Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Potiomkin.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
From a young age, I was always interested in topics not typically attributed to girls – I loved paleontology, wanted to be a motorcycle police officer, and the first woman to play in Major League Baseball. But I was also talented in music and played the piano and clarinet, and when that wasn’t challenging enough, I started playing bassoon. Pursuing my then goal of playing in a major symphony orchestra is what brought me to Houston, to the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. After that career went nowhere, I realized I could still be involved with the arts through working as a fundraiser. I didn’t know it then, but this would become my professional passion: engaging people, hearing about their experiences and stories, sometimes pulling those stories out to discover what really motivates people, and then the rest is easy. I spent the past 13 years, primarily in the performing arts, doing almost every job a fundraiser can do. Then this past spring, I was given the unbelievable opportunity to lead a corporate foundation. It was my range of experience in administration, database management, relationship building and research that won me the job, but I had to push myself to make it happen.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The one thing that held me back in my first career as a musician, and the one thing that has propelled me forward to where I am now, was and is myself. I was a serious student of the bassoon, beginning in high school. I would practice 4 hours every day, went to an arts academy for high school, a conservatory for college and earned a Master of Music degree. I did not study anything else; I had no backup plan. My family invested over $200,000 in my instrument and education, not to mention all of the private lessons along the way. I put in the time, had the degrees, went through the audition process and remained unsuccessful. I was holding myself back and didn’t realize it – I was not open to criticism, constructive or otherwise. I wouldn’t humble myself in front of my peers to get their feedback. I couldn’t understand why the universe didn’t see that I was qualified to play in a major symphony orchestra.
It took me years to get outside of myself and understand how sophomoric this approach was. If I wanted something, no one was going to hand it to me. I didn’t deserve anything, I had to earn it. Yes, I had worked hard, but there was more that needed to be done which I wasn’t willing to acknowledge.
I am not naturally optimistic, and I am inclined to keep to myself. I have a difficult time starting things, but I’m extremely self-motivated and a little competitive. Once I harnessed that motivation, I could change my outlook. I got out of the way of myself, and my world started to grow. I chose to be happy and surround myself with people who I admired. I built up my network, with both friends and colleagues. I diversified this network across peer groups and interests. I allowed myself new experiences and let go of some things I once sheltered behind. I decided to be the driving force in shaping my future, instead of a passive beneficiary of the status quo.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I don’t take myself too seriously, but I am serious about my work. I think I am known for being a self-starter and self-taught, and I don’t need to wait around for instructions. I am proud of the career that I have pieced together and built up to where I am today. But the work doesn’t stop now – every day I challenge myself to move one relationship forward or nurture another. I will not allow myself to become complacent.
In my current role as Director of a corporate foundation, I launched from a solid base that many dedicated people from the company have spent over a decade building. It’s my job to grow and expand the work of the foundation, and within the past year I have defined our philanthropic initiatives and executed new programs. My goal is to double the annual budget by 2024, which will mark my fifth year. It’s ambitious, and honestly, I’m not sure how I am going to do all of that, but I like to set the bar high and find creative ways to meet challenges.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I think it depends of one’s personality traits and individual situations. We are lucky to live in a time when women have access to more opportunities than ever, but we must remember the sacrifices and determination it took to make this possible. I am not one to be held back by circumstances or other people’s attitudes, which I cannot change. So here’s my mantra for 2020: Never Settle. Never Give Up. No one is going to do it for you.
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Headshot – Lauren Davis
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