Home: NYC. Age: 46. Organization: mindbodygreen. Title: President. Significant other: Tigran Vardanian (my best friend and life partner for 25 years and not counting!). Alma mater: University of Chicago. Languages spoken: English, Russian, French.
Recent recognition: “You inspired me to…” fill the blank. The week is wasted if I do not hear it at least once. Latest accomplishment: Scheduled theater outings for the next few months. What’s been your big (or biggest) leap? Learned patience … mostly. Hobbies: Yoga and aspirational jogger. I get very inspired by runners in Central Park. One day. Recent travel or adventure: Disney StarCruiser that plunges you into a Star Wars story for two days, complete with lightsaber adventures and smuggler runs. And yes, I dressed up as Princess Leia, no buns. Last book read: The Uninhabitable Earth, by David Wallace-Wells. Simultaneously alarming and surprisingly optimistic. Recently viewed and recommended: When the days are dark, there is no replacement for funny cat videos!
Personality profile: ENTP (and I am known to guess anybody’s profile after a five-minute conversation). What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Driven. What is your greatest joy? New experiences, whatever they are: new country, new skill, new acquaintance; a movie I think about a day after, a book that emotionally connects and opens new horizons. What is your greatest fear? Snakes. How do you relieve stress? Strolling the streets of New York. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? My family.
What book have you repeatedly read? The Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling. What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Godfather. What is the best advice you received in your career? “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon”. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? The World Wide Web. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? The fall of the Iron Curtain.
What change would you like to see in the world? Greater kindness to others. What widely held belief do you reject? “Karma is a b.tch”. What mega-trend most excites you? Carbon-capture.
What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Jessica Chastain. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A submarine captain. What object would you first save from your burning home? My passport. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Taking my kids to a park and eating as much ice cream as I possibly can. What advice would you give your younger self? Memories are more important than money.
Personal motto: Will I feel regret if I do/don’t do something? Favorite quote: “All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us” (Gandalf).
