We’re happy to announce that Maxim Kirilenko - Head of International Business Development at SeoPult joined our team as an advisor.
Having graduated from Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Maxim previously worked at INNOVA as the Head of Mobile Games Department and later became an Executive Officer at Ingamba.
He talked to us about his view on blockchain, expected changes at labour market and how experience in gamedev field helps him in his life and career.
How did it happen that you became interested in blockchain? What influenced your decision?
The story is quite trivial, my work includes communication with people and the search for new growth points and business development. Meeting and talking to potential and current partners and just interesting people around the world, I often got to hear about blockchain. Therefore, my decision to delve into this area primarily was affected by people sharing their ideas and experience. After a profound study, I realized that the potential of the technology is limitless, and began to look for options of how blockchain can be used in the gaming and Internet advertising industry.
Why did you choose Unolabo?
Based on my experience, 90% of any project’s success is a team of professionals. 10% is an idea. I believe that Unolabo team consists of strong professionals, they know what they want to do, they have a goal and perspective idea, which they will transform into a business and that will change world of freelance. And our task is to help them.
You previously worked in the gamedev sphere, how does it help you in your current job?
Better to start with, how work in the gamedev industry didn’t help me? I could say nothing about this. I’ve passed a long way from QA to Executive officer in gamedev, and each step was full of important and useful things, knowledge and skills. I studied a lot about people and their unique culture, how to run business in different countries, tricks and tips how to solve problems based on cultural differences, how to monetize any service, game, product which you have and how to find new opportunities to improve competitiveness and monetization, and the last but not the least how to provide best customer care and service.
Any of us plays games every day, each minute and second. To make a best decision, to solve a problem, to buy some food – all these are mini games.
Being the Head of International Business Development at SeoPult, do you consider that platforms like Unolabo will change the way international labour market is operated? And if so, what these changes will be?
Doing business in Latin America and South-East Asia, I see a tremendous growth in freelancer’s field. And it is easy to explain the reason. Both regions are emerging and both had or still have economic crisis. People who lost their work are trying to find new opportunities. Besides that, people in these regions are open to get new knowledge and skills. As a good example might be Saga, School of Game Development and 3D Graphics. In 2 years, their business successfully grew from 1 school in Sao Paulo up to more than 20 schools all over Brazil. They provide lessons for more than 50 000 people a month. Imagine now how easy Unolabo could cover all spheres and provide access to the new skills for end customers. Besides that, Unolabo may solve other problems which any freelancer faces on a daily basis: payments, insurance, bank credits, etc. I believe that Unolabo can help millions of people.
Any advice for those who only start their career in project management and business development?
What brings together project management and business development? As for me, it is communication between people. This is the key thing. It will help you understand better what motivates people, how they think, how to help them work better and reach their goals. Help them and they will help you. Therefore, my advice is quite simple: improve your communication skills, train your emotional intelligence and active listening skill. Always listen to your team, partners and customers and you will succeed in any business. Don’t be afraid, just do it.