My career began at KPMG, where I progressed from auditing to business valuation and M&A advisory. My next step was moving to the in-house M&A team of a major global media company—it was there that I first truly encountered the startup world. The media business was actively working with digital products, which gave me direct access to the venture capital market. Gradually, my focus shifted from traditional M&A toward venture capital: I structured several funds in San-Francisco and later in London, participated in fund management, and simultaneously worked in consulting—helping founders prepare for exits, build strategies, and raise funding.
From friends.
For several years, I tried to get a long-term US visa, but the process became exhausting. During the pandemic, while back in Moscow after living in California, I realized I needed to be in a developed market driven by innovation. I wanted to continue building an international career where capital actively flows into new technologies.
That was when I learned about the UK Global Talent visa. London—with its advanced financial ecosystem, active VC market, and strong startup community—proved to be a very attractive alternative. The visa allowed me to work independently without being tied to a specific employer, which perfectly aligned with my venture capital and consulting work.
From the very start, I turned to Mikhail Sharonov and the Imigram team, which made the whole process incredibly simple for me. We met and spoke a few times; I shared my career story, and Mikhail took detailed notes and asked clarifying questions. Together, we built a list of referees for my recommendation letters and mapped out my professional history with each of them.
The team handled everything else: building the case, drafting letters, filling out applications, translating documents, and paying government fees. My involvement was minimal.
We got the visa on the second attempt—after an initial refusal, we appealed, refined the case, and successfully secured the Global Talent Visa.
Honestly, after years of exhausting experiences with US visas and lawyers, I was pleasantly surprised: working with Imigram was completely different. Even when the first attempt failed, the team believed in our success—perhaps even more than I did. It makes a huge difference to have a partner who takes away all the headache, guides you step-by-step, and delivers a win.
I dedicated the past year to motherhood and am now returning to my career. I want to continue working at the intersection of venture capital and technology—specifically, developing tools for the next generation of VC funds. AI is fundamentally changing how the industry operates, and that is opening up a lot of exciting opportunities.
The best advice is not to be afraid and just try. Many people underestimate their own professional journey and decide beforehand that they "won’t qualify" for this visa. But that is exactly why choosing the right immigration lawyer is so crucial—someone who will help you see the value of your experience and package it properly. A good specialist won't just fill out documents; they will become a true partner who guides you through the entire process and believes in your case even when you have doubts.
