Futures in the Making

Alena Gladkova

This podcast brings you the inspiring stories of ambitious individuals who are shaping the future through resilience, innovation, and leadership. From overcoming immigration challenges to building successful careers and businesses, we dive into the lessons and insights that empower others to dream bigger and take action. I’m Alena Gladkova, your host and the leader of Key People, a recruiting company that connects businesses in the USA and Europe with top talent. When I’m not helping companies build strong teams, I’m sharpening my leadership skills in Stanford’s LEAD program.

  1. 28 JAN

    Why LinkedIn Is TOP Social Media Platform | How You Can Become a LinkedIn Influencer & Monetize it

    🎙️ In this episode:While some see LinkedIn as boring and mostly cringe, others become LinkedIn influencers and start getting brand partnerships. We explore what it really takes to grow on LinkedIn in 2026 — from personal branding and content creation to understanding what actually works for audience growth and B2B influence. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps:00:00 | In this episode00:34 | Meet Margo Laz01:28 | LinkedIn VS other social media platforms06:46 | What determines LinkedIn growth07:45 | Become a LinkedIn influencer09:50 | LinkedIn content strategy12:50 | LinkedIn personal branding17:13 | LinkedIn cringe is real22:25 | LinkedIn marketing for business27:31 | Top LinkedIn influencers right now29:31 | ROI for LinkedIn B2B campaign34:19 | What awaits the LinkedIn influencers38:17 | How to spot paid content on LinkedIn39:26 | One thing everyone hates about LinkedIn40:58 | I wish I knew how to go viral on LinkedIn42:06 | Quick Fire Round 🎧 Guest: Margo LazMargo is the founder of Kudos Narratives. She helps B2B tech companies collaborate with top LinkedIn creators and influential voices. Her entrepreneurial path started while still a student — from running an e-commerce design store to co-founding a coworking space that hosted 300+ events. She later created major tech conferences such as EMERGE (supported by Microsoft, AWS, and Google), earned an MA in Storytelling & Experience Design in London, and consulted hyper-growth SaaS startups on influencer and content strategy. Margo has connected over 50,000 professionals in tech and creative sectors, spoken on TEDx, and been featured in Forbes and Sifted (by Financial Times). 🔗 Guest Links:LinkedIn: Margo Laz 🎙️ Host: Alena GladkovaLinkedIn: Helen Glad 🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru 🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting

    45 min

  2. 13 JAN

    Money Management Tips | What is ACTUALLY Ruining your Personal Finance

    ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:00 | In this episode 00:20 | Meet Elena Hawk 01:18 | How to spot a millionaire 02:14 | What car do rich people drive 04:26 | Personal finance for beginners 07:21 | Building an emergency fund 11:04 | Budgeting for beginners 13:07 | Subscriptions are the worst 16:55 | Personal finance 101 18:00 | Let's talk tax strategy 20:02 | Why pay for tax planning 22:50 | How to invest for beginners 25:52 | How to invest in stock market 28:39 | Index funds for beginners 34:07 | Take emotions out of personal finances 35:54 | How to become a millionaire 38:28 | What money management tips work 39:54 | Budgeting 101 42:33 | Money talk is crucial 44:25 | On a way to financial independence 50:16 | Cost of living Silicon Valley edition 55:30 | Quick Fire Round 🎙️ Guest: Elena Hawk Elena is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, fractional CFO, and entrepreneur helping professionals and founders make confident financial decisions. She leads two financial firms focused on financial planning, investment management, and CFO advisory for startups and small businesses. Her approach bridges personal and business finance, helping clients cut through noise, build systems, and gain control over their future. Elena’s work is rooted in clarity, strategy, and the belief that money should serve your goals — not the other way around. 🔗 LinkedIn: Elena Hawk 🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova Alena is the Founder of Key People — a recruiting agency that helps companies hire top global talent in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 — and the host of Futures in the Making podcast. 🔗 LinkedIn: Helen Glad 📸 Instagram: @glad.helen 🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru 🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching 👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting #podcast #podcasts #podcastshow #personalfinance #financialfreedom #financialplanning #budgeting #moneytalk #financialwellness #futuresinthemaking #leadership #finance

    59 min

  3. 27/11/2025

    Want to learn how to build a strong personal brand?

    ⏱️ Episode Timestamps:00:00 | In this episode00:21 | Meet Anastasia01:30 | How to build a personal brand in 5 steps03:13 | The crucial element of building a personal brand07:19 | What is personal branding, and what are the risks10:55 | Common mistakes in building a personal brand12:45 | The WRONG WAY to start a personal brand16:15 | What makes a strong personal brand in 202521:33 | How to build a profitable personal brand23:07 | What if your personal brand changes over time29:57 | LinkedIn profile tips from a social media expert31:40 | Brand storytelling and content creation on Instagram36:59 | Free Instagram content ideas39:12 | Promote your business for free on social media41:24 | Do THIS for social media growth48:17 | AI is changing personal branding strategies 🎙️ Guest: Anastasia ZaitsevaAs CCO at ZiMAD (290M+ downloads), Anastasia helps tech companies in gaming, SaaS, and AI simplify complex ideas and communicate clearly. She built a global communications system from scratch, leading a 15-person team across PR, brand, content, support, and community. Her efforts secured 450+ global media placements, millions of social media views, and consistent brand messaging. Beyond ZiMAD, she’s advised 50+ startups (Seed to Series B) on storytelling, investor comms, and go-to-market strategy. She’s also a speaker, mentor for women founders, host of founder circles, and contributor to top industry platforms. 🔗 LinkedIn: Anastasia Zaitseva📸 Instagram: @iamzaiceva 🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova🔗 LinkedIn: Helen Glad📸 Instagram: @glad.helen 🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru 🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting #podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #marketing #marketingdigital #marketinsights #personalbrand #personalbranding #personalbrandingexpert

    38 min

  4. 08/10/2025

    Grow Your Personal Brand & Get Leads | What Makes a Strong Personal Brand In 2025

    Want to learn how to build a strong personal brand? This episode features Anastasia Zaitseva, Chief Communications Officer at ZiMAD. We talk about how to grow your personal brand on social media and what really works in 2025. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:00 | In this episode 00:21 | Meet Anastasia 01:30 | How to build a personal brand in 5 steps 03:13 | The crucial element of building a personal brand 07:19 | What is personal branding, and what are the risks 10:55 | Common mistakes in building a personal brand 12:45 | The WRONG WAY to start a personal brand 16:15 | What makes a strong personal brand in 2025 21:33 | How to build a profitable personal brand 23:07 | What if your personal brand changes over time 29:57 | LinkedIn profile tips from a social media expert 31:40 | Brand storytelling and content creation on Instagram 36:59 | Free Instagram content ideas 39:12 | Promote your business for free on social media 41:24 | Do THIS for social media growth 48:17 | AI is changing personal branding strategies 🎙️ Guest: Anastasia Zaitseva As CCO at ZiMAD (290M+ downloads), Anastasia helps tech companies in gaming, SaaS, and AI simplify complex ideas and communicate clearly. She built a global communications system from scratch, leading a 15-person team across PR, brand, content, support, and community. Her efforts secured 450+ global media placements, millions of social media views, and consistent brand messaging. Beyond ZiMAD, she’s advised 50+ startups (Seed to Series B) on storytelling, investor comms, and go-to-market strategy. She’s also a speaker, mentor for women founders, host of founder circles, and contributor to top industry platforms. 🔗 LinkedIn: Anastasia Zaitseva 📸 Instagram: @iamzaiceva 🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova 🔗 LinkedIn: Helen Glad 📸 Instagram: @glad.helen 🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru 🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching 👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting #podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #marketing #marketingdigital #marketinsights #personalbrand #personalbranding #personalbrandingexpert

    58 min

  5. 23/09/2025

    How Anyone Can Make AR in 2025 | What's the REAL Power of Augmented Reality Beyond Fun Filters

    What is augmented reality all about? This episode of 🎙️ The Futures In The Making Podcast explores the exciting world of AR with Anna Belova, who has built tools that enable anyone to create immersive AR experiences. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:00 | In this episode 00:23 | Meet Anna Belova 01:02 | What is augmented reality 01:57 | How augmented reality is used 04:39 | AR use cases in business 07:01 | AR experience for beginners 08:50 | Augmented reality education 15:30 | Best augmented reality glasses 21:52 | Virtual reality technology and AI 25:34 | AR technology limitations 28:04 | Forbes 30 under 30 list 34:03 | How Forbes 30 under 30 became a pipeline to prison 35:12 | How to raise capital: advice from Forbes 30 under 30 honorees 🎙️ Guest: Anna Belova Anna is the CEO of DEVAR, leading a team of engineers, designers, and creators who build next-gen AR experiences for businesses and brands. With a Master of Arts and Human Science degree, she’s a recognized Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur making AR accessible to all. LinkedIn: Anna Belova 🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova LinkedIn: Helen Glad 🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru 🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching 👥 Hire tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting #podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #augmentedreality #augmented #vr #vrglasses #arglasses #vrgaming #virtualreality #extendedreality #forbes #30under30

    38 min

  6. 09/09/2025

    The Marketing Game Has Changed: Google Search Traffic DROPPED 20% - Video Is The New TEXT

    Why did Google Search traffic drop 20%? This episode unpacks how AI is changing the rules of the marketing game — and what it means for SEO, content creation, and the future of digital jobs. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps:00:00 | In this episode00:19 | Meet Dennis Lazard00:58 | Why you need a YouTube channel for your business03:52 | How is AI changing SEO (Search Engine Optimization)07:45 | Is AI chatbot privacy compromised11:20 | AI agent web VS human web17:54 | Leave the boring jobs to AI22:45 | How AI can help businesses drive results24:06 | I analyzed 300+ data sources and THIS is what I found out28:38 | Make SEO optimized blogs using AI tools sound authentic32:28 | AI impact on jobs in marketing35:17 | AI and jobs it will create39:08 | Why write a book in 202544:46 | How to write a book with AI47:21 | How to create a lead magnet 🎙️ Guest: Dennis LazardDennis helps fund and scale SaaS, AI, and tech companies through international SEO, organic growth, and data-driven marketing strategies. With over 15 years of experience, he’s led teams across the UK, US, and Europe, and launched 7+ digital products across eCommerce, MarTech, AI, LegalTech, and more. He’s the winner of the 2019 Best MarTech Startup in Central Europe (€50,000 prize) and holds certifications in Digital Marketing (OMCP), Advanced Analytics (SQL), and Product Management (SPOC). LinkedIn: Dennis Lazard 🎧 Host: Alena GladkovaLinkedIn: Helen Glad 🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business:kpeople.guru 🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching👥 Hire global tech talent: On-Demand Recruiting #podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #marketing #marketingdigital #marketinsights #marketingautomation #SEO #AItools #contentmarketing

    53 min

  7. 26/08/2025

    Why We Never Study The Female Body | WOMENS HEALTH Is The Next Big Thing In Tech

    Want to gain a deeper understanding of biotech? Meet Morgan, the CEO of Opal Therapeutics, and dive into how AI, big tech, and medicine are shaping the future of biotechnology. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:00 | In this episode 00:34 | Meet Morgan 01:15 | What is biotechnology 02:12 | Is biotech the future of medicine 03:21 | Why Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft are betting billions on biotech 04:19 | What it’s actually like to work in biotech 05:32 | How to start a biotech company 08:01 | How will AI change biotech 10:09 | How many startup stages in biotech are there 13:05 | How to pitch biotech VC 15:00 | How to optimize revenue in biotech startups 16:52 | Why we never study the female body 18:50 | What can be done for women's health 🎙️ Guest: Morgan M. Stanton Morgan is the CEO of Opal Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics for women's reproductive health. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and brings over 15 years of experience in drug discovery, R&D, and bioengineering. Her work spans multiple disciplines, blending cell biology, machine learning, and engineering to push boundaries in biotech innovation. LinkedIn: Morgan M. Stanton 🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova LinkedIn: Helen Glad #biotech #womeninbiotech #aiinhealthcare #femtech #womenshealth #startupfounders #podcast #podcasts #techcareers #futureofmedicine #drugdiscovery

    21 min

  8. 29/07/2025

    Doctors Don’t Tell You THIS About Women’s Health

    Podcast Episode: Women's Health with Svetlana Grinchenko Want to understand women's health? Meet Svetlana Grinchenko, Co-Founder of Strawberry Health. 00:00 | In this episode 00:29 | Meet Svetlana Grinchenko 01:04 | Number one myth in women’s health 02:12 | How the US Healthcare system treats women 03:37 | An outdated reproductive health approach 06:49 | Health insurance determines how a patient is treated 07:29 | Overdiagnosing VS a laid-back approach to women's health 11:18 | When is a good moment to do your first hormone test for AMH 14:20 | Getting pregnant: is egg freezing the holy grail for family planning 19:41 | Can a woman have it all these days: a family and a career 21:27 | Strawberry Health outlook on fertility and marketing surrounding it 25:56 | Silicon Valley healthcare startup expectation VS reality 28:14 | Fundraising in Silicon Valley as a woman and an immigrant 34:26 | Advice for female entrepreneurs against existing biases 35:57 | Building connections in Silicon Valley is crucial for success 38:01 | Changing the perspective on reproductive health Svetlana is a co-founder of Strawberry Health, a women’s health fem-tech startup offering at-home hormone testing and personalized health insights for women. She’s also active as a women’s health advocate and a mom. 🎁 Use the promo code ALENA10 for 10% off any Strawberry Health product: https://www.joinstrawberry.com/ Guest Svetlana Grinchenko LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlana-grinchenko Host Alena Gladkova LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-glad More from the host: 🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: https://kpeople.guru ✍️ Get your CV a professional boost: https://kpeople.guru/service/career-coaching/ 🚀 Recruit the best talent for your company: https://kpeople.guru/service/on-demand-recruiting/ #podcast #podcasts #healthcare #healthcareinnovation #healthcareindustry #ushealthcare #podcasting #podcastshow

    41 min
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About

This podcast brings you the inspiring stories of ambitious individuals who are shaping the future through resilience, innovation, and leadership. From overcoming immigration challenges to building successful careers and businesses, we dive into the lessons and insights that empower others to dream bigger and take action. I’m Alena Gladkova, your host and the leader of Key People, a recruiting company that connects businesses in the USA and Europe with top talent. When I’m not helping companies build strong teams, I’m sharpening my leadership skills in Stanford’s LEAD program.

Information

  • Creator
    Alena Gladkova
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alena Gladkova
  • Show Website
    Futures in the Making