Celebrities Who Studied in HSE

Some surprising names of singers, ballerinas, media figures who once studied at HSE.

Photo by Saba Khevedelidze from Unsplash

Our university is widely recognized as one of Russia’s leading educational institutions, known for its top-quality academic programs and strong emphasis on research, innovation, and interdisciplinary studies. While HSE is celebrated for producing top economists, data scientists, and policy analysts, its alumni network extends far beyond traditional academic paths.

In this article, we shine a spotlight on several notable HSE graduates who have made their mark in fields ranging from entertainment to business. Their journeys illustrate how HSE’s educational environment fosters versatility, critical thinking, and ambition, qualities that translate into success across diverse industries.

Timati — music icon and businessman

Timati (Timur Yunusov), born in 1983, is one of most recognizable rappers in Russia, producers, and businessmen. He is primarily famous for his music career and the founding of the Black Star Inc. label and advertisement of Tantum Verde. But Timati also studied in HSE.

The rapper studied at HSE but dropped out after struggling to combine university with his burgeoning music career. His decision to leave HSE early to pursue music paid off: he went on to found the Black Star label, build a business empire, and become a major media figure in Russia. It is obvious that leaving university is always a serious decision, but also it is a reminder that every person has their own path.

Anastasia Volochkova — prima ballerina and cultural figure

Anastasia Volochkova, born in 1975, is a famous Russian ballet dancer, former prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre, and a prominent public figure. While her primary training was at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.

Volochkova later pursued a Master's degree in Political and Business Communications in HSE. By her own admission, Anastasia has wanted to get a business education since childhood. Interestingly, among the members of the attestation commission was the ballerina's ex-husband, Igor Vdovin.

It represents her initiative to take control and acquire knowledge outside of the common practice environment. It allows her to independently shape her professional path and interact with cultural organizations according to her own preferences. This knowledge has supported her post-ballet career, including her solo performances, television appearances, and advocacy for the arts.

Vladimir Kirienko — business leader and digital innovator

Vladimir Kirienko, born in 1983, is a prominent Russian businessman and executive, currently serving as the CEO of VK (formerly Mail.ru Group), one of Russia’s largest technology companies.

In 2000, Kiriyenko entered the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the HSE, and graduated from the university in Moscow in 2005 with a degree in finance and credit, where he developed a strong foundation in market analysis and corporate finance.

After HSE, Kirienko received an Executive MBA degree from the Scolkovo Moscow School of Management in 2014. Then he rose through the ranks in Russia’s telecom and digital sectors. For example, he was a top executive at Rostelecom, where he was involved in major strategic initiatives, including the company's large-scale digital transformation projects. He eventually led VK to become a major player in social media, gaming, and cloud services.

His path underscores the truth: HSE alumni do not only go into economics, they also build and run powerful media and tech companies.

Anton Shingarev — tech businessman

Anton Shingarev, graduated from the Faculty of Social Science in 2007. In 2011, he completed a Master's degree in Media Management at the University of Westminster (London).

After this in 2012, he joined Kaspersky Lab to work on media communications and soon became head of the department for interaction with government agencies. Since 2020, he has been working as the Director of Corporate Relations at Yandex. He is also a UN expert in two cybersecurity negotiation processes.

Anton was not afraid to experiment and try himself in a variety of fields. His career path includes experience working at the human rights protection center, as a promoter in the market, sales manager in a large international company, managing his own small company, as well as working in the media sphere as a news producer, cameraman and correspondent. Even as a barman, he managed to prove himself.

What Anton told about study in HSE: "Bold and ambitious people like itself came to HSE – both students and professors, it inspired and attracted". It highlights HSE's free academic atmosphere, where students learn not just theory but also practical problem-solving.

How HSE graduates created Russian Tinder

Veroniсa Yakovleva is a graduate of the HSE Department of Economic Sociology. After graduation, she worked as a business assistant. And in 2020, a friend invited her to launch U-robot, a chatbot constructor application for messengers. There she became friends with Valery Klimov, also a graduate of HSE. He was a marketing advisor at U-robot.

The friends decided to create a dating service that would match people based on the results of psychological tests. To do this, each user had to answer a number of questions prepared by the HSE during registration. For example, to note whether he is an open person, whether he is critical of others, etc. And it is how the Twinby was created.

In 2023 Tinder announced its departure from Russia. "Back then, Tinder was a common name in the country, so we decided to cross it out and become a new name," said Veronica Yakovleva. And they really achieve their goal. In 2024 Twinby became the third dating app in Russia. According to analytics, Twinby was installed 1.1 million times, it ranks third in the list of dating services in this indicator after Tabor (1.7 million) and Mamba (1.3 million).

The story of Veronica and Valery demonstrates that the theories studied at HSE are not just for exams. They are the essential components for building ventures that can compete and succeed in the real world.

The star of Voice Kids in HSE

When I was little, I was a fan of Voice Kids. And nowadays it is a little strange for me that I can meet the first winner of this show on my campus.

In 2014 Alice Kozhikinа became the first winner of the show Voice Kids, collecting more than 400,000 votes in her favor in the final round. The competition is over, but for Alice this was just the beginning, the beginning of her great creative journey. Nowadays on her site you can see all of the songs that was published by her.

In 2023, Alice entered the HSE Institute of Film for the actor educational program. In her social media there are a lot of publications about her study process. Interestingly, the Khitrovka is a common campus for both the Film Institute and the Media Institute (my institute). So it is a bit surprising to me that I can come across her on my way to classes while when I was a kid I could see her only on TV.

By choosing HSE, Alice is not just resting on her early success. She is actively building the professional foundation for her next act.

Discovering these different alumni is like finding a hidden layer of meaning in our own university experience. It challenges the definitions of success we often impose on ourselves.

From the stages of the Bolshoi Theatre to the boardrooms of tech giants, HSE alumni are making their mark in unexpected and inspiring ways. Their stories undermine the idea that HSE is solely for economists and data scientists. Instead, they showcase the university as a start for dreamers who want their dreams to come true.

As an HSE student, it is inspiring to think that some of these public figures once sat in the same lecture rooms or walked the same corridors. It reminds me that HSE is not just a university of theory, it is also a place where bold, creative, and unconventional individuals study.

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