We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Svetlana Shmulyian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Svetlana below.

Svetlana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

From my earliest memories, I’ve been drawn to creativity; spending hours lost in drawing and painting, and singing at the top of my lungs in the forest near the village where I spent my summers. Despite this passion, I found myself in the United States alone, fortunate to have received an education and forge a successful career as a management consultant and professor. While I excelled in this field, I knew it couldn’t fulfill me entirely. Eventually, my longing for a life of artistic expression overpowered me, and I wholeheartedly embraced this path. Now, I find myself fully immersed in the pursuit of creativity, fueled by the excitement of adventure and the freedom of living as an artist, accompanied by the excitement of travel with music. This journey is ongoing, and I revel in the endless possibilities it presents.

Svetlana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am presently a touring, recording musician, vocalist, band leader, and songwriter. I am also a founder of Swing Makes You Sing. a jazz appreciation organization that brings joy of jazz to kids from 1 to 92. I am also a Management consultant, Social Researcher / Professor, and a Mother.

My first “official” career was Management Consulting – and also, subsequently, being a professor at Columbia – and I was trying really hard to be serious and taken seriously. I looked really young and was told many times that I “lack grey hair” to be taken seriously. Being known as a “jazz singer in a club” could have put a dent in that – especially when I started.

However as I grew more confident in my artist career I stopped being afraid of being “discovered” by my business colleagues – if anything, I started feeling this is my secret, my super power, something that made me interesting and loved sharing it… At the same time, as I was doing more and more music, I was working with a lot of struggling artists. I started feeling ashamed of having had such a cushy ‘day job.’

But once again, I slowly came to realization that being relatively accomplished in business, a professor at Columbia is actually my secret superpower as well – no one handed me the job.

I came to the US with a suitcase, a guitar and a frying pan (long story on that last one), I worked really hard for many years to create a comfortable life for myself.

There is sometimes this vibe in jazz, “chick singer” – you are supposed to be this precious girly thing, and being a powerful business person clashed with that. But I grew more confident and accepting of myself – and enjoy breaking people’s assumptions about who I am and what I am. I am proud to have done (and doing) both.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A career as an artist often involves encountering many rejections and only a few acceptances. One of my teachers once explained that success in this field often boils down to being the last person standing, meaning you don’t give up and you keep pushing forward no matter what challenges come your way. However, I believe that as long as you find joy in the creative process, the journey doesn’t have to feel overwhelmingly difficult.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I aim to bring joy to people’s lives and create experiences that leave them feeling changed in a positive way from when they first arrived. This goal can take different shapes. For instance, I might lift the spirits of a group of kids who are between stressful classes by getting them up and dancing and singing along with me. Another example is when someone’s day is brightened by connecting emotionally with the music I perform, ultimately uplifting them. This shows that while music is an expression of myself, it’s also a service I provide to others – in that I am somewhat mission driven in my creativity and I enjoy this duality of purpose very much!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.svetlanajazz.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/svetlanajazz
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/svetlanajazz
• Twitter: www.twitter/svetlanajazz007
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@svetlanajazz

Image Credits
nina galicheva, aidan grant, ginger michelle