Careerist

Led operations at a Y-Combinator-backed ed-fintech company revolutionizing the online career training industry. Careerist empowers job seekers to launch and grow their tech careers through immersive training, 1:1 Career Coaching, built-in internships, and job search automation tools.

As the Chief Operating Officer, my main responsibilities included the following:
• Achieved a 45% revenue growth in H1'23 (YoY).
• Implemented a management reporting system and cohort analysis system for products,
resulting in a 20% reduction in OPEX, a 12% decrease in Churn Rate, and a 15% increase in
Gross Margin.
• Created and implemented a product metric tracking and development system, leading to a
25% increase in CSAT.
• Executed targeted marketing campaigns, resulting in a 12% increase in targeted leads in
Q1'23 and an 18% increase in Q2'23 (YoY).
• Optimized sales processes, leading to a 15% increase in lead conversion to paying customers.
• Recruited highly skilled managers for key positions in sales, marketing, and analytics
departments, resulting in a 52% sales increase in Q1'23 (YoY).
• Revamped the affiliate marketing system, including integrating and expanding new
advertising networks and restructuring the referral program, leading to a 60% increase in
partners and a 25% increase in referral revenue in H1'23 (YoY).
• Implemented a flexible pricing strategy adaptable to contract types (upfront, split, credit
sales), increasing lead conversion to paying customers by 8% and AOV by 15% in Q3'23
(QoQ).
• Developed and implemented a new performance-based incentive system aligned with
business goals across various departments

Chief Operating Officer

Skillbox

Skillbox is the market leader in online vocational education in Eastern Europe, offers a diverse range of courses tailored to meet the demands of today's job market. With a focus on cutting-edge digital professions, our educational offerings include comprehensive programs in UX design, Cybersecurity, QA Engineering, product management, internet marketing, programming, motion design, game development, etc. 

As of 2022, the company has developed over 500 educational programs in collaboration with leading experts in each of the respective knowledge areas for over 400 000 students. 

Being named as Top 10 Chief Commercial Officer in 2021 and 2022 by Kommersant, my main responsibilities for 2.5 years include the following:
• Revenue Optimisation (+300% in 2020);
• Marketing Tool Automation (built IT solutions with the marketing team);
• GTM Strategy Development and Execution;
• Marketing Budget Management ($30M+);
• Churn Rate Decrease (1000% in 3 years);
• Investor Relationships (board member);
• Preparing a company for an IPO.

The transformation from CMO in 2017 to CCO in 2019 allowed me to identify the company’s weak sides from a marketing and sales perspective. As a result of that, I have managed to significantly improve the product launch cycle and marketing department operations resulting in higher sales and international market expansion with new products.

For more information about Skillbox's educational program and online learning process please go to www.skillbox.com

Chief Commercial Officer

Skillbox educational platform focuses on new and much-in-demand professions and gives students an opportunity to study online from the comfort of their home or on a go. All courses consist of a theoretical part, practical tasks, and a final assignment to present in front of field experts in person. Skillbox opens doors to over 160 different professions and bachelor’s/master's degrees in the leading universities in Eastern Europe through 5 professional programs.

As the Chief Marketing Officer, my main responsibilities for 2.5 years included the following:
• Marketing Department Management (250 people in performance marketing, commercial analytics, content marketing, CRM, brand marketing, and PR);
• Partnership and Affiliate Programs Launch (+15% in total revenue for 2021);
• Reduced Marketing Costs (end-to-end analytics tool development);
• GTM Strategies Development;
• Boosting revenue (from $800K to $14M in 12 months).

For more information about Skillbox's success stories and company’s awards please go to www.skillbox.com

Chief Marketing officer

Mentorama

Mentorama is an online mentoring platform in Brazil connecting students with industry professionals through comprehensive online education programs. Successfully participated in the company's exit as a managing partner and shareholder.

As the Managing Partner, my main responsibilities included the following:
• Scaled the company from $0 to $190K monthly revenue while reducing marketing budget from 90% to 22% of revenue.
• Managed P&L together with the CEO to ensure sustainable growth and profitability.
• Built and led a cross-cultural marketing and sales team of 17 people, with 70% local talent from Brazil/Portugal.
• Expanded product portfolio achieving 25% revenue share from new offerings.
• Oversaw multi-channel marketing strategy across Meta, Google, TikTok, Influencers, and affiliate marketing.
• Successfully localized the product for the Brazilian market by engaging local industry experts for course content development.

Managing Partner

Company name Retail Rocket

Retail Rocket’s team consists of 100+ engineers, marketing specialists, designers, and managers. Retention Management Platform is our core product. It provides a set of tools for systematic work on clients retention, boosting LTV, and repeat purchases. The Platform includes 4 modules: Data Warehouse, AI Personalization Engine, Customer Intelligence Platform, and Campaign Management System. 

As the Chief Marketing Officer, my main responsibilities for 2.5 years included the following:
• Revenue Optimisation (+100% in 2016);
• Local Marketing Strategies Development (Chile, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands);
• GTM Strategies Development;
• Income Stream Development (new accounts acquisition).

For more information about Retail Rocket’s past achievements and all services please go to www.retailrocket.net

Ashmanov&Partners

Ashmanov and Partners are one of the leading digital agencies in Eastern Europe Founded in 2001, it was one of the first companies promoting websites at the Runet search engines. The company hosts two annual conferences which are pivotal for Internet marketing in the CIS and also publishes books on Internet marketing and hosts a monthly workshop.

As the Head of UX, my main responsibilities for 2.5 years included the following:
• UX Department Team Management;
• Leading the Design Solution Meetings;
• Clients’ UX Project Management;
• Reporting and Presenting Results;
• Public Speaking at Conferences;
• Workshops Organisation and Moderating.

For more information about Ashmanov and Partners' past achievements and all services please go to www.ashmanov.com

Head of UX

RBS corporation

RBS Corporation is a community of Internet marketing professionals, providing search engine optimization and website promotion, contextual advertising, marketing audit, and website creation. RBS Corporation was established in 2004, and today holds one of the highest positions on the Internet marketing market.

As the Head of UX, my main responsibilities for 2.5 years included the following:
• Website Development and Promotion;
• UX Team Coordination;
• Website Audit;
• Digital Design Solutions;
• Reporting and Presenting Results.

For more information about RBS Corporation's past achievements and all services please go to www.bdbd.ru

🌟 Accomplished business leader with a strong track record of scaling high-performance revenue teams and reinforcing data-driven approach. Over 10 years of experience in senior leadership roles, driving transformative growth for companies. Most recently at Careerist (Y-Combinator backed), served as COO overseeing strategic initiatives focused on operations and revenue optimization.

🌍 Extensive edtech industry expertise spanning Central and Eastern Europe, the U.S., and Latin America, established as an expert in efficient team operation and business growth, delivering exceptional results since 2017.

🚀 Prior to Careerist, as the CCO at Skillbox, a leading Russian edtech company, showcased my ability to drive revenue growth and lead high-performing teams. Recognized as a Top 10 Chief Commercial Officer in Russia in both 2021 and 2022.

🔝 Earlier in my career, held key leadership positions, including Head of UX at Ashmanov and Partners and RBS Corp. These roles allowed me to refine my skills in product development, international sales, and marketing strategy. Additionally, as the CMO at Retail Rocket, formulated and executed a successful go-to-market strategy, resulting in a significant revenue increase.

📚 If you're interested in scaling operations, revenue optimization strategies, or building successful tech companies, let's connect to exchange insights and experiences.

Artem Kazakov

Sari Hurme-Mehtälä 👩🏽‍🔬

Kide Science

Accelerate Learning, the leading provider of preK-12 STEM curricula, has acquired Kide Science, a Finnish company that offers imaginative, play-based STEM lessons for preschool through grade 3. 

The acquisition of Kide Science, which currently reaches more than 1 million children in 32 countries, will allow Accelerate Learning to expand its early childhood offerings and extend its international reach. It will also fill a vital need as the United States and countries around the world heighten their focus on early childhood education.

“Young children have an innate sense of curiosity about the world, which makes the early years an ideal time to explore the wonders of STEM,” said Philip Galati, president and CEO of Accelerate Learning. “With Kide Science, teachers have research-backed lessons that tap into children’s drive to play, investigate, and discover so they can be successful in STEM from the start.”

The Kide Science platform includes a library of play- and story-based lessons and professional development materials for teachers of children ages 3-8. Each lesson includes video instructions, printouts, assessment tools, scientific explanations for all the phenomena, and tips to adjust the lesson based on a child’s age and ability.

For students, every Kide Science lesson features an immersive story and illustrations that present STEM problems in a concrete, fun way. In addition to STEM topics, the lessons promote the development of social-emotional, literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.

“Kide Science is tested with real kids in real classrooms, and the lessons can complement any curriculum, which makes it easy for teachers and schools to implement,” said Sari Hurme-Mehtälä, CEO and cofounder of Kide Science. “We’re excited to join Accelerate Learning in setting students on a successful STEM path and creating the next generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers.”

Managing Director & Board Member

Kide Science develops 3-8-year-old children’s scientific thinking skills through story-based hands-on experiments that solve real science problems. The platform provides caregivers like teachers and parents with lesson plans and professional development to lead playful and engaging education in a classroom or remotely. Teach science, math, SEL, literacy, critical thinking, art and more with confidence!

A proven pedagogical method predicts better learning outcomes in school and is based on years of rigorous academic research conducted by the founder.

Kide started it's commercial business in Finland from December 2017. Kide Science’s research-led pedagogy has helped them to win paying customers in 30+ countries. For the new teacher platform (launched in October 2021) there has been registered free trial users from over 100 countries. 

Kide team has also produced book series Tiedeseikkailu with Sanoma - Oppi&ilo and a TV show Tiedonjyvä on YLE, Finland’s national public service broadcaster. 

In 2022, Kide has partnered with DreamWorks Animation and its hit Netflix series Gabby’s Dollhouse to give young scientists cat-tastic themed lesson plans to encourage playful, engaging and inquiry-based learning. 

Kide has raised €3.2M from Reaktor, Sparkmind, TESI, Emerge Education, Zanichelli Venture & MPA Education. We have received also many grants and awards.

kidescience.com

Co-founder & CEO

Accelerate Learning

Sold Kide Science Oy 🇫🇮 & Kide Science Inc. 🇺🇸 to Accelerate Learning Inc. 🇺🇸 Now working full-time as Managing Director for Early Education at Accelerate Learning Inc and part of the company's Executive Leadership Team. I am Managing Director for Kide Science Oy in Finland 🇫🇮 Mostly working in Finland but spending also my time in the U.S.

Managing Director, Early Education

Sari Irene Art

I was supposed to become an artist and I applied for the art school, but then life happened. I have always been creative person and art and painting has been mostly my hobby. During the pandemic I started to paint abstract art with acrylics and then I had so many of those that I needed to give and sell those to friends and family. Now all my paintings can be found from sariireneart.com and happy to do comission paintings also if you have a place and idea in mind. 

It all begins with an idea. I never know what will the outcome be when I start the painting process. Sometimes I might have only colors in mind. Every time I hate it at some point but the next layer might be the best idea ever. It becomes suddenly the most beautiful art I have ever created.

Artist

Samsung Electronics

Management of all marketing activities for IM (Internet Mobile: mobile phones, tablets, wearables)

- Acting as a local launch tower managing communication and activations for product launches within the product category. 
- Creating the nationwide local launch plan, executing and managing the overall launch project including management of cross-functional teams consisting of consumer sales, B2B sales, marketing, retail marketing, social media to reach given targets. 
- Media planning and liaising with the advertising agency, the media agency and the event agency to maximize impact on the Samsung core consumer reaching given brand targets within the allocated budget. 
- Ensuring co-marketing campaigns and partnering activities with all major operator & retail channels and coordinating local sell-out marketing actions.

- Yearly and quarterly activation planning with sales and marketing divisions.
- Regular reporting on the status of the campaigns giving feedback for improvement to local sales departments as well as to Nordic. 
- Securing given ROI for marketing investments.

I started my maternity leave in 2015 May and had two babies in a row and helped other small companies like Lumoan and Ora. In 2017 I founded my first own startup, Kide Science, with 2 other female founders.

Channel Marketing Manager

Kärkimedia Oy

Kärkimedia is a unique sales and marketing organisation and one of the largest media companies in Finland. 

Key account management and campaign planning for major domestic and international brands. One of my biggest clients was Samsung, that then recruited me from Kärkimedia to their Channel Marketing Manager position in Samsung Finland.

In addition to leading my dedicated clients (my team: digital manager, research planner and sales assistant), main task from the start was to develop the strategy how can we get brand advertisers with digital aspect and clients who have marketing directors abroad (don’t know Finnish market). Our clients from that sector did grow the most during my time.
- I had year 2013 the biggest sales from mobile and cross media solutions. 
- I won Kärkimedia´s own Cannes Lions award 2012 with best marketing plan and year 2013 I won the 2nd place. Jury members consisted of directors of media and ad agencies and clients.
- I was voted year 2012 for the best motivator & most positive person in the company.
- I was also in the “Kärkimedia Next” development project team with CEO, sales director and owners. Part of Grand One winner of best B2B service: Baari.

Key Account Manager

Discovery Inc

New TV channel TV VIISI was launched in Finland when I started, so I truly learned what new business sales requires. I was responsible for smaller local and bigger global clients as well as their media and ad agencies, development of customership and revenues. Also part of the brand care team to sell program sponsorships and creative ad solutions.

TV5 Finland was first part of the ProSiebenSat.1 Media Group which is one of the largest independent media corporations in Europe. Nowadays TV5 Finland is part of Discovery Inc.

Sales Manager

Stockmann Oyj Abp

My main role in event marketing was to plan, coordinate and organize commercial sales promotion campaigns for every country. I was also copywriter in the campaigns. I was working with department stores, buyers, managers, artists, art directors and partners from other companies. 

I started as a marketing assistant.

Marketing Coordinator & Copywriter

Sales in fashion department and team leading in One Way -fashion store.

Sales & Team Leader

😍 Are you a teacher or a parent of a curious 3-8-year-old? Start your lessons today from kidescience.com 🇫🇮 Awarded as the winner of the best learning solution from Finland and the best early years solution in the New York EdTech Week 2022 🇺🇲 & The Best STEM resource for PK12 chosen by the Superintendents 🇺🇲 2023. ⭐️

Sari Hurme-Mehtälä, CEO & Co-founder of Kide Science, has 20 years of business experience globally and locally in media, retail, design, ICT & Education. She has worked in big companies´ marketing and sales positions but felt that she wants to do something more meaningful, especially with children, after becoming a mother of two little scientists, born in 2015 & 2016. 

In 2013 Kide Science founder Dr. Jenni Vartiainen began researching science education of 3-6-years-old children at the University of Helsinki in Finland. The empirical part of her study called for setting up a science club. Researcher Jenni Vartiainen, teacher Aino Kuronen and business person Sari Hurme-Mehtälä founded Kide Science in December 2017 due to the huge demand brought about by the popularity of this new innovative pedagogical model & engaging science lessons.

Now Kide Science is growing globally with educators and customers from over 30 countries.
🇺🇸 Accelerate Learning aqcuired 🇫🇮 Kide Science in October 2023 but Kide Science Oy continues in Finland as before with the product development team.

Kide Science helps teachers and parents support young children’s problem solving and soft skills through play-based learning and storytelling.

taplio

The Battle

Artem Kazakov

Sari Hurme-Mehtälä 👩🏽‍🔬

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