What is it about Russia?

1992 - 2007

Russia has been mysterious, intriguing and somewhat foreboding for most Americans. For those Americans born between 1917 and 1989, Russia was best known as our Enemy. We were taught that Russia was a powerful, stark, frightening, atheistic country.

The invitation to work in Russia came during 1991, immediately after "The Coup" and before the well-known end of the USSR. We were blessed to have been invited to work for the first time in Russia during the beginning of the great transition, 1992. Since that time, we have spent many months of our lives in Russia. Starting in 1995, we have spent approximately 25-35% of each year working in Russia, not to mention the additional preparation for such work and the great amount of time that Russia and our Russian friends are in our hearts and minds.

Our work in Russia has been work of the spirit, work of the mind, work of the heart. Additionally, we have been offered the privilege of working with over one thousand very impressive, dedicated and talented Russian, Ukrainian, Czech and other managers and leaders from over 50 of the world's best known multinational organizations plus dozens of Russian organizations. Through that work and our time in Russia, we have developed deep and lasting friendships. We have learned more about Russia, its culture, its people, its history, the global economy and ourselves.

We have been able to clarify our own values and what matters most in our lives in terms of work, family and life purpose. We owe Russia and our Russian friends more than we can ever fully explain here. Russia calls to us when we are not expecting her. Russia teaches us, touches us and challenges us to be more, serve more, do more with what we have been given.

The first ten years of our work in Russia, 1992-2002, allowed us to personally experience one of the most incredible transitions in the history of the world. This is the transition from the new, post-Communist Soviet Empire into the Russian global market economy. We have seen Russian Orthodox churches by the hundreds be reconverted from Communist warehouses back into the original magnificent houses of worship, now filled to the brim with devout believers. We have experienced some of the most remarkable artistic and musical concerts, operas and cultural presentations imaginable. In the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Pushkin Museum and others we have viewed famous works of art created by artists from Russia and all over the world .

Since 1995, our work has been in partnerships with our dear friends and colleagues, Dennis Hopple, President of the Center for Business Skills Development, Moscow and Denny Aron, Omaha, Nebraska. Without Dennis Hopple and his entrepreneurial spirit, his humor, his marketing and business genius and his incredible perseverance and stamina, our shared opportunities would not have been possible. Without Denny Aron and his intuition and wit, his vast business and leadership development experiences, his clarity of purpose and spirit and his never-ending commitment to quality and friendship, we would not have been able to complete our work.