🔔 Follow my journey in the Middle East 📹

Not a consultant. Not an agency. Your temporary co-founder for innovation and growth.

I help ambitious business owners, creators, and startups grow through creativity and strategic use of cutting-edge technology (including AI). As founder of Baviyo, I lead a small but powerful team of creative thinkers and tech experts dedicated to solving your biggest growth challenges.

Many businesses fail with tech because they lack clarity on the real problems they're solving. Trendy tools and software alone won’t create meaningful results. At Baviyo, we:

👉 Start with creativity: Fresh, bold ideas to rethink your challenges.
👉  Deploy tech strategically: Selecting technology (AI included) that truly amplifies your growth.
👉  Deliver clear results: No flashy tools without real purpose.

When you work with us, expect:

✅ Deep problem or opportunity discovery.
✅ Genuine partnership and hustle.
✅ Innovative and creative solutions tailored for lasting impact.

Ready to elevate your business? Message me. Let's make your vision a reality.

Manuel Kistner

Today we’re celebrating 54 years of unity, ambition, and all the moments that make the UAE the incredible place many of us call home.

From big dreams to bold ideas, this country keeps inspiring us every single day. Thank you to the UAE for being the ultimate proof that vision builds reality. Proud to be part of the story.

Happy Eid Al Etihad everybody 🇦🇪❤️

And speaking of big dreams and bold ideas... I've been quiet over the last couple of months. But for good reason. I’ve been heads-down building and working on a few of my own ideas and dreams. I’ll soon share more. Stay tuned. 👀

Re-Inventing... ███████▒▒▒ 70% complete...

No alternative text description for this image

Weatherproof Business Launchpad

8-Week Online Accelerator & Mastermind for Women in Tech.
Launch your business in 8 weeks, with a validated idea, an irresistible MVP, and a waitlist of beta users, without quitting your corporate job or burning out.
Next intake is starting on September 29, 2025 and enrolling soon. DM for details.

Founder / Business Coach

Digital Consulting Lab

1. One-on-One Coaching for Women in Tech

Personalized 1:1 coaching for executive women in tech who are ready to transition from corporate careers to building scalable, profitable SaaS businesses—without financial risk or overwhelm.

Through a structured, high-impact coaching process, I help my clients:
✔️ Gain clarity on their business vision and roadmap
✔️ Validate their business idea through real customer insights
✔️ Build and test a minimum viable product (MVP) with no code
✔️ Develop a scalable business model and land their first paying customers
✔️ Confidently replace their corporate income and transition into entrepreneurship

DM to schedule a call and explore if we are a fit.

2. Group Coaching & Mastermind: Weatherproof Business™ Launchpad

For women who want structured guidance and a high-impact peer network, I run the Weatherproof Business™ Launchpad—a 10-week group coaching and mastermind program designed exclusively for women in tech who want to launch their SaaS business while maintaining their executive careers.

✔️ Live group coaching sessions for real-time guidance and Q&A
✔️ A step-by-step roadmap to go from idea to MVP and first customers
✔️ Mastermind accountability groups for peer support and collaboration
✔️ Exclusive community of like-minded women in tech building businesses together

Next cohort starts in June 2025. DM me for details.

3. Online Educator & Speaker: Free Masterclasses & Expert Talks

I'm passionate about demystifying entrepreneurship for women in tech and regularly share actionable strategies through:

✔️ Free live masterclasses on a tech business while in a corporate job
✔️ Guest expert talks & workshops for women in tech communities and non-profits
✔️ Podcast interviews & speaking engagements on tech entrepreneurship & startups.

If you run a community for women in tech, host a podcast, or are looking for speakers for your event, let’s connect! I’d love to contribute.

Business Coach for Executive Women in Tech |  Online Educator | Speaker

Founder / CEO

INSEAD Executive Education

1. Facilitated over 1000 projects focusing on innovation and digital strategy across key executive education programs, both online and on INSEAD’s Fontainebleau campus. 

Programs include "Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption", "Innovation in the Age of Disruption", "Business Strategy and Financial Performance", "Design Thinking and Creativity for Business", and "Driving Digital Marketing Strategy".

2. Advanced leadership skills in emerging professionals through the "Developing Emerging Leaders" program, aligning with the evolving demands of the future of work.

3. Conducted Design-Thinking workshops to enhance creative problem-solving and innovation.
Active contributor to INSEAD's Online Education innovation think-tank, developing cutting-edge digital education solutions.

Business Coach

Le VPN

As a Co-Founder of Le VPN, I've spearheaded the development of a premier personal VPN service, driving innovation and strategically integrating AI to empower our teams to do more with less and enhance our customers' security and user experience. Our products, available in software and app form in five languages, have established a strong presence in over 100 countries, making us market leaders in France and the UK.

The 2019 acquisition of our competitor, My Private Network, has showcased our dynamic growth strategy and adaptability within the cybersecurity sphere. My leadership has been crucial in pioneering work-from-anywhere policies, encapsulating the 'future of work' ethos. These policies have not only boosted operational efficiency but also advanced diversity and equality by engaging a global and diverse talent pool.

In my multifaceted role, I've combined entrepreneurial spirit with actionable strategy, contributing to startup development, strategizing for business growth, fostering entrepreneurship, managing marketing efforts, and driving business development, all of which have been instrumental in scaling Le VPN to its current esteemed stature.

Co-Founder / Board Member

Bali Luxury Villas

General Manager

Director of Marketing & Business Development

INSEAD

Organizer of INSEAD Women’s Leadership Conference in France (300 attendees).
Organizer of 2 INSEAD Cabaret events: in Singapore & in France (200 performers & 300 attendees). 
Section’s Academic Representative (74 students). 
Winner of INSEAD Alumni Fund Women's Scholarship.

MBA candidate

Riskdata

Finance & Administrative Officer for Paris, London, Moscow and New York offices

Decathlon

Analyzed the recruitment strategies for new business launches, developed and supervised a process of recruitment and training of the managerial team for the first Decathlon store in Budapest.

International Human Ressources

I help women in tech start SaaS businesses, thrive outside of corporate & reclaim their freedom | INSEAD Business Coach & MBA | PCC ICF | Serial Tech Entrepreneur

I built my first profitable SaaS business (Le VPN) 14 years ago, and now I'm supporting other women in tech who are DONE waiting for someday to build something of their own.

Since then, I’ve guided 1,100+ executives to turn after-hours “what-if” ideas into profitable, freedom-based businesses they can run alongside their careers, without gambling their salary, sanity, or status.

Drawing on 3,000+ hours of coaching at INSEAD and privately, my Weatherproof Business™ method distills the launch journey into four decisive steps (Why → Who → What → How) that cut guesswork and protect your reputation.

If midnight Slack pings have you whispering “I can’t do this for another year,” take my 4-minute Next Step Scorecard assessment, and it will reveal your smartest first move, so you can build your exit plan and let your next ping celebrate your wins, not extinguish fires.

Ksenia Votinova-Arnaud

My first startup, Le VPN, turns 15 years old today 🎂

If I had to start this journey all over again,
and rebuild our multi-million business,

Here's my step-by-step blueprint:

(Consider it my birthday gift 🎁)

𝟭. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

I’d focus on building on a validated idea.

Why? 
To maximize loyalty from first customers & minimize risk.

I’d dedicate the initial 6 months to:

→ Engaging with early adopters 
→ Conducting customer interviews
→ Validating my offer & iterating based on feedback

All tailored to test assumptions and adjust quickly.

𝟮. 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵

Most of my energy would go into this phase.

I'd build an outreach strategy, including on LinkedIn.
I would:

→ Start with my "warm" immediate network 
→ Engage with leads in relevant groups
→ Outreach to leads and partners
→ Leverage my personal brand
→ Build a content strategy

Plus,

→ Share valuable content based on customer insights
→ Build in public as I refine the product
→ Create real-time feedback loops

𝟯. 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲

Focus on scaling what’s working.
Quickly iterate on what's not.

Plus, double down on your wins. 🎉

And remember, your customers are your best advisors! 

Only they can help you nail your offer & make you $$$.
Everything else is just noise.

STOP viewing startups as fundraising machines.

START seeing it as a partnership with your customers.

REPOST ♻️ If this was helpful, 
or wish us a Happy Birthday 😊

Build a validated, customer-backed tech business alongside your full-time role | Weatherproof Business™ Launchpad for Senior Women in Tech | INSEAD Business Coach & MBA · Le VPN Co-Founder

Two of my MBA classmates spoke at Slush last week. 

One of my clients even asked me, 
"Were you on stage there too?”

Honestly… I probably should have been. 
But I didn’t even go.

And I’m actually glad I didn’t.

While the world’s top founders were in Helsinki, 
I was home in Paris with:

→ a baby who had a fever, 
→ a house that looked like a small tornado hit it, 
→ a calendar that was bursting with end-of-year work,

Helping my clients build meaningful tech businesses.

I couldn’t take two days off. 

→ Not this time. 
→ Not in this season of life.
→ And that’s absolutely okay with me.

Because we talk a lot about ambition, stage presence, building authority and visibility...

But sometimes the most important work happens quietly...

→ off-stage, 
→ in messy homes, 
→ with sick kids on our laps, 
→ client calls in between fever checks.

Slush, WebSummit, and VivaTech will be there next year. 
And the year after that.

My two kids under 3 won’t always need me like this.

So I’m adding “Speak at Slush” to my 2026 bucket list. 
And I’ll start preparing for it now.
Slowly, intentionally, sustainably.

And who knows… 
Maybe next year, you’ll see my name on that list. 😉

I spoke on 3 podcasts this month. 
For me, this is a quiet milestone.

I used to panic at the idea of unscripted speaking. 
Visibility felt unsafe. 
My fear felt louder than my voice.

What changed is simple. 
My mission became stronger than my fear.

If I want to reach 10,000 women in tech, I must go first. 
If I want them to see real options, I must be visible. 
If I want to share my method, I must speak.

These conversations made me reflect deeply. 
The hosts asked questions no one asked me before. 
Their questions connected dots I had missed.

I saw my parents lose and rebuild their businesses.
Years later, I created the Weatherproof Business™.
Now I see how it all makes sense.

Yesterday I spoke with an ex-Googler in transition. 
He asked how I figured out my path. 
My answer was honest.

You test. 
You pivot. 
You learn by doing. 

The dots always connect backwards.

One recording last week was in a Paris studio. 

Warm lights. 
Quiet room. 
One person in front of me.

In that moment, I forgot the camera. 
I forgot the fear. 
I focused on her.

The woman who will hear the episode on her commute. 
The woman who feels successful but stuck. 
The woman who knows she is meant for more.

If she feels less alone, it is worth it. 

And if more conversations help reach more women, 
No fear will stop me now.

Is there a podcast you think I should appear on? 

Especially one for women in tech or women founders. 
I would love your suggestions. 🙏

True wealth is not measured in your bank account. 
It is measured in your freedom.

For me, it means designing a life on my own terms.

Here is what I no longer accept as a mother and founder:

→ Waiting for PTO approval 
→ Negotiating time for family 
→ Asking permission for time off 
→ Missing the moments that matter 
→ Relying on daycare as the only option

Here is what I choose instead:

→ Using tech and automation to create time freedom 
→ Building systems that work even when I do not 
→ Owning my calendar with intention 
→ Creating resilient revenue streams 
→ Designing life on my terms

My philosophy is simple. 

Build the life first. 
Then build the business that protects it.

It started with one profitable business. 
From that success, the next ones became possible.

Freedom is never an accident. 
It is created by design.

What is the one freedom you want to create in 2026?

Entrepreneurship is not a gamble. 
But many people treat it like one.

They build first. 
And ask questions later.

That’s how time, money, and energy get wasted.

If you’re starting a business, do this instead:

→ Talk to your customers. 
→ Listen to what they actually need. 
→ Test your idea before you invest months building it. 

→ Keep adapting based on real feedback, not guesses.

It sounds simple. 

But most people skip this step and pay for it later.

Entrepreneurship isn’t about luck. 
It’s about learning fast and creating real value.

It took me years to master this. 

Now it’s how I help my clients build profitable, scalable businesses that last in any market conditions.

So before you bet on your next idea.
Go talk to 5 potential customers first.

It’s the smartest gamble you’ll ever make.

I didn’t know motherhood came with superpowers. 
But it does. 

And they’re nothing like what I expected.

→ The superpower of taking a 6-minute shower 
(2 shampoos + conditioner included)

→ The superpower of doing full makeup in 40 seconds

→ The superpower of sleeping 2 hours, skipping 3, sleeping 2 more, and still showing up the next day

→ The superpower of running 3 businesses in 30 hours a week (on the rare weeks when no one is sick)

→ The superpower of coaching two parallel cohorts of 20 executives each, and giving everyone what they need

And the superpower of leveraging AI to turn your voice notes while on a daycare run or picking up toys, into:

→ Clear and structured client recommendations,
→ Content for LinkedIn, my blog, and my community,
→ Newsletters that get replies that move me to tears.

I’m a beginner mom.
Less than 3 years of experience raising 2 tiny humans.

Still learning every day. 
Still making many mistakes. 
And tired down to my bones.

But I also know this: 
I’ve never functioned at this superhuman level before.

And then a client says, 
“Working with you feels like an injection of vitamin C.”

Two days later, she launches the podcast we dreamed up on a call, and it blows me away with pride.

Moments like this remind me why I do what I do.
And it all suddenly makes sense.

Mom-superpowers exist for a reason.

Because when you are:
→ Building businesses, 
→ Raising incredible tiny humans, 
→ Serving clients you care deeply about, 

You have to be superhuman. 
There’s no other way.

If I can do it with a 2–3–2 sleep schedule, 3 businesses, and 2 kids under 3, you can too.

As my American mom from West Virginia would say:
"You've got no excuse. I'm sorry." 💛

Ambitious women in tech aren’t just climbing corporate ladders.

We’re building our own tech companies.

Success used to mean:

🅧 Taking late-night meetings in other time zones. 
🅧 Skipping gym or yoga for work deadlines. 
🅧 Sacrificing time with friends and family. 
🅧 Not investing time in our growth.

We’re rewriting those outdated rules.

Here are our New Rules of Success:

→ Explore your passions.
→ Turn them into a business idea.
→ Talk to ideal customers to validate it.
→ Build a business model in the evenings.
→ Market, learn, and run new tests until it works.
→ Network with other women in tech who get you. 
→ Keep your corporate job until the business takes off. 

Forget the idea that success = titles + promotions.

In 2025 and beyond, success = life on YOUR terms.

Invest your most valuable asset (TIME) →
 into building your own DREAM life and business.

It's time to start living life on your OWN terms. 💛

What would you add to our New Rules of Success?

The moment I knew I was ready to start my own business?

It wasn’t loud. 
It wasn’t dramatic. 
But it hit me like a wave.

I missed another Bali sunset as I stayed working late,

→ Chasing fires in my new fancy job,
→ Leading a 20-person team of Indonesians,
→ And earning 6 figures as a General Manager.

Nobody pushed me to as I got carried away:

Building a digital strategy. 
Setting processes and solving  problems. 
Scaling operations and driving business growth.

But none of it was mine.

That was the moment ↓

I realized the businesses I was running for others…
Could have been mine.

→ I had the drive.
→ I had the skills. 
→ I had the experience. 

What I didn’t have? Ownership.

So I walked away from the “perfect job.” 

Great title. 
Real stability.
Dream location. 

And I started over.

No fancy investors. 
No guarantees. 

→ Just a laptop.
→ And a belief I’d figure it out.

That was the beginning of Le VPN. 

A SaaS business I co-founded that’s been profitable for 15 years and counting.

Looking back?

That "missed sunset" moment was the first time I had that realization.

The realization that I was ready.
Ready to build something of my own.

And maybe… that’s the moment you’re waiting for, too.

If you've ever felt torn between "I should start my business" and "Maybe it's not the right time yet," you're not alone.

Most women I coach reach that exact crossroads.

They're successful in their careers but deep down want to build something of their own.

And one of the simplest tools I use to help them figure out if now is the right time....

Comes from an old tool you probably forgot existed: 
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

Think of building a business like building a house.

You can't hang the chandelier before you have a roof.

Maslow's pyramid has five layers:

1. Physiological needs 
(food, sleep, housing, money to survive)

2. Safety needs 
(feeling stable, secure, financially okay)

3. Love and belonging 
(family, relationships, community)

4. Esteem 
(feeling accomplished, respected, confident)

5. Self-actualization 
(doing what lights you up, living your purpose)

Building a business, especially one with purpose and impact, happens in the top half of the pyramid.

But you can't get there if your lower layers are shaking.

If you just lost your job, 
Are about to buy a house, 
Or going through a breakup, 

Your energy is going into survival.

And that's totally okay. 💛

It's just not the best time to pile building a business on top of that.

This is why I tell my clients: 
Don't quit your corporate job just yet.

Unless you have a couple of years of savings, 
Your job gives you something incredibly valuable: Safety.

It keeps the bottom of the pyramid solid
While you build the top part.

You don't need perfection.
But you do need stability.

Get to a 7/10 on each bottom level before you start.

And once you get there, DM me for next steps. 😊

Ambitious women in tech often feel trapped by success.

The more you deliver, the more is expected.

And the idea of breaking free to start your own business:
Feels overwhelming.

Like you need to sacrifice security, time, or even sanity.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.

I call it building "Life on Your Terms":

1. Prioritize your values and goals.
2. Create time to work on your business.
3. Start building your business on the side.
4. Design a business model to replace your income.
5. Transition out of corporate and thrive with confidence. 

It’s not about rushing to quit your job.

It’s about creating options and building the life you want. 

P.S. What would you add to this list?

Is your corporate job suffocating your passion project?

You’re not alone.

A client I coached a few years back was aiming for promotion in an e-commerce giant.

We worked on her leadership skills to get that raise.

And also, in 3 months together:

⤷ We leveled up her positioning and mindset 
⤷ Mapped out her key professional aspirations 
⤷ Dove deep into her passion, values, and life goals

At the end, she not only got promoted,
But also got confidence, clarity, and a new plan.

Still, it wasn’t her biggest breakthrough…

She discovered that what she TRULY wanted was to finish the novel she’d abandoned years ago.

And now she had a clear plan for how to make it happen 
(despite being a new mom and starting a new role).

Laura's novel was published last year. 
She quit her job in tech and is now writing her 2nd book.

Was I surprised by this outcome? No.

My biggest surprise? On the dedication page. 💛

Laura's breakthrough became my own.
This is when I knew:

I will no longer coach on executive career goals. 
I'll only coach on passion projects that build a dream life.

P.S. If you also have big dreams but not sure where to start, I have a gift for you in the comments 😉

Parkinson's Law:

Work expands to fill the time you give it.

No matter how much you eliminate, simplify, delegate...
There’s always:

→ More emails.
→ More meetings.
→ More deadlines.

And it’s easy to let work consume everything.

But here’s the truth:
You’ll never finish it all.

So stop trying.

Instead, focus on what really matters:

✔️ Building a life that feels balanced and fulfilling.
✔️ The 20% of tasks that move your business forward.
✔️ And stop wasting your sacred time on everything else.

Instead, live your life: 

→ Take a walk.
→ Do your yoga.
→ Spend time with family.
→ Read a book that makes you grow.

Work to live.
Don’t live to work.

Because life on your terms starts with balance. 💛

Every December, we all get that burst of motivation to “make next year different.”

But for high-achieving women in tech who are also building a business on the side, setting goals is the easy part.  

The hard part is creating goals you can 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 follow through on while working full-time, managing home life, and trying not to burn out.
 
That’s why I’m hosting a new end-of-year Goal-Setting Workshop.
 
This is a hands-on, 60-minute session where we’ll set real goals for your new business. 

Not vague resolutions or wishful thinking.
 
We’ll work through everything together, live in Zoom:

→ Your top 3 business goals for 2026 
→ The quarterly milestones that matter 
→ Monthly priorities aligned with your goals 
→ Weekly actions you can fit into your schedule 
→ And we’ll lock everything directly into your calendar!
 
I’ll be doing this right alongside you, guiding you step-by-step while we build your 2026 plan together (and I build mine!)
 
I’m going to teach you the exact system I’ve been using myself for years.

The one I first learned from Tony Robbins. 
It genuinely changed my life and the way I work. 
 
This is the system that allows me to run 3 businesses in under 30 hours a week, raise two kids under 3, appear on podcasts, and still make time for pro bono projects that align with my mission. 
 
It’s simple, practical, and it works, 
especially when time is limited.
 
Expect a cozy, low-pressure, productive hour.  

I’ll have my favorite Christmas playlist on in the background, and you’re invited to bring a cup of hot chocolate, tea, or whatever feels festive to you. ☕️
 
If you want clarity, focus, and a practical plan to move your business idea forward in 2026, without quitting your job, you're the one I created this for. 💛

View event: 2026 Goal-Setting Workshop: Build Business Goals That Fit Your Life

2026 Goal-Setting Workshop: Build Business Goals That Fit Your Life

taplio

The Battle

Manuel Kistner

Ksenia Votinova-Arnaud

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreManuel Kistner's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKsenia Votinova-Arnaud's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Manuel Kistner

Ksenia Votinova-Arnaud

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Manuel Kistner's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKsenia Votinova-Arnaud's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreManuel Kistner's LinkedIn Performance