Business leader Viktor Sobolev opens up about the side of leadership that rarely makes headlines — the human one. Moving beyond business performance and corporate structure, Sobolev reflects on empathy, discipline, and the personal principles that shape not just organizations, but the people behind them.
Journalist: Viktor, we live in a time when technology and performance metrics seem to dominate everything. What, in your view, still defines a real leader today?
Sobolev: A real leader is not measured by titles or numbers — but by the ability to listen, understand, and act with integrity. Technology can automate decisions, but it can’t replace judgment, intuition, or empathy. Leadership is about creating an environment where people feel valued and understood, not managed like data points.
Journalist: You often speak about discipline and responsibility as personal values. How do they fit into your leadership style?
Sobolev: Discipline is the quiet engine behind every achievement. Without it, talent burns out quickly. Responsibility keeps that discipline human — it’s what reminds you that your decisions affect others. I’ve always believed that leadership means being the first to take responsibility and the last to take credit.
Journalist: How do you maintain balance between results and relationships in your team?
Sobolev: By remembering that results are built by people, not processes. You can’t separate performance from trust. A strong team culture is based on mutual respect — not fear, not hierarchy. My approach is simple: set clear expectations, give people space to grow, and hold everyone — including myself — accountable to the same standards.
Journalist: Many leaders struggle with showing empathy without appearing weak. How do you navigate that?
Sobolev: Empathy is strength, not softness. It allows you to see what others miss — to sense when something’s wrong before it turns into a problem. People mistake authority for distance, but real authority comes from understanding. You can be firm and fair at the same time — it’s not a contradiction, it’s balance.
Journalist: What, in your opinion, separates leaders who simply manage from those who truly inspire?
Sobolev: Managers control — leaders connect. Inspiration comes when people see you live the values you talk about. Words are cheap; consistency is what earns trust. The best leaders don’t just build teams, they build belief.
Journalist: And finally, what’s one principle you never compromise on?
Sobolev: Honesty. You can rebuild almost anything — a company, a plan, a reputation — but once you lose honesty, you lose yourself. Leadership without integrity is just manipulation, and it doesn’t last.
