BECOMING A LEADER – Interview with Olga Khaustova, JCI Russia Deputy President and Member of JCI Partnerships Committee INTERVIEW AND TEXT: JUTTA RUUSUNEN | PHOTO: OLGA’S OWN ARCHIVE
1 8
/
J O H TA JA
I
, Jutta Ruusunen, am meeting Olga Khaustova, DP of JCI Russia, over an online cup of coffee, which has become a bit of a trademark of hers after launching the “Cup of Coffee with an Outstanding JCI Member / JCI Senator interview series. Only this time, it is Olga being interviewed. Olga’s JCI career has now come a full circle also in another, rather unexpected way - it was an article in a Finnish JCI magazine, which got her interested in JCI in the first place. In the end, the article planned for JCI Helsinki’s publication never saw the light of day, but in the process Olga had already become an enthusiastic jaycee. I got the chance to pick Olga’s brain about leadership and how her thinking has developed over the past 7 years in JCI, and in the light of her upcoming national presidency.
Let’s start with a classic question - Olga, how would you describe a good leader? Olga: “Having met many great people and great leaders, I have come to the conclusion, that a true leader is a kind person with a big heart, someone who is willing to support others, who sees the best in everyone and can give others room to shine. And JCI is excellent in providing a platform for this. It helps such individuals step up who maybe never imagined themselves assuming a leadership role before.” “A good leader is also an expert in motivation. Everyone should believe that their role matters. You also need to give them the possibility to fulfill the role. Micromanaging brings you nowhere. A leader should treat people with respect and trust and show that they believe you can get the job done. That gives people the confidence that they can achieve anything.”
Speaking of motivation, JCI is a volunteer organization. Do you feel that creates extra challenges for a leader? Olga: “It is one thing to manage a business and manage volunteers. As a business leader, you recruit the people you feel are a great match and who you trust. In JCI, you might work with people you have never met before, and may never meet face to face. In short, you work with the ones who you have. This requires great understanding and adapting to changes, also to uncertainty. Also, JCI requires a lot of self-initiative. You cannot take the passenger seat and just wait for opportunities and invitations being handed to you. Leadership is when you wait for nobody. You need to be the initiator and inspire people around you.” That certainly goes for life in general! And you are quite the initiator yourself - you started the “Cup of Coffee”
