2021 Highlights

While in 2020 the world set about tackling the arrival of a new pandemic, and many things in life were put on hold, in 2021 we learned to adapt to change and the challenges brought on by COVID-19 (although, unfortunately, this is still very much on the agenda today).

2021 showed us how our lives were full of constant change, but at a much faster pace than ever before: switchtasking and multitasking while adapting to new guidelines, travel formats, online meetings, online events and online conferences… online everything! Needless to say, this newer way of life entails maximum flexibility and light-speed adaptability. I made it my goal to master these must-have qualities, so that I can continue to live a happy life that is as normal as can be, despite the endless uncertainties and anxieties.

2021 also turned out to be a year of both professional and personal breakthroughs, and I would love to share some of the major highlights with you…

Business:

In 2021, Kaspersky’s Corporate Business showed significant growth and the best sales results in our company’s history – with several great new deals and contracts signed. I look forward to sharing more details with you soon.

Last year, I was also put more in charge of – and gained more exposure to – the product management segment of Kaspersky, and worked on developing our product and business strategies.

On top of all this, we also won a number of great new clients from the Fortune 500!?

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Awards and recognition:

I can step into 2022 with confidence knowing we are working in strong teams, made up of talented colleagues. The growing number of awards and recognition we received recently from leading analysts such as Gartner and Canalys is further proof of this. For example, Kaspersky is the only EPP vendor recognized in the 2021 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Security Awareness report. In addition, in the?annual evaluation of partner satisfaction made by Canalys we are rated number one?globally,?with a 13-point increase over the previous year.?We are the?only cybersecurity vendor in the world with a 90%+ rating in partner satisfaction. What’s more, throughout 2021 the number of our partners involved in sales of strategic products has grown significantly! Elsewhere, IDC MarketScape named us a Major Player in Modern Endpoint Security for Enterprises and SMBs.

I am always so proud to say that Kaspersky’s products and services are regularly assessed by independent experts and analysts, and if you are interested to read more on our achievements in 2021, you can find them here.

In 2021, we continued to develop and patent our new cybersecurity technologies, proving our leadership in the industry, and I must also share that over the last year we were named number one among companies with Russian origins patented in the United States.

Last but not least, throughout 2021 many of my team received well-earned promotions – I am all for developing my teams’ potential!

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Expert positioning in the global media:

Throughout 2021, my team and I focused on increasing our expert presence in the international media landscape. More particularly, I dedicated time and effort to sharing my knowledge through publications and articles – I wrote six thought leadership pieces and provided my expertise to 795 published articles across the globe, from Entrepreneur.com to Le Monde.fr – a 189% increase compared to 2020! I like sharing my professional experience with my audience, and will try to keep pace this year too.

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Personal projects and achievements:

On the personal front, in 2021 I finally started to enjoy a feeling of freedom when speaking publicly in front of big audiences. Such experiences are no longer stressful for me… rather, they are quite pleasant now!

I also worked with a personal stylist on my wardrobe, incorporating a lot of beautiful clothes from around the world, although I hardly ever had time to choose what to wear. My stylist made a complete “look-book” and now I don't have to spend time to even think about it!

I was also thrilled to finish building my mother's house, including the interior design and a beautiful garden, and while 2021 did not offer many opportunities for travel – for obvious reasons – my daughter and I visited St Petersburg, Yaroslavl and stayed in hotels in the center of Moscow like tourists. Such experiences were inspiring and enriching – by exploring your own city's history, you can really get a better understanding of its heritage.

My daughter has started practicing yoga and is doing quite well; I also resumed my yoga classes after a long break during the pandemic. We also have four dogs now in our family: two big and two small ones.

What were some of your personal and professional highlights from 2021? And are you looking forward to the challenges and adventures that await you this year?

Best wishes to all for a prosperous and rewarding 2022!?