Meet Elena Agaragimova

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elena Agaragimova. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elena, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

If I take it way back, I think it comes from my parents. Both my mom and my dad are the most resilient people I know. Having grown up in a communist Russia, both of them lived under the soviet rule, where tomorrow is not promised and people tend to live day by day. With that, they managed to be the most optimistic people I know, particularly my dad. When I was growing up, I watched him go from failure to failure without giving up, and always keeping his head up. Same with my mom, I watched her lose family members, move countries, struggle to find work, and much more – yet maintaining optimism through it all. Optimism that the future is still there and it is bright; optimism that no matter what happened, it is just part of life’s seasons and a better season will come. I must say with that optimism came a lot of humor which I think helps everything, especially in tough times. I think that is why I also am very optimistic and I know how to pick myself up regardless of the situation and keep going.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Being a generalist has been my superpower. It’s opened doors to incredible experiences—whether launching startups like SHFT!, Bessern, and Bloom Youth, mentoring young professionals, or speaking at conferences from New York to Dubai. These experiences have shaped my perspective and honed my ability to adapt, grow, and deliver results.

Now, firstly- I’m channeling my time, knowledge, and energy into helping Gen Z and Millennials build thriving careers and even start their own ventures.
Secondly – I am growing my podcast (Shift with Elena Agar) and, as of 2024, I decided to take it from only virtual episodes to recording some episodes in person – to continue to elevate the experience for my listeners and my guests.
Thirdly – I am working on AI tech solution with two other partners – that provides AI-driven insights for better days in work & life for people.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Consistency
Courage
Curiosity

For me, these three have been impactful on my career, personal life, and health.
Consistency matters in all things – it is how we build trust and relationships, it is how we keep health habits, and how we continuous elevate our skills.
Courage – to try new things, to fail, to start over, to take a step back when needed, and to move forward even when fear is present.
Curiosity – being curious about what’s next, what can be different, how to be better, how to understand other people, curious to learn about other people and their stories (hence the podcast).
I think these 3 can be applied in every sector, every role and background.
This year, I decided to cut back on giving advices because:
1. I am still learning myself and know very little
2. I think we all know what we need to do – what is best for us – if only we can be quiet enough and honest enough with ourselves about these things.
I think starting with consistency, courage, and curiosity with yourself is a good way to get started and figure out what is the best thing for you and your future.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I use a couple of different strategies when I feel overwhelmed. When the weather is nice, I simply take a walk, it is amazing what a walk, fresh air, and sunshine can do in helping us calm down our nervous system.
When the weather does not permit, I do a 5 mins mindfulness meditation, followed by 10 squats or push-ups. Sounds strange, I know, but, there is something about getting your mind still and body moving that slows down everything else and helps you nervous system calm down in stressful times.
I like these strategies because they are accessible, free, and easy to apply, no matter where you are.

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