Zub-Zolotarev Oleksii Volodymyrovych

My name is Oleksii Zub-Zolotarov. I am a design engineer by training and an entrepreneur by experience. At different points in my life, I have worked as a marketer, medical professional, event organizer, inventor, auto repair specialist, skipper, racing driver, and financier.

But most importantly today, I am the founder of kindergartens and services for parents and children, and I help transform family relationships. I am an entrepreneur who has never spent a single day as an employee—and, frankly, I can't even imagine what that is like. My fundamental motivation is very simple: my absolute reluctance to work for someone else has constantly pushed me to seek opportunities, create my own projects, and earn independently. Since my teens, I have always been doing something—taking odd jobs, experimenting, and finding ways to earn money. In that sense, money has always been part of my life—as a result of taking action and moving forward.

Today, my work revolves around «Andersen»: a kindergarten and swimming pool, alongside my work as a specialist. I offer my expertise through consultations, run a blog, and work consistently on parent-child relationships. In particular, I explain how an adult's inner states, experiences, and so-called «inner children» manifest in interactions with a child. A separate area of my work has been developing the transformational game «Reflections».

It is a tool for parents that helps them recognize their own influence on the development of their child's personality. The game's purpose is to offer a deeper understanding of age-specific child development and show how an adult's reactions, emotions, and life experiences are reflected in a child's behavior and emotional states. During the game, participants:

• become aware of their automatic patterns of interaction with their child;
• learn to reflect on their connection and develop more sensitive ways of communicating;
• build a deeper emotional bond and trust;
• better understand how their own childhood experiences affect their parenting.

This game does not offer ready-made advice—it offers something else: an opportunity to see yourself clearly and improve the quality of your connection with your child. I consider myself a happy person. For me, happiness is an inner state and a conscious choice. If something in my life doesn't feel right, I change it and return to a state in which I feel good.

How did the business idea come about?

The idea for «Andersen» grew out of a personal situation. Initially, I was creating a business for my wife, but it didn't resonate with her, so I kept the project for myself. As it turned out, it became my most successful project.

What key skills helped you launch the business?

I don't see skills as something you either have or don't have. When a need arises, I simply go and acquire what I need. For me, it has always been about practice: you face a task, solve it, learn, and adjust your actions. I would also highlight the ability to accept reality rather than fight what life keeps bringing me back to. For many years, I resisted working with children because I had a different vision of myself. But once I stopped resisting and accepted it, everything fell into place, and I was able to develop this work as my mission.

What were the 3 toughest challenges you tackled in the early years?

One of the most pressing challenges was staffing. My decision was tough: I dismissed everyone and took on the day-to-day work myself to understand and demonstrate how things should be done. There were many other challenges, both business and personal, but this case best reflects my management style in a crisis.

What crises has your business faced, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest blows over 11 years have been COVID-19 and the war. The business effectively ground to a halt, everything was reset to zero, and I was operating at a loss. There were also unsuccessful attempts to launch projects in other fields that had to be closed. My approach is simple: no heroics. Setbacks are inevitable, but the only solution is to get back up and move forward, starting the cycle again.

Which decisions proved most effective for the company's growth?

I can't name a single action that brought rapid growth. Everything happened gradually. For me, the core management principle is very simple: fall down, get back up, and keep going. That is what kept things moving even after having to start over and close projects.

Which mistake do you now consider your most valuable learning experience?

My most valuable experience was the story with the marketing agency. I couldn't reach an agreement with my partners and left the business to them. I now realize I should have done the opposite. The main lesson that changed my behavior is that I no longer want partnerships, although anything is possible.