Russia’s First Lady becomes nation’s most successful businesswoman

The wife of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Svetlana Medvedev, topped the list of most successful businesswomen in Russia, the Institute for Politics and Business said.

Photo: Russia’s First Lady becomes nation’s most successful businesswoman

Fifteen experts of Russia’s leading analytical agencies made up the list of 25 women to evaluate the results of their activities, their level of political influence, their reputation, charisma, their authority in the business environment and their creativity in administrative decisions.

“Like Michelle Obama, Svetlana Medvedev used her character and intellect to become a very influential political figure, which showed a considerable influence in the making of highly important political decisions,” the experts said.

St. Petersburg governor Valentina Matviyenko took the second place on the list of Russia’s 25 most successful women. Experts named her one of the most influential governors of Russia, who made significant contributions to many decisions of state importance.

Lyudmila Verbitskaya, the president of the St. Petersburg State University, known as Putin’s favorite teacher, was ranked third.

Olga Belyavtseva, a businesswoman, demonstrated her outstanding qualities of a crisis manager when she sold her mineral water and juice-making company to PepsiCo. As a result, Belyavtseva became Russia’s second richest woman after Moscow mayor’s wife Elena Baturina. The latter takes the eighth position on the list.

The list also includes Russia’s Minister for Economic Development and Trade Elvira Nabiullina (7th), the Minister for Healthcare and Social Development, Tatiana Golikova (9th), a member of Vneshtorgbank’s administration Olga Dergunova (13th), first Vice Speaker of the Russian Parliament, Lyubov Sliska (18^th) and others.