# Maria Aksenova

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**Maria Dmitriyevna Aksenova** (born February, 23[1]) is a Russian [public figure](/source/Public_figure),[2] [media personality](/source/Celebrity), [encyclopedist](/source/Encyclopedia),[3] and [businessperson](/source/Businessperson).[4]: 40 She is best remembered for her fundamental[5] *Encyclopedia for Children*, a 63-volume edition of [Avanta+ Publishing House](/source/Avanta%2B) (circulation: 20 million copies).[1]

According to books and magazines,[6][7]: 107[8]: 98 Aksenova is a publisher, poet and sportswoman. As of 31 October 2001, she controlled 55% ($16.5 million) of the Publishing House's revenue.[9]: 23

Aksenova was the winner of [the Russian President's](/source/President_of_Russia) Award in the field of education (2001);[5] author of educational TV projects, an accredited [MVP level](/source/Minimum_viable_product) [investor](/source/Impact_investing) of Moscow Seed Fund, and academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.[1]

## Personal life

Born and raised in Moscow,[10]: 27 [USSR](/source/USSR), Maria Aksenova graduated from the Moscow school with a Silver medal.[1] She graduated from the [MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics](/source/MSU_Faculty_of_Mechanics_and_Mathematics), where she received a first-class degree. Maria studied [Executive MBA](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration) at [RANEPA](/source/RANEPA).[2]

On March 7, 2001, Maria was speaker at the meeting of the President of the Russian Federation [V.V. Putin](/source/Vladimir_Putin) with outstanding [business women](/source/Businessperson) of Russia.[2][11][12]

She studied English and Spanish.[2] Her hobbies are [ikebana](/source/Ikebana), travelling (32 countries), [rescue diver](/source/Rescue_diver),[6] old [daggers](/source/Kris), ethnic jewellery,[8]: 98 [Qigong](/source/Qigong).[10]: 27

## Family

Her paternal great-grandfather, *[Pyotr Evdoshenko](/source/Pyotr_Evdoshenko)* was a Russian [Silver Age](/source/Silver_Age_of_Russian_Poetry) poet of the 20th century. Great-grandfather's father, *Ivan Evdóshenko* was a [nobleman](/source/Nobility) and managed some gymnasiums in [The Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire).[2]

Her maternal great-grandparents, *Alexei Plotnokov* and *Praskovya Danilova-Plotnikova* were among of the leaders of the Revolution Movement in [Podmoskovye](/source/Moscow_Oblast), [Riga](/source/Riga) and [Minusinsk](/source/Minusinsk).[2][13]

## Avanta+ Publishing House

At the age of twenty, Maria came up with the idea of creating an encyclopedia for children, comparable to the [Great Soviet Encyclopedia](/source/Great_Soviet_Encyclopedia).[14] As a student at Moscow State University, she became a co-founder, then the chairman [board of directors](/source/Board_of_directors) of the Avanta+,[10][2] a leading producer of children’s encyclopedias:[15]: 7

- "Encyclopedia for Children Avanta+" (many of them bestsellers at top Russian stores[16]: 12);
- "Modern Encyclopedia";
- "The most beautiful and famous" album book series etc.

Encyclopedia for Children Avanta+ is recommended by the [Ministry of General Education of the Russian Federation](/source/Ministry_of_Education_(Russia))[17] and the [UNESCO](/source/UNESCO) Academic department by International Center of Educational Systems (ICES), and is also recognized as a national project.[2][14]

Maria Aksenova as an author wrote more than 50 popular science introductory[2] and 8 encyclopedic articles in [The Encyclopedia for Children](/source/Encyclopedia_for_Children).

Nine employees of the Avanta+ Publishing House and Encyclopedia for Children's authors have become laureates of the Russian President's Prize in the field of education. The winners of the Award were: Maria Aksenova, Viktor Volodin, [Dmitry Volodikhin](/source/Dmitry_Volodikhin), Andrey Gryaznov, Elena Dukelskaya, [Lyudmila Petranovskaya](/source/Lyudmila_Petranovskaya), Georgy Khramov, ValerySanyuk.[5]

Publishing House team's mission statement: "We present in an accessible form the sum of all knowledge".[18]

My partners and I were not interested in money for the sake of money, but in business bringing positive changes to the world. In general, I believe that it is possible to speak of a business as successful only if it has both a financial and a social component.

— '**Maria Aksenova*about publishing work.[19]***

Maria can look at the problem from different points of view, find some aspects of the phenomenon under consideration that are not obvious at first glance.

— '**George Hramov*, сo-founder Avanta+ Publishing House.[20]: 107***

## The Printing Pioneer Fund

Since 2007, Maria Aksenova has been the chairman of the board of The Printing Pioneer Fund. Fund activities:[1]

- Educational TV programs;
- Acceleration, exportand other programs for impact-startups;
- International cultural and educational events (ex: [International Wiki-Conference 2021](/source/Wmru:%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F_2021/en)).

The Fund became the initiator and creator of the intersectoral impact cluster in The Moscow Innovation Cluster.[21][22]

## Entrepreneurial and investment activity

M. D. Aksenova is a co-founder and investor in a number of projects:[1]

- Sweets Empire Café, Marocana restaurant chain ([Moroccan cuisine](/source/Moroccan_cuisine)), Niyama Japanese restaurant chain (franchise, food production, IT, delivery);
- [Gayatri Publishing](/source/Gayatri_Publishing), [Avanta+ Publishing House](#Avanta+_Publishing_House);
- Innovation project: EdTech, HealthTech, etc.

As an investor, she has more than five [exits](/source/Venture_capital_financing). There are four startup impact in the current portfolio.[1]

## Organizations and business communities

Maria Aksenova was and is a member of organizations and business communities:[1][2][14]

- Business Women of Russia Confederation;
- New Moscow Entrepreneurs Club;
- a number of Boards of Trustees;
- Russian Supreme Council of Ecology;
- National Independent director Registry (as an [Independent director](/source/Independent_director) since 2002);
- AngelsDeck Investors Club (since 2020).

## Research work

Maria Aksenova is a researcher of the cultural and religious traditions of various countries,[6] the author of a number of publications and speeches. In 1998, Obshchaya Gazeta published two articles on the death of [Carlos Castaneda](/source/Carlos_Castaneda): [Viktor Pelevin](/source/Viktor_Pelevin)'s "The Last Joke of a Warrior" and Maria Aksenova's "Who Left This World?"[23].

Maria Aksenova tells about unknown details of Classics writers' fates and their works in her book – "Do We Know Everything About the Classics of World Literature?" (ISBN 978-5-227-07865-0).[24]: 107

### Poetry

A book combining a collection of poems "Cascade Splashes" of the Silver Age poet, *Peter Evdóshenko*, and a collection of poems "Blues of Emptiness" of his great-granddaughter Maria Aksenova was published in 2007 (ISBN 5-98396-010-5).

### Do We Know Russian?

In 2008-2012, Maria Aksenova and her colleagues conducted work on the study of the history of Russian words, names, adages. The work resulted in a cycle of television programs, events and books[25]:

- 168 episodes of "Do Russians know Russian?" TV show;[26]
- Three-Volume Edition "Do We Know Russian?" (1st volume: ISBN 978-5-227-03682-7; 2nd volume: ISBN 978-5-227-03330-7; 3rd volume: ISBN 978-5-227-03747-3 and 2nd combined edition: ISBN 978-5-227-07086-9). In 2012, the 1st and 2nd volumes was shortlisted for the [Enlightener Prize](/source/Enlightener_Prize) by the [Dynasty Foundation](/source/Dynasty_Foundation);[27]
- meetings with readers and schoolboys.

## On TV, Films and Radio

Author's and acting works:[28][2]

- 2003 – "The Taming of the Success" talk show ([TDK](/source/TDK_(TV_channel)) TV channel)
- 2006 – "Outlook beyond the [MKAD](/source/Moscow_Ring_Road)" on [Moscow Speaking](/source/Moscow_Speaking) radio station;
- 2008-2010 – a series of documentaries "A Novel in Stone" ("World masterpieces of love");[29]
- 2008-2010 – poetic art videos based on the poems of Russian poets;
- 2008-2012 – 168 episodes of "Do Russians know Russian?" TV show.[26]

### Selected filmography

Year Title Role Notes 2010-2011 Institute of noble maidens Matryona (ru, 519 episodes) 2013 Puppeteers Senior lieutenant Maria Chub Russian: Кукловоды 2014 House at the River Veronika Russian: Домик у реки, Domic u reki

## Sport

- 1980s – finalist of the national championship, 4-time champion of [Moscow](/source/Moscow) [Russian Draughts](/source/Russian_draughts).[30]
- 2000s – [PADI](/source/Professional_Association_of_Diving_Instructors) [Rescue Diver](/source/Rescue_Diver).[8]: 98

## Awards and honors

- Laureate of the Russian President's Prize in the field of education for the development of a scientific and methodological concept for the presentation of educational materials and the creation on its basis of the fundamental book series the Encyclopedia for Children (2001).[5]
- Winner of Manager of the Year award in the nomination "Publishing Business" (2001, [Kommersant](/source/Kommersant) Publishing House).[2]
- Among the Top 100 businessperson of the rating "Who manages the finances of Russia" in 2001 – the first and only woman.[9]

## References

1. [Government of Moscow](/source/Government_of_Moscow). ["Фонд развития венчурного инвестирования города Москвы. Инвестор Мария Аксёнова"](https://www.mosinnov.ru/investors_list/aksenova-maria.html) [Investor Mariya Aksonova] (in Russian). Moscow Seed Fund.

1. Ralph Hübner 2007, p. 68.

1. Vasiliy, Danilov (2000-06-19). [""Человек книги": Мария Аксенова, энциклопедист"](http://aksenova.ru/media) ["Human of the book": Maria Aksenova, encyclopedist] (in Russian). *[The Book Review](/source/The_Book_Review_(Russian_newspaper))*. **25**

1. Viktor, Menshov (2003-11-01). ["Инь и Ян Марии Аксёновой"](http://aksenova.ru/media) [Yin and yang by Maria Aksenova] (in Russian). *Our School*. **48** (9): 40–43. Alexandróvich, E. (ed.). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111216190100/http://redakzia.ru/content/%C2%ABnasha-shkola%C2%BB) 2011-12-16 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 03.10.2002 г. No. 1114 О присуждении премий Президента Российской Федерации в области образования за 2001 год"](http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/18636) [Russian Presidential decrees, 3 October 2002 No 1114 On awarding the prizes of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of education for 2001] (in Russian). [President of Russia](/source/President_of_Russia). 2002-10-03.

1. Marina Belova, Ludmila Chernova 2007, p. 25.

1. Alexei, Sedov (2002-04-01). "Энциклопедия успеха" [Encyclopedia of success] (in Russian). *[Marie Claire](/source/Marie_Claire)*. **100** (4): 107. Anna, Barinova (ed.)

1. Youlia, Makarova & Alexei, Antonov (2007-04-01). "Чётки и цели" [Prayer beads and Goals] (in Russian). *[Career](/source/Career_(magazine)) with Entrepreneur*. **100** (4): 98–99. A., Zotikov (ed.)

1. Dmitry, Butrin & Sevastian, Kozitsyn (2001-10-31). "Кто управляет финансами России" [Who manages the finances of Russia] (in Russian). *[Kommersant Dengi](/source/Kommersant_Dengi)*. **347** (43): 18–23. Sergei, Yakovlev (ed.)

1. Marina, Skalkina & Sergei, Petrukhin (2007). [""Мы насадим новый сад, роскошнее этого...""](https://web.archive.org/web/20071024111315/http://www.persona-magazine.ru/63.htm) ["We will plant a new garden, more luxurious than this..."] (in Russian). *Persona*. **63** (2): 24–27. Archived from [the original](http://www.persona-magazine.ru/63.htm) on 2007-10-24.

1. ["В канун 8 Марта Владимир Путин встретился с представительницами деловых и общественных кругов"](http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/40757) [On the eve of March 8, Vladimir Putin met with women's business and social community] (in Russian). [President of Russia](/source/President_of_Russia). 2001-03-07.

1. ["Владимир Путин встретился с представительницами российских деловых кругов"](http://www.newsru.com/arch/russia/07Mar2001/putin_w.html) [Vladimir Putin met with businesswomen] (in Russian). NEWSru.com. 2001-03-07. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20041025144246/http://www.newsru.com/arch/russia/07Mar2001/putin_w.html) 2004-10-25 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Ksenia Lipinskaya 1974.

1. Marina Belova, Ludmila Chernova 2007, p. 24.

1. Lucas, Romriell (2002-12-06). "Readers choosing pulp over literature. The book-publishing industry has come to be dominated by detective novels and foreign writers – both of which have displaced the former state-run propaganda machine and producer of children's literature". *[The Russia Journal](/source/The_Russia_Journal)*

1. Vladimir, Merkushev (1999-12-06). "Publisher finds knowledge is priceless. Kids' books prove a hit. A new way of thinking, learning". *[The Russia Journal](/source/The_Russia_Journal)*

1. [Edition notice](/source/Edition_notice) in each volume of The Encyclopedia for Children

1. Olga, Utesheva (1997-07-01). ["Мечта детства нашего общества"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160213165638/http://avanta.ru/index.asp?DocumentID=3043748) [The childhood dream of our society] (in Russian). *[Domovoi](/source/Domovoi_(magazine))*. **7**: 6–7. Archived from [the original](http://avanta.ru/index.asp?DocumentID=3043748) on 2016-02-13.

1. ["Maria Aksenova. Projects"](https://aksenova.ru/main_en). Maria Aksenova Official website.

1. Ekaterina, Vinokurceva (2002-02-24). ["Энциклопедический подход"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170106125036/http://avanta.ru/index.asp?DocumentId=532) [Encyclopedic approach] (in Russian). *[Company](/source/Company_(Russian_magazine))*. **253** (7): 107. Archived from [the original](http://avanta.ru/index.asp?DocumentId=532) on 2017-01-06.

1. The Moscow Innovation Cluster. ["Межотраслевой импакт-кластер / кластер социального воздействия. 41 участник. Рынки EdTech, HealthTech и др."](http://avanta.ru/page22316745.html) [The intersectoral impact cluster: EdTech, HealthTech, etc. 41 members] (in Russian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220110232221/https://i.moscow/park/0a2d15e913f64970986ad63e5d22ee11) 2022-01-10 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Anastasia, Maryina. ["Начался отбор российских EdTech-стартапов, которые будут выведены на экспорт"](https://rb.ru/news/edtech-export/) [The selection of Russian EdTech startups that will be exported has begun] (in Russian). *Rusbase*

1. Maria, Aksenova (1998-06-24). ["Кто покинул этот мир?"](https://web.archive.org/web/19991128160844/http://www.og.ru/content/arch.shtml) ["Who Left This World?"] (in Russian). *[Obshchaya Gazeta](/source/Obshchaya_Gazeta)*. **255** (25). Archived from [the original](http://www.og.ru/content/arch.shtml) on 1999-11-28.

1. Ekaterina, Vinokurceva (2018-11-14). ["Книга недели: "Знаем ли мы всё о классиках мировой литературы?""](https://lgz.ru/article/-46-6667-14-11-2018/znaem-li-my-vsye-o-klassikakh-mirovoy-literatury/?sphrase_id=2127047) [The book of the week: "Do We Know Everything About the Classics of World Literature?"] (in Russian). *[Literaturnaya Gazeta](/source/Literaturnaya_Gazeta)*. **6667** (46): 1.

1. Anastasia Litvinova (2013-02-23). ["О премудростях русского языка. В книжном магазине "Москва" состоялась встреча с писательницей и телеведущей Марией Аксёновой"](http://old.pionerka.ru/2013/02/blog-post_23.html) [On the difficulties of the Russian language. A meeting with the writer and TV presenter Maria Aksenova took place in the Moskva bookstore] (in Russian). [Pionerskaya Pravda](/source/Pionerskaya_Pravda) «…книга, по… отзывам просвещённой публики, вовсе не похожа по своему содержанию на скучный учебник, а скорее на увлекательную и занимательную историю о нашем языке.» ["…the book, according to… reviews of an enlightened public, is not at all similar in its content to a boring textbook, but rather to a fascinating and entertaining story about our language."]

1. [Телепрограммы «Знают ли русские русский?»](https://www.youtube.com/) on YouTube

1. ["Объявлены авторы 25 книг из длинного списка премии "Просветитель""](https://polit.ru/news/2012/06/09/prosv_long_list2012/) [The authors of 25 books from the long list of the [[Enlightener Prize]] have been announced] (in Russian). *Polit.Ru*. 2012-06-09. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191015033334/https://polit.ru/news/2012/06/09/prosv_long_list2012/) 2019-10-15 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Актёрские работы"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200128162841/http://aksenova.ru/creation/actress/) [Acting work] (in Russian). Maria Aksenova Official website. Archived from [the original](http://aksenova.ru/creation/actress/) on 2020-01-28.

1. [Документальные фильмы «Роман в камне»](https://www.youtube.com/) on YouTube

1. Marina Belova, Ludmila Chernova 2007, pp. 24–25.

## Works cited

- Marina Belova, Ludmila Chernova (2007). *Персона России: литературно-биографический альманах* [Person of Russia: literary and biographical almanac] (in Russian). [Moscow](/source/Moscow): Elite-Press Plus, Border Publishing Group. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-5-94691-270-9.
- Ralph Hübner (2007). *Who is who в России. Биографическая энциклопедия успешных людей России* [Who is who in Russia. Biographical encyclopedia of successful people in Russia] (in Russian). Encyclopedia of Personalities by Hübner Who is who. 1st ed. [Moscow](/source/Moscow): Ralph Hübner. p. 68. ISBN 978-3-7290-0063-6.
- Ksenia Lipinskaya (1974). *Далеко в заснеженной Сибири* [Far away in snowy Siberia] (in Russian). 3rd ed. [Krasnoyarsk](/source/Krasnoyarsk): Krasnoyarsk Book Publishing House. pp. 54, 58.

## External links

- [Official website](https://aksenova.ru/main_en) by Maria Aksenova
- ["Лица фонда. Президент Фонда Мария Аксёнова"](https://fondfedorova.ru/) [Foundation faces. President of Found Maria Aksenova] (in Russian). The Printing Pioneer Fund.

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