Finding Her Path Outside Conventional Success

Sofia never planned to become a businesswoman. After leaving her career as a lawyer in Russia, she embarked on a spiritual journey that initially puzzled those around her. Living in Thailand, she recalls a friend visiting who couldn’t understand her lifestyle choices: “She was like, ‘It looks like you’re on vacation, but when does your life begin?’ I said, ‘No, this is not vacation. This is my life.'”

For years, Sofia felt like she didn’t fit in anywhere until she realized an important truth: “I never felt like I fit in because I was not meant to, because I was meant to create something of my own.”

This realization was liberating. Instead of trying to conform, she followed her curiosity and bliss, making decisions that often made little logical sense but felt deeply right. This intuitive approach has guided her for over 15 years, including 13 years as a spiritual mentor.

Building a Business Through Authentic Expression

Sofia’s online presence wasn’t strategically planned but evolved organically from her authentic expression. She emphasizes that many entrepreneurs approach success from the outside, trying to copy successful leaders, which results in a lack of individuality.

Her advice is refreshingly different: “Disconnect from the noise. Turn inwards and listen to what is actually the voice of the spirit speaking through you. What is important in your life right now, and just speak to that in the most authentic, honest way.”

She acknowledges that showing up authentically takes courage: “It takes so much courage to just make a step, and then the second step will present itself, and then the third step. It builds on itself, but the action is very important.”

The Evolution of Her Offerings

Sofia’s business journey began simply with yoga and meditation classes. A pivotal moment came when someone from Australia reached out wanting to join her activities. This prompted her to create her first five-day retreat in January 2014.

From there, her offerings evolved organically:

• In-person immersive experiences and sacred feminine immersions
• The Priest School
• Her first online program in 2016, which immediately generated $20,000
• Multiple online programs (approximately 30 over time)
• A membership model
• Current offerings including a lightweight membership called “The Sanctuary” and a women’s program called “Becoming Her”

What guides her choices in business is the same inner listening that guides her life: “I am doing this work myself as I am guiding others through it. That’s the greatest feeling I get from my work, and that’s when I know I’m doing the right work—when it just lights me up. It’s like art, an expression from within.”

Marketing as a Natural Extension of Purpose

When asked about her marketing strategies, Sofia reframes the concept entirely. For her, marketing flows naturally from her purpose and passion.

For instance, she recently ran a free masterclass for her “Becoming Her” program that attracted 5,500 women. She sees these free offerings as a natural extension of her mission: “I want this for all humanity, so it’s very natural for me to run something for free.”

Her approach to inviting people into paid programs comes from the same place of genuine desire to serve: “Give people a sense of what they will experience, of where we are headed together, and then from there invite them.”

Navigating Visibility While Staying Authentic

Sofia approaches online visibility with the same freedom she applies to all areas of her life. She doesn’t feel bound by conventional rules about consistency or algorithm-pleasing behaviors.

“I don’t feel like I am dependent on the algorithm. I think I am the algorithm,” she says with characteristic confidence. She describes her approach as “a little bit of this rockstar approach” where she shows up intensely and then might disappear for weeks before returning.

This freedom extends to how she handles difficult personal periods. During a particularly challenging year that included ending several important relationships, she didn’t step back from visibility but instead shared her process authentically—posting footage of herself crying, showing how she was nurturing herself, and still honoring her commitments to clients and events.

Business as a Spiritual Practice

For Sofia, business and spiritual practice are inseparable. Rather than rigid routines, she follows what feels right each day, tuning into the frequency she wants to embody.

This fluid approach works because she’s guided by a powerful “why” that keeps her focused even without strict structures: “It’s not that I focus on the actions, but more so I focus on my driving force, on my love. Then I allow love to move me and love to show me the right actions.”

She explains that this genuine connection to purpose naturally leads to commitment: “If I’m really in love, I will take care of what needs to be taken care of.”

Embracing Your Unique Path to Success

Sofia’s journey offers a refreshing counterpoint to formulaic business advice. Her success comes not from following prescribed steps but from deep listening and authentic expression.

Her story reminds us that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building a business. What matters most is connecting with your truth and allowing that to guide your actions, even when they don’t make conventional sense.

As she puts it, the most important thing is “this listening, this acute listening and trusting that I am held and guided by something so much greater than my ideas and my mind.”

By embracing this approach, Sofia has impacted over 100,000 people worldwide and built a thriving business that perfectly aligns with her purpose and values—a powerful example of success on her own unique terms.