Tatiana Kim revealed what business she would pursue today if she were 18 years old

Tatiana Kim. Photo from her social media

Tatiana Kim, who ranks 23rd among Russia's 155 billionaires according to Forbes for 2026 with a fortune of $8.1 billion, shared her vision of how she would start her journey if she were 18 years old today.

Kim stated that if she were 18 years old today, she would go to work in digital platforms, as they represent the future and "already the present."

According to her, today the barrier to entry into business has radically decreased — it is enough to have a smartphone, and marketplaces provide ready infrastructure, access to millions of customers, and tools for scaling.

Tatiana Kim noted that at the age of 18, she would start not by writing a business plan, but with three crucial things.

1. Gaining knowledge — even if it seems that it's "not about money." Learning and education are necessary regardless of what a person studies, she says.

2. Finding an idea that "ignites" — a product or service should make life easier and solve real problems for people around, rather than being the result of some "big business idea."

3. Readiness to make mistakes — solving problems that arise from errors is, in her opinion, the best investment in one's future.

"In fact, every mistake is a lesson. A crisis is a source of greater growth than you had before it. It's important to find your footing, gather yourself, and take control of the situation. I am not a crisis manager by calling; I prefer to develop and multiply, but life has taught me: from the most difficult situation, you can emerge with new strength. By the way, it's very useful to keep your own 'mistake diary' — to write down what went wrong and the conclusions. A year later, you'll be surprised how much more valuable these notes are than any textbook," says the founder of Wildberries.

The entrepreneur also noted that business is not a solitary path, and a team plays a significant role.

When entering digital platforms, Kim advises not to try to compete with giants in the mass market, but to look for your microniche with a loyal audience (for example, exclusive goods, personalized gifts, or clothing for rare dog breeds).

At the same time, it is critically important to learn financial and legal literacy, and to understand taxes.

Tatiana Kim confessed that she wouldn't wait for the "ideal moment," but would try different niches, look for a mentor, and not be afraid to ask "silly" questions.

She is confident that money in business is not an end, but a tool:

"If you create value, money comes. Not the other way around. I often give our best sellers as an example: those who genuinely love their work and think about the customer always outperform those who came only to earn easy money. Trust is the most expensive asset, and building it takes years, but it brings stable income over the long run. But it's naive to think that a sustainable business can be built without accounting for expenses and income. Keep the simplest spreadsheet from day one — this will instill in you a habit of financial transparency, without which scale is impossible."

Kim added that a successful business can be launched at any age — whether 18 or 50, the main thing is to take risks and do what brings satisfaction.

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