What does it take for a company to have “staying power”? Should we only apply the term to those that have been around for many decades or does it have a broader application?
Longevity matters, of course: with age comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes the ability to take a step back and view the business in the context of history, using this knowledge to adapt to changing economic and market dynamics.
But even relatively new companies can have staying power. Perhaps they’ve spotted a gap in the market that will bear fruit for many years to come. Or maybe they signed up to a company charter that guarantees its values will be upheld no matter who is at the helm. Any business with staying power keeps one eye on the spreadsheets and the other on the future. It’s about continually looking for opportunities to solidify your base and reach ever higher.
One company that combines all these traits is Novikov group, the most famous restaurant developer in Russia. Arkady Novikov, founder of the group, tells us about the secret of his success and future plans.
We also look at the challenges and opportunities facing the mining industry in Russia, and find out about some of the innovative methods that companies such as Evraz are using to drive productivity.
Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, tells us how the company has made the journey from a small Seattle coffee shop to one of the world’s most recognizable brands, and Risto Venermo, Head of Ernst & Young’s Russia-Nordic desk, enlightens us on Trade flows and the wealth of opportunities that Baltic and Nordic investors have yet to capitalize on.
We also speak to Javier Pérez Dolset, founder of Grupo Zed, who has taken advantage of the ballooning market for web and mobile apps, and Henrik Fisker of Fisker Automotive, who explains why “energy-efficient” and “luxury” don’t have to be mutually exclusive terms.
And finally, in the DNA of an entrepreneur, criminal profiler Thomas Müller asks whether entrepreneurs are a breed apart.
This is just a taster of what’s inside your new-look Exceptional. We hope you enjoy this issue.
 |  | Karl Johansson,
CIS Sub-Area
Managing Partner,
Ernst & Young LLC
Alexei Ivanov,
CIS SGM Leader,
Ernst & Young LLC
|
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