Welcome - I'm Ilona.

As a Cuban-Russian immigrant who grew up in Kentucky, I know a little bit about being an outsider.

I use that lens to inform how I see money, markets, and culture. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received my MBA from Kellogg, and today I write this newsletter to cut through noise and bring a fresh perspective to finance.

I am fluent in Russian, German, Spannish, and English, which fuels the global perspective I bring to each story. When I am not writing, podcasting, or investing, you can usually find me on a plane (65 countries and counting), playing the piano or violin, swimming laps in the pool, or cooking comfort foods my parents and grandparents taught me.

My goal is for Bear and the Bull to make finance feel human and relevant to the way we actually live our lives. Thanks for stopping by.

—Ilona