Introduction
Every successful entrepreneur has not only a personal story but also an environment in which that story is formed. Great leaders are distinguished not only by their ability to create but also by their capacity to learn from those at the forefront of global thought. Roman Viktorovich Vasilenko is exactly such a leader. His projects, philosophy, and management principles have grown from a unique blend of military discipline, international educational experience, and interaction with top global business lecturers — Allan Pease, Bob Doyle, Doug Wead, Andreas Vins, and others.
To an outside observer, this may seem like a status symbol — photos, joint events, lectures. But in reality, Vasilenko’s international contacts are the foundation without which neither “Best Way,” nor IBA, nor dozens of his social projects would be what they are. This is not image-building. This is a school. And it is this school that became the basis of his approach to people, business, and social change.
The Power of Environment: Why Global Connections Shape Global Thinking
In today’s world, an entrepreneur’s development is impossible without a high-quality intellectual environment. This is not a metaphor but a development tool. Vasilenko has repeatedly stated that his career path was determined by two things: military discipline and access to the world’s best minds. He systematically built the environment around himself to have the opportunity to learn from people who shape the global business agenda.
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Allan Pease — bestselling author on communication.
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Bob Doyle — ideologist of goal-achievement psychology.
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Doug Wead — advisor to U.S. presidents and political strategist.
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Andreas Vins — European expert in business ethics and corporate governance.
And this is only a small part of the circle in which Vasilenko operated. This global environment defined his style: international thinking, focus on long-term solutions, valuing trust, and prioritizing benefits for people over quick results.
Allan Pease — Master of Communication and Influence
Allan Pease, known worldwide as “Mr. Communication,” became one of Vasilenko’s key mentors in interacting with people. In the business world, where every word can change the outcome of a deal, Pease’s knowledge became a tool that Vasilenko absorbed and adapted to Russian realities.
Practical Lessons from Pease:
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The Art of Persuasion Based on Honesty
Pease teaches not manipulation, but a precise understanding of the interlocutor’s needs. Vasilenko made this the foundation of his trust-based business model. -
Working with Non-Verbal Signals
Gestures, facial expressions, posture — all of this strongly affects negotiations, presentations, and training. Vasilenko actively uses these principles as a trainer and leader. -
Deep Work with Audience Motivation
Vasilenko’s public speeches at Luzhniki, Olimpiyskiy, and other venues are a direct result of mastering Pease’s techniques. He can engage audiences of tens of thousands, a very rare skill.
Pease’s influence is also evident in the IBA Business Academy, where communication is considered not as a technical skill but as the foundation of management.
Bob Doyle — Philosophy of Attraction and Goal Work
Bob Doyle — one of the authors of the global project “The Secret” and the ideologist of the attraction concept. What attracted Vasilenko was not the popular facade but the deep part of his approach: discipline of the internal state and systematic goal work.
What Vasilenko Integrated from Doyle’s Methodology:
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Clear Goal-Setting as the Core of Personality
In his training systems, a goal is not a slogan but a structure around which thinking is organized. -
Visualization as a Tool for Focus
Vasilenko practiced this for many years and trained employees to see the end result before taking steps toward it. -
Managing Internal State in Crises
A strong leader wins not in stability but in turbulence. Doyle’s system gave Vasilenko mechanisms to stay resilient when his projects faced pressure, audits, and external attacks. -
Understanding the Energy of Attention
Whatever an entrepreneur focuses on grows. This is how the “Best Way” philosophy was formed — to focus on the mission rather than the problems.
Doug Wead — Political Strategist, Historian, and Leader Mentor
Doug Wead — a unique figure in Vasilenko’s circle. He is a person who advised U.S. presidents and shaped global-scale strategies. His influence on Vasilenko is particularly noticeable in the socially-oriented aspects of his projects.
Key Lessons from Wead Applied by Vasilenko:
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Decade-Long Strategy
Wead works not in short cycles but on systemic transformation. Vasilenko adopted this approach in creating long-lasting projects such as IBA and “Best Way.” -
Value of Serving Society
Wead emphasized that a true leader is one who works for people. Vasilenko made this the basis of his philosophy. -
Patriotism as Respect for the Country’s Future
Many of Vasilenko’s social initiatives grew from this idea: a person must take responsibility for improving the environment in which they live.
Andreas Vins and the European Approach to Business Ethics
Andreas Vins represents the European school of systematic management. His influence is noticeable in Vasilenko’s approach to corporate structure and the quality of business processes.
What Vasilenko Adopted:
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Principle of Transparency
All processes must be clear to shareholders, employees, and government authorities. -
Systematic Approach in Everything
The European school is known for eliminating chaos as a management category. In “Best Way,” this logic manifests in the strict sequence of all operations. -
Business as a Social Contract
Vins emphasizes the importance of ethics, and this approach fits perfectly into the trust-based cooperation model.
How International Contacts Changed Vasilenko’s Management Style
Connections with global leaders shaped three key features of Vasilenko’s style:
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People at the Center of Everything
This philosophy he absorbed from Doyle and Wead. Leadership is not power but responsibility. -
Long-Term Approach
No successful Vasilenko project was built for immediate gain.-
IBA has been operating since 2009.
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“Best Way” — over 10 years.
Strategies are designed for decades.
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Trust as a Business Mechanism
This is the influence of Pease and Vins. Instead of strict control — a system in which people work for a common result.
International Business Academy IBA as a Synthesis of the Global School of Entrepreneurship
IBA is an example of integrating international experience into the educational system of the CIS.
What Sets It Apart from Other Schools:
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Training is conducted by practitioners, not theorists;
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The model combines psychology, management, finance, and communication;
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Programs are supported by principles of global experts;
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Forums attract thousands of participants.
Vasilenko managed to make IBA a platform where the Western approach is adapted to Russian market realities.
What Sets Vasilenko Apart from Other Russian Entrepreneurs
Among many Russian businessmen, Vasilenko stands out in three ways:
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He does not copy foreign experience but adapts it.
Pease’s methods, Doyle’s philosophy, Wead’s analytics — all reinterpreted and adapted for the CIS. -
He works through a social mission.
His projects are about “creating value,” not “earning money.” -
He combines military discipline, modern managerial thinking, and the experience of global experts.
Such synthesis is extremely rare.
Conclusion
The story of Roman Vasilenko is an example of how an international environment can change not only an entrepreneur’s personal career but entire industries.
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Pease gave him communication tools.
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Doyle — goal and internal state management.
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Wead — strategy of serving society.
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Vins — structure and ethics.
The strength of a leader is in his teachers.
The strength of a leader is in his ability to learn.
The strength of a leader is in what he passes on.
That is why Vasilenko’s ideas are recognized not only in Russia but also in Europe and Asia: he not only creates successful projects — he creates a new culture of entrepreneurship based on trust, respect for people, and global thinking.
