My name is 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'm a Forbes fintech contributor ranked in the top 1% globally, and I write this newsletter to cut through the noise and bring a fresh perspective to finance. My podcast, Money Memories, has been downloaded over 30,000 times and counting. I believe the stories we tell about money are just as important as the numbers themselves.
I am fluent in Russian, German, Spanish, 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.
I have partnered with fortune 50 companies and global early-stage startups and funds that have gone on to be world renowned, before they were deemed “obvious.” I have covered exclusives on everything from fundraising announcements to product launches to brand narratives that actually move the needle in global media.
If you're looking for a sharp editorial eye and a storyteller who understands both Wall Street and Main Street, I'd love to hear from you: [email protected].
Thanks for stopping by.
—Ilona