Polina's life had never been busier than it was these days. Polina Kournikova was the only child of her parents, both of whom were schoolteachers. Growing up with them, she developed a carefree attitude towards life. That was why, after finishing university, she decided to pursue a PhD at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Afterwards, she received several job offers from mining companies and research institutes, none of which appealed to her.
She decided she needed to change her life. In Russia, however, she found no other options. Worse still, when she applied abroad, no reputable organisations in Europe or America responded positively. At that time, one of her school friends, who was working at Microsoft in the United States, told her that with an American degree she would have opportunities there. An MBA, he added, would further improve her prospects.
