I graduated from TalTech MBA nine years ago, and it was doubtlessly my best school experience ever. In addition to knowledge, I gained the ability and a habit to learn, develop, adapt, and build relationships. Relationships are a precious asset in life worth keeping. The relationships created through experiences together at school can last for years even after graduation and bring you new opportunities. At the age of 19 when I was acquiring applied higher education at the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences Mainor, I already knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur. Though, I was not ready for that then - I felt I had too little knowledge, experience, and resources to get started. I postponed this step and continued as a salaried employee. Although my entrepreneurial dreams were put on hold, I had a clear goal to become a manager. At that time, it seemed a sign of success. Today I do not think so anymore. Not everyone must, can, or wants to be a leader. Why not be a good specialist? At the time, however, it was my goal, and I got my first managerial position thanks to the hint given by my coursemate while doing my master's at TalTech. Despite the contacts, I had to undergo three interview rounds, and only after that, I got the purchasing and sales manager’s position. It took me another three months to prove myself before I was promoted. I worked at Eesti Post as the head of the retail trade department for four years. From there I switched to work in a pharmacy chain, where I was a category manager of prescription drugs without having any prior knowledge of pharmacy. Then I joined the Estonian telecommunication company Telia, to manage the technology team.
 As you can see, I have worked in different fields, which I could not have done without the courage to step into the unknown and self-belief. You do not need to know everything about the field, but you must have a genuine interest in it and the company and believe in your abilities. The dream of freedom and entrepreneurship was still inside me waiting for the right moment. Work experience and economic studies had prepared me for entrepreneurship: I took the experience of success with me from every job to realise I could succeed in any field and situation. I learned that even the worst situations always pass. 
Six years ago, I realised I was ready to become an entrepreneur and started preparing to launch my own business. Since I have always loved cooking and have been trained to be a nutritionist, I decided to open a healthy lifestyle cafe. I got inspired by my home cafe, which I had run a few years earlier. I opened Bopp Cafe on August 9, 2019, i.e. about half a year before the COVID period, known to be one of the most difficult times in catering, but also a good opportunity to adapt and gain a foothold. I could choose all the employees and create an environment to match my values. I dreamed of the freedom to make my decisions, but entrepreneurship is also accompanied by great responsibility. The first year was not easy, I had borrowed startup capital, and the fear of failure was huge. One of the charms of being an entrepreneur is giving up the nine-to-five job, but one must not forget that an entrepreneur is at work 24/7. That happened to me too, there was a lot of work and worries. I opened and closed two more coffee shops in the first three years, as I soon realised that the income from the two new cafes was insufficient, and the costs were too high. It is important to make difficult decisions sooner rather than later. Today, one coffee shop is operating profitably, and I am focusing on its operations. I have a great team I trust and thus can deal with the topics that interest me. 
During my years in business, I have continuously upgraded myself in various courses and currently, I also work as a certified management coach and NLP trainer. As a coach, I help people discover their potential and fulfil their dreams. It is a real privilege to see what my coachees can do, and it inspires me to take action myself. Continuous development is crucial for me, and I do like to learn. I do not like the classical way of cramming for exams, but I am curious and thirsty for new knowledge. Every summer I yearn to go back to university, and this year, after a 9-year break, I applied to SAIS again. The world is always changing and there are always exciting new curricula to inspire me, so it is worth keeping an eye on educational opportunities. The key to my success has been the courage to take on challenges without fear of failure. I believe there is no failure, every experience teaches and gives wisdom for the future. One good question to yourself is, “What is the worst that can happen?” My advice to you, dear graduate is: “Never stop learning, dream boldly, and learn about yourself and your values. And now it is time to celebrate because this is also important. Always celebrate your big and small victories.”

The article was published in the magazine Mente et Manu no. 1899