Believe in Yourself: Interview with Roman Chiporukha, Founder of SpaceVIP
I recently went one on one with Roman Chiporukha, founder of SpaceVIP.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Roman: I immigrated to the U.S. from Moscow in 1989 and we settled in Brooklyn, NY. My parents worked various jobs to get by and always valued education, kindness and tenacity in our upbringing.
I was working at a high-end NYC travel firm where I met my business partner and now wife, Erica. We realized that the UHNW clients wanted much more in-depth lifestyle services, not just travel, as it related to their leisure. I proposed my ideas for expansion to my boss but they weren’t interested in the ideas of a 28-year-old. In 2009 we left and started our own lifestyle and leisure company aptly called Roman & Erica. Think of us as the perfect blend between a really well-connected concierge, a top-level personal assistant, and the best travel advisor. We had a vision, we saw a need and we just went for it. In 2018, we were approached by a private space company who asked us for assistance in promoting a 10-day mission to the International Space Station. The ticket price: $50MM. In November 2020, I introduced the last of only three private astronauts to this mission, thereby making it possible. As a result, I founded SpaceVIP to inspire, educate and promote universal space literacy. SpaceVIP just launched Space Prize, a nonprofit created to promote women in STEM.
Adam: How did you come up with your business idea? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas?
Roman: Believe in yourself and surround yourself with like-minded people who can help you crate.
Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to best test a business idea?
Roman: With lifestyle and leisure and the Roman & Erica business, we identified a need. The same thing happened with SpaceVIP. As long as you see a need and believe in it, I am confident that it can be successful. Either way, you can always fail your way to success as long as you keep going. Eventually, someone will recognize your dedication and hard work.
Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?
Roman: Networking is key. Other people might give you insight that you’ve never considered so always keep learning and be open.
Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?
Roman: Follow up until someone tells you to stop pestering them. If being in business was easy, everyone would be doing it. You need determination and perseverance to succeed.
Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Roman: You need to be a good listener and smart enough to know that you don’t know everything.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading and managing teams?
Roman: Always be open to learning more from your team and implement their good suggestions. Effectively, you’re making them partners in your organization and that pays massive dividends.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?
Roman:
Persistence
Consistence
Leadership
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Roman: Say no more often.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Roman: Politics and policies are not alleviating the world of its problems. We need a greater catalyst to effect real change. And maybe, just maybe, a different view of our planet and our role within it and the universe, maybe the stimulant that we've been missing.
Adam Mendler is the CEO of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries. Adam is also the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. Adam has written extensively on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations.
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