From St. Petersburg to the suburbs of London — what does it take to push a young graduate in that direction? With an MSC in computer engineering, Valery Kopy had already run a successful small business by the time he was offered a job in Finland offering him the chance to use his skills. Then, a promotion and a short plane trip landed him in England.

The Leader: Where did you study in Russia, and what subject?

Mr. Kopy: I studied in St. Petersburg. I obtained a Master’s of Science degree in computer engineering from St. Petersburg Engineering University.

The Leader: Did you also study abroad?

Mr. Kopy: I studied in Finland after I finished my education. It was a half-year Business Management program at Jyvaskyla Institute.

The Leader: Do you feel guilty about receiving a free education in Russia and then taking your resulting knowledge and skills abroad?

Mr. Kopy: I am very lucky that I was able to get a good education in Russia. I think that if I had had the chance of getting interesting work where I could develop my skills and have a stable life and future, I would have stayed in Russia.

The Leader: What is your career history, both in Russia and abroad?

Mr. Kopy: During the last year of my education, I established a software-development and computer-trading company with a friend of mine. It took about a year of hard work to turn it into a successful venture with about 10-15 people working for it. In June 1998, after two years of self-employment, I decided to join Nokia Telecommunications, Helsinki, as an engineer.

Half a year later I became the leader of a group of six people. I was responsible for aftersales support of our products in more than 20 countries around the world. Two years later, I moved to the United Kingdom to work in close cooperation with our U.K. partner.

Now, I am "senior tool-support specialist" and it is my responsibility to take care of our existing customers and help marketing people to get new ones in the field of technical support of our product. At Nokia we develop software to plan GSM, NMT and 3G networks.

The Leader: How difficult was it to get your first post at Nokia?

Mr. Kopy: It was surprisingly fast and easy. I visited Nokia's Website and submitted my application. One month later, in February 1998, I visited Helsinki for an interview, and in June 1998 I joined Nokia.

The Leader: What attracted you to Nokia?

Mr. Kopy: Nokia offered me a very interesting job; the ability to work in a multicultural environment; a very good working atmosphere; and participation in new projects. I was looking for a position where I could meet new people and explore new things. The most important factor was the ability to develop my professional skills and utilize the knowledge I had gained from my education. Also, Helsinki is quite close to St. Petersburg, and I was able to visit my parents and friends.

The Leader: What attracted you to the U.K. as opposed to the United States or Germany, for example?

Mr. Kopy: I had traveled a lot in Europe and Asia. When I first visited the U.K. after half a year of working for Nokia I found it very similar to St. Petersburg. I was offered an interesting job in the U.K. and didn't see any obstacles in English culture. There would be a language barrier with Germany, and the United States is too far from home.

The Leader: What benefits does your firm provide in your present job?

Mr. Kopy: I appreciate the fact that I have medical insurance and travel insurance provided by my employer, as well as accommodation. I also have a free vacation trip home once a year. My life is easier because I don't have to worry about these things. I can concentrate on my work in the office and relax when I have free time.

The Leader: Have you found it hard adapting to the British work environment and work ethic? What are the main differences?

Mr. Kopy: I feel pretty comfortable now. You can see the difference straight away. The British speak very politely and people work late at the office — probably because of traffic jams in the evening.

The Leader: Do you mix with British people, or are your friends mainly Russians?

Mr. Kopy: I spend my free time with local people and colleagues from work. I have two Russian friends, but we meet very seldom. I find the British more polite than Russians. But apart from that, I was surprised to see similarities in other areas, such as clothing. Leather jackets, jeans and sports shoes (krossovki) are popular, especially among those with low incomes. In both countries, the difference between the rich and the poor is very big.

The Leader: Can you see yourself returning to work in Russia?

Mr. Kopy: I can't see any obstacles that would prevent me from returning to work in Russia. If the work was interesting and well paid, I don’t see why not. I would like Russia to have a more stable economic and political situation. I love Russia, and I would like to see it prosper. I would like to help it to achieve that and not just wait for that time to come, but for the moment, both my wife and I are enjoying living abroad.