Perhaps you have also heard some of the amazing deeds of Mikhail Shelkov. This is a man born in the heart of Moscow in 1968, who has carved out a notable path, painting the portrait of a true business leader with qualities well beyond mere entrepreneurship.

His journey, stretching from the financial world to the global titanium industry, and seeping into social and creative spheres, is a narrative that signifies not just success, but leadership sculpted by innovation, risk-taking, and philanthropy.

If you have also been itching to know more about this visionary business leader, then you are in for a treat in this post. Just keep reading!

Mikhail Shelkov’s Career

Mikhail Shelkov is a tycoon who made his fortune in the titanium industry. He is also a major player in the aluminum market, as the owner of the Samara Metallurgical Plant (SMZ). He is a philanthropist who champions education through his Empathy Foundation – a foundation that focuses on solving the most pressing problems in national education.

Shelkov was born in Moscow in 1968 and graduated from the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He began his career in the banking sector and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming CEO of Eurosibbank and later the RBRD bank.

In 2001, he founded the Prominvest investment holding. Under his leadership, the holding developed a new investment strategy for VSMPO-AVISMA, a strategic company in the titanium industry. Shelkov was instrumental in the company’s ambitious plan to focus on high-value products.

In 2014, Shelkov acquired a large stake in VSMPO-AVISMA, making him the majority shareholder. Today, the company is the undisputed leader in the global titanium market.

Shelkov’s business partners speak highly of his professional and personal qualities. They describe him as a straight shooter, talented, cautious and a thoughtful businessman, but also as someone who is not afraid to take risks.

Breathing Life into Tula with Oktava

Mikhail Shelkov’s passion goes beyond promoting education and empowering youth. He became a key private financier in the Oktava creative hub in Tula, bringing together proactive and imaginative forces.

When Mikhail Shelkov poured his passion and finances into the Oktava creative hub, something magical happened in Tula. His dream was simple yet ambitious: make the city a magnet for all its lively, imaginative people. Keeping the rich, industrial spirit alive, Mikhail ensured that Oktava preserved old factory structures and antique machines, creating a space that’s as nostalgic as it is innovative.

Not just a hub, Oktava became a symbol, recognized by notable platforms like TimeOut and Forbes, as a space where history and modernity coexist.

Oktava Became a Space of Endless Possibilities

Imagine a place where concerts, workshops, and seminars bring people together. Oktava became Tula’s hotspot, offering something for everyone. Kids dive into creative adventures in numerous clubs, while adults find a platform to bring their startup dreams to life.

The Machine Tool Museum became a special spot within Oktava. It uses augmented reality to tell tales of Tula’s rich history while blending stories of the past with the innovative present. This helps craft a mesmerizing experience for every visitor.

The Oktava endeavor expands and inaugurates new sites. At the end of May 2022, they opened a co-working space to unleash creativity. It is the only public locale constructed specifically for freelancers, students, solo entrepreneurs, and anyone needing an affordable and handy workplace to excel.

The new co-working area has workstations with outlets and internet, quality lighting, and ergonomic chairs. While developing the hub, the Oktava plant underwent a revival as well. Today it is once again a robust national manufacturer of cutting-edge audio equipment

On April 22, the Oktava creative industrial hub celebrated its anniversary for the first time, after five years of showcasing creativity and hosting engaging events uniting culture, art and new technologies.

Empathy: A Role Model for Social Change

Driven by a staunch belief in societal welfare, the Empathy Foundation, founded in 2019, blossoms under Mikhail’s stewardship. Aiming to fortify the educational domain, it extends financial and training support to educators, recognizing and magnifying their invaluable role in sculpting future minds.

Propelled by a profound dedication to social welfare, Shelkov established the Empathy Charitable Foundation in 2019. Through this organization, he endorses community-centered endeavors in education, culture and science, imprinting an enduring impact on society.

Empathy is present to bridge chasms, further learning and nurture opportunities for individuals pursuing self-actualization.

One of the foundation’s banner efforts is furnishing monthly scholarships to school teachers from Verkhnyaya Salda and Nizhnyaya Salda. Acknowledging the invaluable role educators play in molding young minds, Empathy guarantees fair recompense by providing subsidies amounting to 50% of their wages.

This not only motivates teachers but also recognizes their commitment to cultivating future generations. Beyond financial backing, Empathy emphasizes empowering educators through complimentary advanced training programs. Teachers have the chance to enhance their expertise and knowledge across areas like information technology, psychology, teaching methodologies and more.

To celebrate the accomplishments of Tula’s teachers, Empathy organizes an annual professional contest titled “Teaching as a Calling.” This prestigious event acknowledges exceptional educators, spotlighting their extraordinary contributions and inspiring others to emulate them.

Looking past conventional academic subjects, the foundation grasps the importance of fostering innovation and creativity among young minds.

To accomplish this, Empathy has inaugurated an engineering accelerator tailored for school children in Verkhnyaya and Nizhnyaya Salda. This initiative furnishes hands-on learning experiences, access to cutting-edge technology and mentorship opportunities.

Honoring outstanding achievements, Empathy awards scholarships to the victors of local and international competitions, as well as graduates exhibiting remarkable results on the Unified State Examination.

Furthermore, on May 24, 2023, the foundation hosted the inaugural regional qualifying round for the “Gifted Girls and Brainy Boys” competition in Yekaterinburg. This event is a humanitarian television contest for kids from all over the country, offering the winners free education at a top national university, MGIMO.”

Conclusion

Mikhail Shelkov does not just stand as a business leader. His endeavors, stretching from industrial achievements to societal contributions, exemplify a leadership model steeped in innovation, empathy, and a profound understanding of the multidimensional facets of society and industry.