Olga Klymenko, a graduate of two MIM programs. Before COVID-19 she was mainly involved in directing mass events, but due to the new normal she mastered a new craft. 

Why did you change your creative trajectory? 

I used to like collages and was trying my hand at them. During the lockdown, when directing jobs were far and few between, I reinvented collages. Then Paris Collage Collective, an international collage community, selected my works for ART YEARBOOK 19/20 put out by the French newspaper Libération. It was then that I started specializing in collages. The prospects in directing are still shaky. 

Why do artists need business education?

We need to understand how business operates. It is important for doing high quality, audience-friendly, promotional campaigns. Business education helps us to found our own businesses. I believe that the controversy between structured education and creativity is fictional. If you are on the humanities side, you could also be good at math if you expend enough effort on it. Knowledge is always inclusive. 

How did you select MIM’s programs?

I lacked a comprehensive understanding of business and I needed to master that in a short space of time. That’s why I decided on pre-MBA programs. These programs are for those who need knowledge and skills for long-term projects. I am writing a business plan for my new project based on the knowledge and skills that I mastered at MIM. 

What else did you learn at MIM?

I now understand people and business processes better. I learned why people behave as they do. I feel more secure and I am more comfortable when I am communicating with business people. I feel confident that I speak the same language rather than trying to explain unknown concepts. 

Do you think that the shift online is a challenge or an opportunity?

I did not feel it was a challenge. I did have to switch, but it was music to my ears because directing jobs were becoming scarce. Moreover, I did not have to rush all the time; I could spend as much time as I felt was needed on a project. The whole world has shifted online, including trainings and marathons, and all kinds of new information was abundant. That helped with networking, especially international networking.