Some biography

C: Where did you grow up?
J: I was born, and grew up in Berlin, I’ve been living in the UK since I was 15. 
C: Who did you spend your childhood with, and what were your childhood dreams?
J: I don’t think I was much different from anybody else in what I dreamt and wished for, I wanted to have my family and friends near me. My parents had to work a lot and didn’t have a lot of free time. I always waited eagerly for the weekend and holidays when I could spend time with family and friends. 
C: Who influenced you most during your childhood?
J: My Father, Mother and sister. My Mother was never strict, and always allowed us to do what we pleased. She set a perfect example with her femininity and love for people, the lessons she taught me over the years and her profound wisdom have helped me through my life. My sister’s 5 years older than me, and was always trying to educate me, and my Father always set a good example.

C: What’s your warmest childhood memory?
J: On Sundays my sister and I would jump into our parents’ bed and talk with them for hours, it still brings a smile to my face thinking about it.

C: What are your friendships like? Were you a leader or a follower?
I do voice my opinions, and my friends definitely saw me as a leader when it came to childhood games.

C: Where did you study and how did you choose your occupation?
J: I graduated from European Business School in London, specializing in Marketing. I had always been interested in the restaurant business, and suggested to my father that we set up a Japanese restaurant in Moscow. This first venture was a success, and we then went on to open in London, my favorite city, in 2002.

C: What personal characteristics you have came from your parents?
J: Obstinacy and a sense of beauty from my Mother, and all remaining qualities, good or bad from my Father.

C: What is your ideal family? Patriarchal or more emancipated?
J: Being a business woman, it may be hard to believe, but I was brought up in a traditional way, where my father was a head of our family.

I always wanted to be a driver for my future children. I’m addicted to my work and couldn’t imagine my life without it, but work should be with pleasure. My sister tells me: ‘I’m living your life and you - mine’.

Business

C: Is being a restaurateur your primary occupation?
J: Yes, it’s my primary occupation. I’m lucky, I love my job and it gives me huge pleasure.
C:Your restaurants in Moscow, London and Kiev are recognised as top restaurants in those cities. How do you reach that level?
J: With the hard work from the Sumosan team. My father gathered a group of people with similar mind sets and ways of working, to create what is now the Sumosan family
C: Is being a woman in business a hindrance or a help?
J: In London, it doesn’t matter that I am a woman, but in Moscow and Kiev it is harder to voice my opinions.
C: What personal characteristics prove helpful in business? And what characteristics prove problematic?
J: Striving for perfection, and a desire to grow and develop prove positive qualities in business, but my unconditional confidence in people sometimes results in disappointment.
C: What are your priorities in Sumosan restaurants? What goals do you want to achieve?
J: Restaurant trends come and go, but I hope Sumosan will always deliver a high level of service. Our current goal is to maintain the standards set by my father during his life at Sumosan.
C: Who are your ideal guests?
J: Guests that provide us with healthy critism……it really helps us improve our service.
C: Do you tend to change your restaurants or leave it unchanged?
J: We always strive to be better today than we were yesterday, that’s something we work very hard for.
C: What ideas do you want to put into action in the future?
J: It’s a secret, but you’ll will find out someday.

The Way of Life

C: What is your way of life: high-society or a solitary life?
J: My occupation as a restauteur doesn’t allow myself to live a solitary life, so it would have to be high-society.
C: Who are your friends?
J: They are a varied group, some I work with, some I know outside of work, and some share a joint passion with me for gastronomy.
C: Do you tend to publicize your restaurants?
J: No, I give interviews like this one to position the restaurants in the media, it’s part of my work.
C: In your opinion what is the perfect balance for a business woman?
J: Family should always take priority and the rest should follow.
C: Do you have your motto, life mantra?
J: I believe in Karma, I try to treat people in a way that I would expect to be treated.

Personality

C: What is your life drug?
J: There are a few things: sea, sun, good food and wine, new discoveries. My niece and nephew, my friends’ children. I like to make my family and friends happy.
C: What do you find difficult to forgive yourself for?
J: I speak honestly, and I speak my mind, but on occasions its probably better not to say anything at all. I hope to become more diplomatic in future. Nobody is perfect in life, but I am striving to live a life in which it’s a rare occasion that I would need to say the word ‘sorry’.
C: Who do you seek for emotional comfort?
J: This year was a tough one, it was hard to remember easier times at points.
C: How do you prefer to spend your free time?
J: Surrounded by my friends
C: What do you hope for in the future?
J: I hope that all the people I love continue to lead happy and healthy lives, that my luck in life continues, and like most girl – that I meet the love of my life!