When the Curtain came down, In my 20s, I witnessed history shift.

Growing up in Russia, there was always an Invisible Curtain, a barrier between us and the Western world.
But when the Soviet Union dissolved, that curtain lifted.
Suddenly, Russia opened to the influences of capitalism, and for the first time,
I began to see money and possibility in a new light.

I even started watching The Money World with Adam Smith on TV,
trying to make sense of what this all meant.

That’s when my American Dream was born.

Inspired by stories of other immigrants, I imagined what it would be like to own my own business.
I didn’t know what kind at the time, but I knew I wanted to create something.

That dream manifested in the form of a franchise, a coffee and donut shop.
We had to pack a U-Haul and move from upstate New York to Ohio.

On the outside, I had “made it.”
On the inside, I was running on fumes.

Ten years of 24/7 operations left me burned out, physically, mentally, emotionally.
I was the woman who looked successful on the outside but cried for help on the inside, silently.

When you hit rock bottom, the only way out is up.

That breaking point became my awakening. I began to explore yoga, spirituality, and functional movement.
I learned to know myself beyond the “business owner” role.
Eventually, I created a boutique wellness business designed to support other women on their healing journeys.

And yes—coffee kept showing up in my story.
I even founded Coffee Talk Toastmasters in our small town, where we gathered at
the shop to practice speaking and connecting.

“You don’t have to minimize your ambitions.
You can create impact while feeling deeply aligned to who you are.”

Jewels

These days, my mornings start with the simple joy of my husband bringing me a warm
cup of coffee in bed. We connect. We savor.

That ritual inspired me to dream even bigger.

And so, the Embodied Wealth Café was born.

A space for ambitious, soulful women to pause, play, sip, and explore.
A community where conversations about money feel cozy, real, and full of possibility.

An Invitation

Pull up a chair.
The coffee’s warm.
The conversation is real.
And the possibilities are endless.