Mikhail Slobodin: biography, family, photo

Today the words: CEO, VimpelCom, Mikhail Slobodin - are synonyms, meaning success and eccentricity. A bright manager who has passed an interesting path, he represents a new generation of managers who differ not only in their high professionalism but also in using the latest techniques in their work.

Childhood and family

September 17, 1972 in a small Urals town Severouralsk appeared boy. Mikhail Slobodin's family was slightly different from all the typical Soviet, his father worked as the head of the department of social protection at a large local enterprise. Traditionally, many relatives held senior positions at various levels, grandmother on the father's side was the chairman of the village council, the family line was a high social activity, which was passed on to Mikhail. He was a future top manager surrounded by brothers, was engaged in boxing, very well studied, but from childhood he was distinguished by his eccentricity and disobedience. From the 7th form in the summer he began to earn money independently, working as a handyman, but he could already afford to travel to small trips around the country.

In the surviving school diaries of Slobodin there are always solid five and a lot of remarks about bad behavior at the lessons. Michael himself does not hide that he was always interested in arguing with the teachers and he already distinguished himself with leadership qualities and could persuade the class and break the lesson. But all this did not prevent him from receiving knowledge, he read a lot, was engaged in public activities, was a member of the Komsomol.

Years of formation

After school, Mikhail easily enters the prestigious Ural State University at the Faculty of Economics, which graduates with honors in 1983. Then Slobodin, moving in the usual way for that time, enters the graduate school and defends his thesis. He was determined to make a scientific career, but it is time for a big economic transformation in the country, and Mikhail Slobodin goes into business.

Career path

Begins his work biography Slobodin in a large processing enterprise "Sevuralboksitrug" as an engineer of the department of foreign economic relations, but quickly grows up to the deputy head of the finance department. 4 years of work at the raw materials company allowed Slobodin to develop connections and managerial skills. A smart, young and active employee quickly goes up. In 1996, he became a representative of the Renova Company, Russia's largest commodity firm. Also at this time, he works in senior positions in SUAL and Nizhny Tagil Metallurgical Combine. Mikhail Slobodin, whose biography is full of events, in 1999 became director of the regional representation "Renova", and in 2001 - deputy general director of Irkutskenergo. Such a career could at that time make only gifted and strong managers, Slobodin formed the image of a new, bright manager. In 2002, he heads the IES-Holding and manages it for almost 10 years. This large energy company allowed Slobodin to develop his managerial talent and enter the TOP-10 of the best managers of this sphere. From 2011 to 2013 he works as an executive director in TNK-BP. When he leaves this position, a hail of the most profitable offers is poured onto him, but Mikhail does not hurry to make a decision, he says that he wanted to try himself in a new, promising industry, as energy and the raw materials industry no longer bring him pleasure from work.

Manager achievements

In 2013, he receives a proposal that meets all of his stringent criteria: he is invited to the post of general director of the telecommunications company VimpelCom. This work was very interesting for Mikhail, he says that the dynamically developing and highly competitive environment, as well as the lack of active state influence, is the area in which he would like to prove himself. Having joined the company, Slobodin started transforming from changes in work with the client, he believes that the main thing for the company is the establishment of partnership relations with the consumer of services. At the very beginning of the work in the Beeline, Mikhail conducted an experiment - he came to a usual service point and bought a sim card, he was served for an hour. With the correction of this defect and began his chain of transformations Slobodin. He is actively engaged in team building, he conducts trainings for his employees. For two years he replaced 85% of the leaders of the Beeline, he works 24/7 and from others requires no less impact. His goal is to bring Beeline to the leadership position, making it the most beloved mobile operator. Today, Mikhail Slobodin, whose photo flashes in all the media, enjoys working at VimpelCom and says that he likes the work and he would continue to work even if the need to earn money has disappeared.

Head of the new format

Slobodin is famous not only for his career successes, but also for his vivid managerial style. Its difference from the traditional view of the "big boss" begins already with the organization of its working space. In his office, all the walls are transparent and the doors do not close; he takes decisions collectively, listening to more experienced employees. He often comes to work in jeans and sneakers, leaving an expensive business suit for official negotiations. 90% of his work he does in the phone, Slobodin is extremely versed in the field of digital technology, he easily mounts the video himself and makes presentations. He almost completely abolished paperwork, he uses instant messengers to communicate with employees.

To establish communication with employees, Mikhail releases a weekly "Battle Sheet" similarity to the newspaper, in which he talks about what was done for the week by the team and himself, and also highlights the immediate goals of the company.

Michael delves into every detail of his business. He can change the tariffing of the Internet from the phone on the complaint of a person in the social network, can go out in the form of a bee to a promo-share, can be made up and act as a secret buyer and also put a video about it on the network.

Slobodin developed his own method of interviewing a job seeker. He asks the person what he is proud of in his life, what are his main mistakes and mistakes, which helps to improve the working tone, what his hobbies are and why, and the last: whether he has a sense of humor and how he can prove it. Michael believes that the main thing is not professional skills, they can be acquired, but a love of work, a desire to move forward and the ability to work in a team.

Study as a way of life

Mikhail Slobodin himself never ceases to learn. To obtain the necessary managerial skills, he was trained in the MBA program in the IEDC Bled School of Management. He regularly participates in various trainings, conferences and forums. He is interested not only in telecommunications, he tries to keep abreast of all trends in the world and society. Slobodin says that he was taught at the university the main thing - the ability to extract knowledge, so he reads a lot of specialized literature.

Business blog №1

Mikhail is one of the most open top managers in Russia. In addition, he gives a lot of interviews, he maintains his own blog, communicates with people on social networks. If there is a person who believes in the democracy of the "Live Magazines", then this is Mikhail Slobodin, the reviews on his blog are only enthusiastic. He even received the informal title of "business blogger number 1", which is very proud. He has about 6 thousand subscribers in LiveJournal, in Instagram - 8,5 thousand, as well as followers on Twitter and "VKontakte". Slobodin writes about his business, his discoveries in the field of technology, management, the situation in society. To promote his company, the director spares no effort or time, in addition to his blog, he started the columns in several large editions, for example, in Vedomosti.

Hobbies in free time

Slobodin's leisure time is not enough, but he effectively plans his time and 2-3 times a week he finds time for fitness and boxing, he always rises on foot to the 8th floor where his office is located.

Slobodin reads a lot of specialized literature, he is always aware of new business literature, but there is not enough artistic time. He always tries to follow the novelties of the cinema, but he rarely has to go to cinemas. Several times a year for several days he always gives his travels with his family. He is a big fan of the bathhouse and even built himself a Russian bath near the house.

Family of Mikhail Slobodin

The number of questions the public has about the manager's personal life is very high. Mikhail Slobodin, whose son and wife are extremely interested in the public, carefully conceals information about them. Mikhail, for all his openness, never spreads about his personal life, he does not publish photos of his relatives. It is known that the wife of Mikhail Slobodin bore him several children, the eldest son is already 21, the oldest daughter 17. One day Mikhail told that the girl, like himself in his childhood, dreams to study the functioning of the human brain. Slobodin is very fond of spending time with his family, they regularly travel together when time permits.

Rules of life of Mikhail Slobodin

Its success is explained by VimpelCom's general director: it is necessary to work and love his work. He all advises to adhere to four rules that will help make your life effective and productive:

1. You should always strive to do more than is necessary. Always need to set high goals and keep the bar a little higher than it is comfortable.
2. You have to believe in yourself. Do not fall into self-righteousness and narcissism, but know your strengths and sensibly assess your capabilities.
3. Always learn. Life is dynamic, and if you stopped, it means that you are behind. Therefore, it is always necessary to find the opportunity to gain new skills, knowledge and skills.
4. Verification of goals. It is necessary to constantly compare the goals with the results and costs, so that there is a harmonious balance between them.