Guest Speaker Anton Chernotalov: Doing Business in Russia

They say it is impossible to succeed, if you spread yourself too thin and engage in too many activities at a time. Anton Chernotalov's example proves quite the contrary. He is the founder of many a company and runs them simultaneously. He was invited to deliver a guest lecture within the 'Russian Business Context' course and told the Global Business students about his background and current business projects.

A.Chernotalov studied Telecommunications Engineering at Nizhny Novgorod State Technical Engineering University. Now he is the CEO at E-PROMO, the digital marketing company. He is also the director-general at marketing studio «Morizo».

 

The former firm is helping its clients to increase their sales by placing web advertisements, using search engine optimization, creating and maintaining websites. In 2016 E-PROMO has been awarded the title of the Key Google Partner, meaning that its specialists are skillful at using Google instruments in their work and that they visit trainings and workshops at Google to provide even more efficient services to its results-oriented clients.

The latter firm is in the top ten website development companies, providing services for government entities in Russia. «Morizo» was first listed in the rating of website development companies for government in 2016, and immediately made it in the top 10.

These are just the two vivid examples of A. Chernotalov’s business enterprises. He also has other companies to see to. The entrepreneur admits that setting up a business is not actually a big problem in Russia.

According to A.Chernotalov, it is easier for a new comer to create their own business than to take over the existing one. Reason one is the above-mentioned simplicity of the registration process in comparison to Europe, for example. Reason two is that it is easier to set up a new business, rather than shut down the previous one. If you want your company to go out of business, it will take you a lot of time and effort to make it happen.

Another message to the HSE students from A.Chernotalov is that it is usually not a good idea to start business with friends. It is going to be neither business as usual nor friends forever, if you and your partner cannot resolve personal or business-related conflicts. The underlying reason is that these types of conflict are too much intertwined here. You can’t distinguish between the two and just leave. Or force your friend to leave with the distinct possibility of ruining friendship or even of seeing each other again.

HSE wishes A.Chernotalov every success in his future. In every company he sets up or... decides to close to open a more prospective new one. Good luck!

By Nataliia Belova, GB16