Exclusive Interview With Lana Shemonaeva a Rising Power-Woman in Dubai’s Luxurious Hospitality Industry
Hollywood , California
Lana Shemonaeva considers herself a Dubai “raised” F&B professional. Her story is extremely inspirational, Lana moved to Dubai in 2012 to experience new challenges in her life and to seek success after graduating with her MBA degree from the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University. She grew up in a tiny small town in Sovetsk (Tilsit) located on the south bank of the Neman River in Russia which is on the border with Lithuania , at the age of 15 years old she moved to Kaliningrad to pursue her education. Lana always had big dreams and believed that she would achieve them despite any obstacles or challenges she would encounter in her life.
Since moving to Dubai in 2012 she has built up her expertise by working with international brands such as Hyatt, Hakkasan, GQ Bar, Artisan by Enoteca Pinchiorri. During her impressive career Lana has successfully lead the beverage side of 11 hospitality venues openings (8 in Dubai ad 3 internationally). In 2018 Lana has been a key member of the Bulldozer Group, one of the leading hospitality groups in the Gulf region, assigned the role of Group Beverage Manager overlooking brands as Scalini, Shanghai Me and GAIA, before moving to Global Beverage Manager position with GAIA International where she is currently employed.
Lana was approached In 2019 to become a member of Goldberg Collective Team and create recipe for their new flavored soda brand. Goldberg Pink Grapefruit Soda by Lana Shemonaeva was launched 12 months later and instantly became a “must-have” product behind many bars of Dubai (Zuma, Roka, Iris, Clap, L’Atelier Robuchon and many more) also stimulated interest to Paloma as a cocktail while helping to boost agave category as whole. Parallel to that, Lana was the Managing Partner of Tag Bar DXB inside Bla Bla Beach Dubai, the first entrepreneurship venture of it’s kind which turned to be profitability within the first 8 month of trade.
Lana we are truly impressed by your success, can you please tell our Lavish Life readers about the challenges in your life during your career journey?
I try not to focus on any challenges which the world brings my way, instead I rather look at it as a part of my life journey as a way to get stronger and more resilient. I enjoy finding ways to challenge myself, my mind and thoughts, points of view and reactions on situations.
What is your ultimate dream and goal?
My dream is to live between 4-5 cities and own a dive center with a bar next to it, however I have noticed that there is no ultimate dream, i see it more in a liquid form which transforms and adjusts with you through your life. My recent dream on my mind is to be a base-jumper, but it’s hard to predict what else will appear in my head tomorrow.
Lana that was a beautiful answer can you share any advice to young entrepreneurs starting in the business world and new careers?
No one can cancel the law of kinetic energy. If you double the speed of an object, the kinetic energy increases by four times. The greater the force, the greater the change in motion and the kinetic energy of the object. It simple words – if you want to archive something you have to move and push.
By Lavish Life Publication Editorial Team
