00:05:17 · Henrique Dubugras, Nik Storonsky
[00:05:17] S1: But how do they run the simulations to me? [00:05:19] S0: On computer. It's a computer program. [00:05:21] S1: Oh, there's a computer program, [00:05:22] S0: Yeah. By So you use a team. You just input certain parameters, right? Like computer calculates everything for all the teams. [00:05:30] S1: Interesting. [00:05:30] S0: And then they give you a report on your company in terms of what is the P and L, how much is sold and so on. And then you put input, for the second round, third round and so on. [00:05:40] S1: And how did you find out? I never heard about this. Like, how did you find out about it? [00:05:43] S0: I think my teacher just introduced us to it. [00:05:46] S1: Yeah. Interesting. So did you have econ class in Russia? Yeah. Was part of the core curriculum? Yeah. Yeah. That's so cool. Yeah. Yeah. So you... And then you're like, okay, now you have these econ classes, like go do these Olympiads and... [00:05:59] S0: Exactly. Yeah. And then when I went to uni, I went to study physics. It's top university in physics in Russia. MIPT is equivalent of MIT but in Russia. And, yeah, I went specifically in the group where they had economics classes as well. [00:06:17] S1: So... And why did you go study physics, not economics? [00:06:21] S0: Just because it was the best university and I always thinking it doesn't matter where you study, it matters like, you know, how they develop your brains. And then in my mind, economics was much easier compared to physics. And I I was actually living alone since I was 13, 14 years old. And then I stayed with my brother.
00:06:21 · Nik Storonsky, Henrique Dubugras
[00:06:21] S0: Just because it was the best university and I always thinking it doesn't matter where you study, it matters like, you know, how they develop your brains. And then in my mind, economics was much easier compared to physics. And I I was actually living alone since I was 13, 14 years old. And then I stayed with my brother. [00:06:37] S1: Oh, interesting. [00:06:38] S0: I had a flat and then, yeah, I continued school. [00:06:40] S1: So you're living by yourself since you're 14. Yeah. That's that's very interesting. That's like a different thing. You know, it's funny. I actually had a similar experience. I went to do exchange programs, which is kind of living in a family, but then I kind of was living by myself since 15, 16. And I definitely think that living by yourself, you know, makes you an adult faster. [00:06:59] S0: Okay. Awesome. Yeah. [00:07:00] S1: Did you like have any like funny stories about, you know, that time that you're living by yourself? [00:07:06] S0: That was so long time ago, but I mean, preparing food for myself, like cleaning for myself. I think it's very important. You had [00:07:13] S1: to do everything. You were cooking for yourself, cleaning up after yourself. And you're living in the home that they left. They left home. Yeah. And then how does the uni process work? You just do a test and you kind of get in?
00:07:13 · Henrique Dubugras, Nik Storonsky
[00:07:13] S1: to do everything. You were cooking for yourself, cleaning up after yourself. And you're living in the home that they left. They left home. Yeah. And then how does the uni process work? You just do a test and you kind of get in? [00:07:23] S0: So basically in uni back then, it was like more than twenty years ago. So they had exams. So they had exam in maths and then in physics. And, yeah, I just passed two of them with the, like, you know, highest scores and then got accepted to the hardest faculty. [00:07:43] S1: How do you think, like, you know, growing up in, like, you know, Russia now, pre serving, like, what do you think about The US, the Western world? You know, like, what was the kind of, like, narrative that you grew up with about what was The US, for example? [00:07:53] S0: I mean, to be honest here, back then there was no real narrative. I remember when I was studying in the university, a lot of people... So basically I studied physics and then simultaneously I got accepted in the best economics school in Russia as well. So I was finishing actually two universities simultaneously. [00:08:13] S1: Oh, so you went to... Sorry. During your physics one, you applied to the other one too? [00:08:17] S0: Yes. So basically, physics I was doing for six years, university. So standard bachelor, do four years, and then two years, you do master. So when I done bachelor, I also applied for master degree in economics and finance in like top university in Russia. So I was finishing two masters in parallel for physics and then...
00:08:17 · Nik Storonsky, Henrique Dubugras
[00:08:17] S0: Yes. So basically, physics I was doing for six years, university. So standard bachelor, do four years, and then two years, you do master. So when I done bachelor, I also applied for master degree in economics and finance in like top university in Russia. So I was finishing two masters in parallel for physics and then... [00:08:34] S1: Oh, wow. And they were both in Moscow? [00:08:36] S0: Both in Moscow. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Back then, a lot of people, they wanted to go to do PhD in American universities, even myself. Yeah. Thanks God I haven't done it yet. [00:08:45] S1: Yeah. You don't seem like the PhD kind of guy. Yeah. [00:08:48] S0: Then back then, what actually changed my opinion on PhD because all the trading houses and investment banks, they came to recruit all the kind of brightest graduates from physics and economics in Russia. So I just decided to kind of change career path from PhD to get on work. [00:09:05] S1: To going to work. Yeah. But like, you know, The USSR had like a very different economic model for a long time. Right? Like, did you study the economic model or like, you know, it was... Like, how do you even think about... Was it fully capitalism economics or like, were there other ways when you're studying it? [00:09:19] S0: No. Russia actually... So USSR collapsed when I was eight years old. Right? So actually I observed all the kind of capitalism. Right? And it was like pure capitalism. Yeah. Because there was nothing. And then suddenly old people started, you know, building businesses or trading. So you were seeing that
00:09:19 · Nik Storonsky, Henrique Dubugras
[00:09:19] S0: No. Russia actually... So USSR collapsed when I was eight years old. Right? So actually I observed all the kind of capitalism. Right? And it was like pure capitalism. Yeah. Because there was nothing. And then suddenly old people started, you know, building businesses or trading. So you were seeing that [00:09:39] S1: from very close. How did it feel like? Like, what did it look like? [00:09:41] S0: Now I think I was too young, right, to get something done. So I kind of, you know, observed everything as a kid. Yeah. But I haven't done anything myself because I was, you know, too young. [00:09:51] S1: But you were observing it, right? [00:09:52] S0: I was observing [00:09:53] S1: it. What did you think? Like, you're thinking like, hey. I need to start a business because everyone's starting business this year is making money. Like, is that kind of the conclusion you got? [00:09:59] S0: I I just observed that, like, a lot of people, you know, become rich. You see, like, different cars. You see people buying cars before they they didn't have cars. And for me, it was like motivation to kind of, you know, earn money. [00:10:12] S1: Yeah. What was the... Was cars? Like, you're really into cars growing up? [00:10:15] S0: I was as a kid, as a as a young kid. Yeah.
00:10:15 · Nik Storonsky, Henrique Dubugras
[00:10:15] S0: I was as a kid, as a as a young kid. Yeah. [00:10:16] S1: Yeah. Yeah. You're like, oh, you know, I don't wanna a young... Get me money. I'm gonna buy this awesome car. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, like for me when I was growing up, I was just a tall kid. I'm like my height since I'm 14. Yeah. And sometimes I travel and I just want... I wonder if I'm make money. I'm gonna go on business class, you know, because, like, this fucking economy, see, I don't fit in it. You know? It's terrible. I remember that being a big motivation. Yeah. Very cool. Okay. So you said the recruiters came [00:10:41] S0: to basically... So, Basically, after first year of MA, so recruiters came for the internship and then internship was in London. So I passed all the stages, flew to London. And I liked it there, right? They liked me, so they gave me a full time offer. I think they had like definite 10,000 Lehman plus Brothers. [00:11:07] S1: Lehman Brothers. [00:11:08] S0: Yeah. Yeah. My last year into universities, was actually working full time for Lehman Brothers and then in parallel finishing studies. [00:11:16] S1: Oh, wow. So you were doing like two masters and working for Lehman, which is not a chill job. Right? [00:11:22] S0: Not a chill job. To be honest, university last year was pretty chill. Yeah. Yeah. Wasn't that [00:11:29] S1: did you wanna leave Russia? [00:11:32] S0: Yeah. Was a good opportunity to effectively learn how things work abroad. And yeah, it's just cool. [00:11:39] S1: And you thought at that time that you're going to go back or no?