As I begin this Rotary year as our district governor, I would like to take a moment to share a little more about myself — not just as a governor, but as a Rotarian, a professional, and a person whose life has been deeply influenced by service, leadership, and collaboration with others.
My first connections with Rotary
My connection with Rotary began even before I became a member of a Rotary club. In 1994, as a high school student, I was one of 16 Latvian high school students selected to participate in a 10-day cultural exchange program in Copenhagen, Denmark. The program was organized by Kastrup Rotary Club. This experience opened my eyes to Rotary’s international spirit, the power of intercultural understanding, and the warmth of people united by a common purpose. At the time, I didn’t realize that this opportunity had planted a seed that would later grow into something much greater.
Education, entrepreneurship, and leadership
My academic journey began at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and the University of Latvia, where I earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and business administration. (1992–1996). Later, I deepened my knowledge by obtaining a master’s degree in finance and economics from the Stockholm School of Economics (Handelshogskolan i Stockholm) in Sweden (2002–2004).
I started my professional career in Business consulting at Deloitte Latvia, and later held leadership positions in the insurance sector, including serving as CEO and Chairman of the Board at IF Latvia/Sampo Latvia, Pirmais Brokeris and MAI Insurance Brokers. For more than ten years, I led teams and developed businesses in the insurance field.
Since 2012, I have turned my attention to organic fish farming and aquaculture, founding and developing a farm. In parallel, I have been involved in real estate management and development. These areas allow me to combine entrepreneurship with sustainability — values that are especially important to me.
