Life & Work with Kseniia Litovskaia of South Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kseniia Litovskaia.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Until the age of 22, I hardly did any sports. My life was focused on education, career, and achievements in business — I advanced quickly and, at a young age, became head of the procurement department at a major engineering company. I worked on large-scale projects, including infrastructure development for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and urban infrastructure in St. Petersburg and Moscow, managing procurement, logistics, and even HR functions under resource constraints.

But everything changed when I first realized that the body is not just a tool — it can be a source of joy, freedom, and strength. Later, at the age of 30, I underwent a complex surgery on both feet and had to learn to walk again from scratch. That period became a turning point. Instead of slowing down, I set a new goal — and eventually ran two marathons.

Since then, sport has become my passion. Running, walking, mountains, gym workouts, any kind of movement — this is how I feel alive, explore the world, and connect with myself. I believe movement isn’t just about health. It’s about energy, freedom, and coming back to who you are.

Today, I live in South Pasadena, California, and I’m studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. At the same time, I’m exploring ideas for future projects in the field of mindful movement and physical activity as part of my personal and academic journey. My mission is to inspire people to move — not out of obligation, but out of love for themselves and the world around them. Through honest storytelling, visual expression, and personal example, I want to show that being active is natural, beautiful, and achievable for everyone.

Professionally, I have over 10 years of experience in procurement and logistics, including high-tech and project-based environments. I am passionate about optimization, scaling, team development, and digital transformation. I bring together strategic thinking and creativity, Excel and empathy, supply chains and organizational culture.

Right now, I stand at the intersection of three paths:

Project management and procurement, where I have deep expertise

Personal transformation through movement, which I have lived and now share

A desire to build a digital product or platform that brings it all together

My journey is not only about a career. It’s a story of someone who completely changed her life — and now wants to help others do the same. I truly believe I can make a meaningful contribution here in the U.S. — by creating impactful solutions and helping people become the best version of themselves.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — and honestly, I wouldn’t want it to be. Until the age of 22, I was completely disconnected from my body. My life was all about academics and building a career. I rose quickly as a professional, leading procurement and logistics departments for major engineering projects — including infrastructure for the Sochi 2014 Olympics and large-scale developments in St. Petersburg and Moscow. But despite that success, I often felt emotionally burned out and disconnected.

At 30, I underwent complex surgery on both feet — and had to learn to walk again, both physically and emotionally. It was an incredibly difficult time, but it also became a turning point. Instead of giving up, I began creating a new lifestyle focused on movement, healing, and self-care. Eventually, I ran two full marathons — and fell in love with life again.

As an international student in the U.S., I also face additional challenges: adapting to a new academic system, overcoming cultural and language barriers, and balancing the demands of a BBA program with my personal journey. But I take it all one step at a time — just like I learned to keep moving forward, no matter how tough the path gets.

For me, running became more than a workout — it became a form of healing, growth, and reconnection. I truly believe that it’s through struggles that we deepen our relationship with ourselves. And that’s the message I hope to share with others: even when the road is hard, movement can bring us back to life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a project-based procurement specialist with over 10 years of experience in engineering and high-tech industries. Over the years, I’ve grown from managing logistics and contracts to leading strategic supply operations for large-scale infrastructure projects.

I headed the procurement department at an engineering company in Russia, overseeing the complex supply chain for projects including the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Western High-Speed Diameter and tunnel construction in St. Petersburg, an ice arena in Yaroslavl, major shopping centers, and other large developments. I coordinated international deliveries, built communication with factories in Europe, China, and North America, conducted supplier negotiations, and managed logistics, foreign trade, warehouse infrastructure — even performing HR duties under resource-constrained conditions.

Despite not having access to ERP systems, I built and structured all procurement workflows from scratch using just Excel, email, and well-defined communication standards. This gave me a rare skill: managing complex technical projects with minimal tools and still achieving strong results.

What sets me apart:

the ability to see and structure the full process — from technical specs to final delivery;

the skill to combine strategic thinking with empathy;

hands-on experience in high-pressure, low-resource environments.

Currently, I live in California and study in a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. I’m not employed and not running any active projects, but I’m thinking about the future — possibly in the field of mindful movement and digital solutions for people seeking transformation through physical activity and discipline. After a serious surgery on both feet, I had to relearn how to walk — and eventually went on to run two full marathons. That became a turning point, both physically and mentally.

I believe that my professional background and personal transformation form a powerful foundation for future ideas. For now, I’m exploring directions and gaining knowledge — with the hope of eventually combining everything I value: structure, care for people, and movement as a way to truly experience life.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is movement — both in the physical and metaphorical sense. I believe that through movement we reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. For me, it’s not only about sport, but about transformation, freedom, and resilience. After undergoing foot surgery, I had to relearn how to walk — and later went on to run two marathons. This experience changed the way I see effort, discipline, and the value of small daily progress.

Planning and structure are also key values for me. With over a decade of experience in procurement and logistics, I’ve learned how powerful thoughtful planning can be — not just in business, but in personal growth. Whether it’s organizing complex supply chains or structuring my own recovery and goals, I rely on strategic thinking combined with empathy and flexibility.

As an international student, I am currently focused solely on my academic program and personal development. In the future, I hope to use everything I’ve learned — both professionally and personally — to build something meaningful that inspires people to live more active, intentional lives.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.litovskaia/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klitovskaia/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@klitovskaia