I had to adopt a “never fear what you don’t know” attitude. First, when my family fled from Tajikistan to the U.S. and I was forced to learn a new language and culture. We had very few possessions—only what we could carry—and very little money. I began working at 13. I lied about my age on the application. I had to.

In college, I decided to study computer science without knowing anything about computers. I took 18-21 credits per semester, took summer courses and worked full time. I earned my degree in three years instead of four. I had to.

I learned fast and it wasn’t easy, but I found success because in each new situation, I wasn’t intimidated by new information, new tools, new ideas. I refused to give up simply because I didn’t know something! The hardship gave me a new perspective on obstacles and risk. And both in my career and personal life, I keep raising the bar for myself. Every day, I meet talented men and women who have amazing business ideas but don't start their venture because they fear they don't know enough about “managing the tech process.” Many of those same men and women are encouraging their kids to learn, experience and expand their horizons each and every day. Shouldn’t we follow that same advice for ourselves, rather than letting fear get in the way? Perhaps we can go so far as to embrace fear and let it be the fuel for our success!

I didn’t grow up with computers. In fact, when I started college, I had never even turned one on.

I’m a first-generation immigrant from the former Soviet Union, and like many immigrants, I was laser-focused on stability and security. I didn’t have the luxury of “figuring things out.” I needed a career that would pay the bills the moment I graduated. And in the early ’90s, that meant one thing: technology.

So I chose Computer Science.

Except….I was so clueless about tech that I thought the major would teach me how to use Microsoft Word and Excel really, really well.

You can imagine my shock when I walked into the computer lab, sat down, and literally turned on a computer for the very first time.

And it was hard. Brutally hard. But I was determined, so determined, that I finished my degree in three years instead of four.

Somewhere along the way, I fell in love.

Not with coding, exactly, but with creation. I realized that technology wasn’t just about using tools… it was about building them. It was power, creativity, and possibility, all rolled into one.

But growing up where I did, entrepreneurship wasn’t part of the playbook, especially for women. The mantra was simple: Get a good job. Save your money. Don’t take risks. Business ownership? That was for “them.” The people who knew some secret I didn’t.

That changed when I joined a startup called Webgrrls International, a company on a mission to get more women online and give them the skills to leverage technology for success.

Webgrrls wasn’t just a company…it was a movement. The energy there was electric. It was full of women building, experimenting, and pushing boundaries in an industry that was still largely male-dominated. The entrepreneurial spirit was everywhere - rampant and contagious - and that’s where I caught the entrepreneurial bug.

I joined Webgrrls while still in college, and before I even graduated, I was running the entire technology department. In my early twenties, I was suddenly managing projects, leading teams, and building real systems that powered a growing global community.

After graduation, I did what I thought I was supposed to do. I joined a big financial firm, working as a programmer. It was safe, stable… and soul-crushing. Within a year, I knew I didn’t belong.

Then came the opportunity of a lifetime: to return to Webgrrls as CTO. I jumped at it. I was young, ambitious, and maybe a little terrified… but ready. That experience made me a well-rounded CTO and gave me a deep understanding of both the technical and business sides of building products. These lessons that still guide everything I do today.

As I began speaking at events around the country, I kept hearing the same heartbreaking stories from founders - entrepreneurs losing $60K, $80K, even $100K on tech mistakes. Not because they lacked vision, but because they didn’t understand how to manage developers or build products efficiently.

That’s when I realized my true mission: to close that gap.

To empower entrepreneurs to lead with confidence — even if they aren’t technical.

That’s why I created TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, a brand dedicated to helping non-technical people to embrace technology.

It started as a program that teaches founders how to manage technology teams and projects like a CTO, without knowing how to code.

Today, that mission has expanded to include the most transformative technology of our time, artificial intelligence.

Because AI isn’t just for coders or data scientists - it’s for everyone who wants to think smarter, move faster, and build more efficiently.

Through TechSpeak, I help entrepreneurs and business leaders understand how to integrate AI into their strategies, workflows, and decision-making. Not to replace people, but to amplify their potential.

Because when non-technical people learn to speak the language of technology, whether it’s software, data, or AI, they stop fearing it… and start leading with it.

That’s what drives me….helping founders and leaders turn ideas into successful, tech-powered businesses without wasting a lot of time and money.