From KPMG to Valedictorian: My Path at Webster Vienna
August 11, 2025
By Olga Zolotareva
Moving to Vienna from Moscow and returning to university was both challenging and exciting. It’s often said “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room” — and I definitely did not feel like the smartest. One of the first things I had to do was to re-learn how to find my place again in the rhythm of student life.
Before coming to Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU), I worked for several years at the consulting firm KPMG in Moscow in both the audit and the business development departments. It was a time of intense responsibility — managing cross-functional projects, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and always working under pressure. That experience taught me how to stay focused, communicate clearly and handle complex challenges with structure and care.
Life in Vienna was a change of pace. During the time I was pursuing my MBA, I balanced a part-time job, full-time studying and my social life — a juggling act that tested my limits but also helped me to grow. One of the highlights of my student life was being part of the Student Government Association (SGA), where I had the chance to work with talented, inspiring peers to help shape our campus community.
I have always loved multicultural environments, and at Webster Vienna that diversity was everywhere, from our classrooms to our traditions. I think back to moments such as the university’s Thanksgiving dinner with real warmth. The courses could be tough, even confusing at times, but they challenged me in the best ways. Being named valedictorian was a proud moment for me, not only for the academic achievement, but for what it symbolized: growth, effort and resilience.
Most of all, I am grateful for the friendships I built at Webster Vienna. I left Webster with not only a business degree, but with a group of people I know will stay in my life long after graduation. Right now, I am taking some time for myself and my loved ones while actively searching for the right job opportunity — here in Vienna.
Zolotareva gave an address at commencement as the 2025 Graduate Valedictorian.