much he had to work to succeed.
– What do you like most about the company?
The ability to independently make all decisions, vary the amount of work, and develop in the direction you consider more promising. There is no fear that someone will fire you. However, having your own business, you have to work not from 8 to 5 but around the clock. I often work in the evenings, sometimes on weekends, and during the day. I try to make the most of my time with my children. Also, having your own business, you are responsible not only for yourself but also for other people working for you.
– What does your company do?
The company has been in business for over ten years. We provide medical billing services to doctors of various specializations. We are a link between doctors, patients, and health insurance companies.
– What do you like most about Austin?
I like Austin because there is a beautiful and large Russian community. This is what I missed in San Antonio, where I first lived. It is a dynamic, promising city with many entertainments, study, and career opportunities. I love going to classical music concerts. We are delighted that excellent musicians from Europe often come to our city. Yes, and in Austin are many talented musicians and artists.
– Tell us about your family.
My husband works in IT. We just moved to Austin because he was offered another job here. We have two daughters: 6 and 13 years old. We love to go to concerts together, travel, and visit museums. My daughters are seriously involved in music: the eldest plays three instruments, and the youngest plays two. They both do ballet. I am glad they are close and share their interests.
– How do you participate in the life of the Russian-speaking community?
When the Russian School was still in the library building, my husband and I actively participated in the life of the school. We helped in holding New Year’s and final concerts, and for several years I was on the board of directors of the Russian School. Last year at Christmas, my husband and I organized a music concert at our house. It was the second concert. This idea was to gather our fellow musicians and play music together. We heard solos, duets, trios, and even a quartet of real professional musicians during the evening. The children also had the opportunity to perform. And then we all sang Christmas songs together. In my opinion, it turned out very nice.
– Does Austin need a Russian Cultural Center? If yes, how would you like to participate?
Of course, we need to have in Austin Russian Cultural Center. There is such a center in Houston, and Austin is the capital of Texas, and it’s a beautiful place for our compatriots since many of them move here from other states. This center could be made multifunctional. It could be a place of our culture. A place for events and celebrations of traditional holidays, for meetings and a source of information for newcomers, for competitions, quizzes for children and adults, a venue for performances by local groups, an exhibition hall for the work of our artists, sculptors and a platform for hand makers where they could sell their products. I am ready to help with organization, coordination, design, etc.
– How are your relations with the motherland?
We often travel to Russia as a family. It is important for me that children know and understand our culture and have a perfect command of the language. The last time we went to St. Petersburg, we spent almost two weeks: we went to museums, enjoyed the beauty of this city’s unique architecture, and went to the ballet at the Mariinsky Theater. My daughter, who loves ballet, was delighted.
– Tell us about your hobbies.
I have a lot of them, but there is only one thing left due to lack of time – gardening. I grow organic vegetables. My mother is an agronomist. She worked as a breeder. I remember how I came to her work and tasted ten varieties of cherries or peaches. This love for the land and gardening probably came from her. In general, I am a goal-oriented person, and if I do something, I want to see the result, so this hobby suits me. It is interesting to watch how bushes grow from a few seeds, which, with the proper care, give a whole box of delicious vegetables.
– What would you like to wish the Russian-speaking residents of Austin?
Patience. It is a difficult and uncertain time for all of us. But, as Solomon said: “Everything passes. And this will too.”
Contact information:
Aliya Fielding
Email: aliyafielding@yahoo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliya.fielding/
Interviewed by: Dmitri Ovcharenko
Editor: Svetlana Banks
Publisher: Russian Cultural Center