Anastasia Kozlova

I attribute my success to dedication and a refusal to settle. I have always been willing to do the hard work required to get where I want to go. That commitment to showing up, pushing forward, and holding myself to a high standard has been a defining part of my journey. My upbringing and culture also played a major role in shaping who I am today. I was raised in an environment that was demanding, but in a way that helped me grow. When you grow up with high expectations, you learn to expect more from yourself. That mindset carried into my career and my achievements. It taught me discipline, resilience, and the belief that I can always grow, improve, and reach higher. My success comes from dedication, a strong work ethic, and the cultural foundation that taught me to push myself and never settle for less than what I am capable of.

Some of the best career advice I have ever received came from mentors who taught me to choose depth over breadth. Instead of spreading myself thin by chasing every possible opportunity, they encouraged me to focus on just a few and go all in. They explained that when you are looking for a new role or a new opportunity, it is easy to apply everywhere, send out dozens of resumes, and hope something sticks. But that approach rarely creates meaningful connections. Instead, they advised choosing two or three companies or roles that truly matter to you, then investing deeply: study what those companies are about, work on getting a high-quality warm introduction, and do everything you can to get that particular opportunity. That mindset of fewer targets and deeper effort has helped me tremendously. It taught me to be intentional, strategic, and committed rather than scattered. And it reminded me that real opportunities often come from depth, not volume. The best advice I carry with me is this: do not chase everything. Choose what matters, go deep, and give it your full effort.

One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in our field right now is the rapid shift happening with AI. The work we were doing just a few years ago already looks different today, and it will continue to evolve. Roles are changing, expectations are shifting, and as an industry we are collectively trying to figure out what the future will look like and what problems we will be tackling. That uncertainty can feel overwhelming. It requires constant learning, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt as new tools and capabilities emerge. But within that challenge is also a real opportunity. A lot of what used to be manual work for me now will be something where I can get help on, and because of that, I can focus on other, more important things. So in a way, I see it greatly as a challenge, but also a little bit as an opportunity as well for those already in the field.

One of my core values, both in my work and in my personal life, is keeping people at the center of everything I do. It is easy in fast-paced work environments to get caught up in deadlines, deliverables, or the pressure to ship the next feature. But I never want to lose sight of who I am helping and why the work matters. For me, it is essential to pause and ask: who exactly am I helping by doing this? Keeping that perspective ensures that my decisions are grounded in impact, not just output. I value purpose, empathy, and responsibility, the commitment to make choices that genuinely support others. I also value transparency and being straightforward in relationships with people and in my work. When I stay connected to the people behind the work, it keeps me aligned, motivated, and intentional. My values remind me that success is not just about what I accomplish, it is about who I uplift along the way.