Alexandra Bytchkova, Business Owner, Virtual Events Academy

As a virtual event strategist, Alexandra helps business owners and corporate organisations strategize, plan and launch high-quality, community-building & engaging virtual events. After a successful career in the corporate world, working for international organizations in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Austria, and France, she decided to follow her entrepreneurship itch and started her own online business. Alexandra founded the Virtual Events Academy to equip her clients with tools, insight, and education on how to create virtual events that are worth attending, that create memorable experiences, and that build engaged communities.

What is your favourite social media platform?

LinkedIn, because of the insightful conversations that happen on this platform.

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

-

Franklin Roosevelt

Alexandra Bytchkova

Alexandra Bytchkova, LinkedIn

Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.

I bring over 15 years of project management and event planning experience across multiple industries, geographies, and scale of business. While running my online business, I've become highly attuned to the unique challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face in the online business environment. I greatly enjoy helping my clients put together truly epic virtual events, and witness again and again this powerful tool that boosts business growth, visibility and builds community. Every person, every business, every organization is unique, and hence virtual events should reflect that. I believe that it's crucial to avoid copying what another person has created but put together events that reflect your business/organization, your personality, and values. This is how you attract the right people into your community and audience.

What do you like about your career or area of focus?

The opportunity to forge lasting connections, create new networks and meet people who inspire is one of the greatest advantages that I enjoy as a summit host.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

There are no failures, only lessons learned.

What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?

Firstly, my children! I want to give them opportunities (besides education) to help them become more self-aware and be better prepared for adult life. Secondly, my community and followers motivate me every day as I know they are working hard too. Thirdly, like-minded individuals with whom I can learn from and grow.

What are you proud of in your life so far?

My children, and having the courage to leave behind a successful career and follow my dream, work through difficulties and carry on steadily towards my goal.

What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?

I really enjoy meeting people at events (in-person or virtual), because the shared experience truly unites us. If I meet someone on a social media platform, I enjoy sharing voice messages, it feels like you are having a conversation with the person and hearing someone's voice, the intonations help to really get to know them.

What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?

Persistence, resilience, and committing to continuous learning.

What do you wish you had known when you started?

I wouldn't wish for any changes in the past, because then it might mean that I wouldn't be where I am today. I believe that whatever we face, happens for a particular reason: to learn, to gain new experience, to change perspectives, to become more resilient. I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had so far because they made me the person that I am today.

Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles, and why?

There are so many people that I admire (personally and professionally), and they do not necessarily have to be well-known people or someone giving a TED talk, or featured in the media, or a globally recognised influencer. These are people who have a vision and are living it every day: be it in their workplace, at home, or in their community. I admire people who have strong principles and live by them every day, impacting and inspiring people around them.

Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?

Music is my great passion. I play classical guitar myself, and I'm a regular at the various Vienna concert halls. My other passion is travelling. I'm fascinated by new cultures, traditions, languages, and places. Whenever I have the opportunity, I visit new cities and countries, trying to avoid the usual touristic destinations and getting acquainted with how local people really live.

Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you been managing it?

Due to my niche, the pandemic meant more business and learning opportunities for me. Despite it being challenging to manage kids and work from home at the same time, it opened new doors for me, and I met many incredible people and created new wonderful connections. The virtual event industry had many changes over the past year and it's developing really fast with new tools and apps coming out. Moreover, the new normal challenges the usual concept of virtual meetings, forcing the inclusion of more engagement elements, making virtual events more diverse and interesting. I'm also learning a lot from event planners who pivoted and are bringing their perspective into the virtual events world. It's a really exciting time.

Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?

I've never had a formal mentor, but thankfully I was able to meet successful entrepreneurs who have become my close friends. I can ask them for advice, feedback, or run some ideas by them. Being thus lucky, I support those who seek help and who approach me for tips or advice. I'm always happy to share my experiences, in case it helps someone gain clarity and move closer to their goal.

What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?

The best way to learn is by doing. In this niche, practical knowledge is the most valuable one, and the more practice you have, the more successful you'll be. Don't worry about starting small, you'll be able to build the necessary momentum, but starting with big events from the start can get quite overwhelming.

What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?

Overwhelm as a result of bad planning. Being clear about your goals and the steps that you need to take to achieve these goals, will help you stay laser-focused and move forward towards your success.

Is there a phrase, quote, or a saying that you really like?

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” - Franklin Roosevelt

What companies, brands, or institutions do you like, or do you think are getting it right?

Apple, Amazon, Netflix.

How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?

To me, success is a subjective measure, since everyone defines success in their own way. For me, success is not something that is definite, because we succeed in different ways at any point in our life. What is important, I find, is recognising your different successes (however big or small), acknowledging them, and celebrating. This makes us more confident and gives us the strength to carry on, grow and achieve greater heights.