Large cruise ships, complex mechanisms, strong-willed men. And all this serious business is run by a young, beautiful, modern woman! Meet - Anastasia Pryanichnikova, General Director of Sozvezdie Shipping Company … They say that even experienced river workers unquestioningly follow all her instructions and do not dare to argue. We tried to find out the secret of Anastasia's success and asked her a few questions. The answers surprised me in an amicable way …
Anastasia, if you didn’t work for a shipping company, what would you most likely be doing now?
- I don't even know … Probably, I can't imagine any other occupation.
How did you become the CEO of Sozvezdie Shipping Company?
- In 2009, I joined the company (then it was Infoflot) as the head of the tourism product department. Then I went on maternity leave, and when I returned, I plunged into the transport component of our activity, not the tourist one. That is, I started organizing the work of the company's fleet, crews, ship repairs … For the last six years I have been the head of the Sozvezdie Shipping Company.
What do you like most about your job?
- The main thing in any business is people, a team. I work with amazing people: captains, ship mechanics, shore managers. Our company has a wonderful team of professional and interesting people, and I really enjoy working with them.
What is the most difficult thing for you in your work?
- I have to work a lot with papers. As I said, I prefer working with people, but the fleet is also a huge amount of work with various documents. There is no getting away from this.
What was your first job?
- I went to an experimental school with a paid education. She had to earn money for her studies. Therefore, at the age of 14, I went to work in a polyclinic as a nurse. This was my first job.
What is your favorite route of the Sozvezdie Cruise Company?
- Most of all I like routes in the North-West with a call to the islands of Kizhi and Valaam.
The place to which you would like to return?
- Island of Valaam. This place was very fond of my eldest daughter Lisa from early childhood. We traveled on almost all the routes of the "Constellation", but it is to Valaam that we return with some kind of spiritual trepidation. Rocky islands with high shores, rich colors of greenery and trees that grow in places right from the rocks, enveloping them with their roots … The combination of the beauty of northern nature and energy is a very strong place. By the way, we were always lucky with the weather on Valaam.
What dish in the restaurants of the Sozvezdiya motor ships, in your opinion, can be called the best?
- Every year the menu is updated, so it is impossible to single out one thing. I love to try everything.
Where do you prefer to spend time on the ship most often?
- On four-deck ships, I like going to a coffee shop. There you can sit with a cup of fragrant tea and look out the window at the mesmerizing view of the water and the coastal landscape. On motor ships "N. A. Nekrasov "and" Alexander Benois "we are now equipping a large lounge bar, and I fell in love with this place in advance!
What fascinates you more when you are on a cruise: sunset or sunrise?
- Both sunsets and sunrises are beautiful on the ship, but since I always want to sleep longer in the morning, I often admire the sunsets. This is the time when the sky is painted in warm crimson colors of the setting sun, the rays of which pierce the clouds and are reflected in the water. An incredibly enchanting sight.
Let's move a little from the topic of cruises. I would like to know about your life outside of work. Are you reading any book now?
- Since I am a mother of a second-grader, and my second daughter will go to school this year, now I read “The Adventures of Dunno”, “Buratino”, “Dedmorozovka”. The last "adult book" I recently read is "Jade Rosary" by Boris Akunin. I want to finish reading the remaining books with my favorite hero Erast Fandorin in the near future.
Are there applications on your phone that you can't do without?
- Probably, these are messengers - it's hard to imagine life without them. There are working chats, parental chats around the school. Probably also Instagram, in which it is convenient to watch friends and acquaintances, to share events from your life with them. Without the rest of the applications, it is quite possible to live.
Which of the films you recently watched made a special impression on you?
- Last month we went to see the film "Ice 2" with the children. A pleasant film, funny moments, and at the same time touching.
What kind of music do you prefer? Classical, jazz, rock or …
- I'm a music lover by nature, I like to listen to any music. True, rock and jazz are just less common. I mostly like popular music, both modern and retro. I have great respect for the classics. In my playlist there is a collection of the greatest works of Russian classics performed by a symphony orchestra under the direction of Valery Gergiev. There is also a collection of operas performed by soloists of the Bolshoi Theater.
How do you usually rest?
- My vacation is always a family one. While the girls are small, it is a pleasure to spend time with them. Every year we definitely go on a cruise on one of the ships of our company. Girls really enjoy participating in entertainment programs. Children's animation is also of interest to them. And where else can you have ice cream in a restaurant twice a day, if not on motor ships?..
