Mikhail Shelkov, the key investor in a leading titanium producer VSMPO-AVISMA, has showcased his skills across various sectors including finance, metals, and manufacturing. With a molecular and chemical physics degree from MIPT, he maintains strong ties with his alma mater. He serves on the Phystech XXI School Cluster and Phystech Lyceum boards, actively supporting student initiatives. His Empathy Foundation stands out as a significant contributor to social progress in multiple areas.
A Journey of Growth
Mikhail Shelkov’s career began at Eurosibbank in 1993, shortly after his graduation in 1991. By 1995, he had risen to its Board Chairman, overseeing significant expansion. In 2001, he took the helm at Prominvest and rapidly improved its performance. The following decade saw how yesterday’s banker shifted his focus to industry, acquiring stakes in VSMPO-AVISMA titanium giant in 2014 and SMZ Metallurgical Plant in 2022. During his tenure as majority owner, he boosted efficiency and adopted innovative strategies. Under his leadership, VSMPO-AVISMA titanium company became a premier supplier to aerospace giants like Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce. His forward-thinking approach helped cement the company’s market leadership, ensuring transparency and strong partnerships.
Yet, success extends beyond business. He actively supports education, culture, and sports through philanthropic efforts. In 2019, he established the Empathy Foundation to promote learning, arts, and academic development. Additionally, he played a key role in creating Octava, a youth hub. He explains, “In the grand scheme of things, the cluster facilitates industry growth by fostering competencies and serves as the center of gravity to young people. One of the cluster’s projects, the Higher Technical School, provides advanced training for industrial managers. Another one, the Machine Tool Museum, is aimed at the younger generation and invokes art, literature, and urban studies to reveal history through the development of industry.”
Oktava: Transforming Urban Spaces
Shelkov Mikhail has repurposed an abandoned microphone factory into a thriving creative center in the heart of the city. Launched in 2018, the Oktava Creative Industrial Cluster breathes new life into the area, promoting innovation and artistic collaboration across disciplines.
After years in the banking and investment sectors in the 1990s, the entrepreneur invested $11 million to transform the site into a unique fertile ecosystem, attracting global attention. This 12,000 square-meter hub offers a diverse range of activities, including contemporary art shows, concerts, film screenings, children’s programs, and cultural events. Since its opening, the space has drawn over 6,000 monthly visitors, seamlessly blending creativity with community impact.
Oktava features exhibitions, skill-building workshops at its Higher Technical School, avant-garde music performances, a modern library, and the Machine Tool Museum showcasing industrial heritage. “Octava_U”, launched in March 2023, provides free events for teenagers. Young visitors benefit from the Pushkin Card program and “Friend of Octava” perks. With 100 diverse monthly events, there’s always something exciting happening. Resident projects include “Books on Oktava,” Technical School, Pro.Park lab, Oktava Lab studio, and a collaborative co-working space. Visitors can explore their artistic interests, develop new skills, delve into local history, or launch new ventures alongside like-minded innovators.
Empathy Foundation: Driving Educational Innovation
Since 2019, Empathy Foundation has become a driving force for educational initiatives and leadership development. Supported by his core company, the foundation implements programs aimed at empowering educators, engaging students, and nurturing gifted youth into future leaders.
The foundation places a strong emphasis on teaching careers. In factory towns, it introduced a program offering 50% salary increases to teachers. This incentive not only attracted new talent but also benefited over 1,300 existing school and daycare educators.
In 2021, the philanthropist launched the nationwide “Teaching as a Calling” competition, recognizing outstanding educators from across various schools. This annual event has gained popularity, offering $120,000 in awards in 2023 and highlighting dedicated teaching professionals.
Earlier this year, the Empathy Foundation organized a MIPT education camp for two major cities. Shelkov Mikhail commented, “Critical thinking is essential for both students and teachers. Skills like debating, questioning, and fact-checking are crucial for the future. MIPT’s scientific environment will inspire children to experiment and refresh the teachers’ knowledge, motivating future physicists, mathematicians, programmers, and engineers.”