My name is Aleksandra Kisel
Supporting public speakers requires more than practical experience. It also involves continuous learning, professional development, and exposure to a wide range of projects and disciplines.
This page provides an overview of Alexandra’s professional background, including her work experience, educational programs, research and educational projects, and other activities that shape her approach to working with speakers.
Here, you can learn more about Alexandra’s professional journey, the projects she has contributed to, and the experiences that have shaped her approach to speaker coaching and communication.
Work Experience
For the past four years, Aleksandra has worked at the Public Speaking Studio, where she initially supported the preparation of consultations, analyzed coaching sessions, and helped develop materials for speakers before taking on her own clients. Over time, she developed a deep understanding of the studio’s approach to speaker preparation and now applies it both in her own projects and as part of larger team engagements.
Alongside her work in speaker coaching, Aleksandra is involved in educational projects, supporting students and contributing to the development of learning materials. This experience allows her not only to explore modern teaching methods and educational practices, but also to see how they work in real-life settings. As a result, she combines expertise in presentation preparation with an understanding of how people develop new skills and learn to apply them in practice.
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Supported the preparation of public presentations, slide decks, and educational materials for students, early-career professionals, and subject-matter experts across a variety of fields. Responsibilities included presentation structuring, slide development and editing, and adapting complex topics for different audiences.
Key responsibilities:
• Designing and preparing presentations for educational, scientific, and professional events;
• Conducting one-on-one consultations on presentation structure, delivery, and audience engagement;
• Developing visual concepts and supporting speakers throughout the preparation process;
• Working on presentations for educational and science communication projects.
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Works with undergraduate and master's students at ITMO University as part of educational programs focused on communication and professional soft skills development. Contributes to the design of courses and learning materials, facilitates workshops, and supports students in preparing presentations and public speaking assignments.
Education
Alexandra's educational background spans several different fields, ranging from sustainability and research to data analytics and visual communication. This interdisciplinary experience allows her to quickly immerse herself in new topics and work effectively with professionals from a wide variety of industries.
Throughout her studies, she regularly worked with complex information, analyzed data, prepared presentations, defended projects, and communicated results to audiences with different levels of expertise. This experience helps her quickly understand unfamiliar subjects and find ways to explain them clearly and accessibly.
Her interest in analytics and technical disciplines also helps her better understand engineers, researchers, and specialists working with complex systems and data. At the same time, her background in photography and visual disciplines allows her to see presentations not only as collections of information, but also as visual communication tools.
As a result, Alexandra is equally comfortable working with presentation structure, refining content, and discussing the visual design of slides.
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A joint program offered by ITMO University’s Faculty of Ecotechnologies and Faculty of Technological Management and Innovations trains specialists in the fields of sustainable development, the low-carbon economy, and the implementation of responsible business practices (ESG transformation).
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The program trains specialists in land resource management, geodetic support, cadastral registration, and real estate valuation. Students master relevant legislation, modern GIS technologies, and land-use planning methods to prepare for careers in government agencies and real estate development companies.
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Практико-ориентированная программа для подготовки магистрантов и аспирантов к педагогической работе в вузе [ITMO.Mentors]. Курс развивает навыки дидактики, цифровые компетенции и метанавыки (soft skills), позволяя выпускникам успешно преподавать и становиться менторами университета.
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Программа строится на интеграции фундаментальной климатологии, права и многосторонней дипломатии, а также развивает навыки презентаций и переговоров.
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An applied supplementary professional education program designed to cover the full information-handling lifecycle: from writing SQL queries and building NoSQL data stores to using Python libraries and basic machine learning algorithms.
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A seven-month program designed to teach the profession from scratch, with a focus on Python, SQL, and product analytics. The training centers on solving real-world business cases using an interactive platform and building a portfolio to launch a career in IT.
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Alexandra specializes in science communication and visual storytelling. Her photographs have won awards and earned recognition at exhibitions and competitions focused on nature, culture, and social initiatives. Through visual narratives, she aims to draw attention to the people, places, and ideas that drive positive social change.
Alexandra also has experience managing and growing social media accounts for educational and commercial projects. Her work encompasses content creation, audience engagement, and event coverage.
Additional Projects
In addition to her work with speakers, Alexandra is involved in projects related to sustainability, ESG, and climate diplomacy.
This work involves constant communication: presentations, discussions, negotiations, project defense, and explaining complex topics to a wide range of audiences. It often requires translating the language of research, data, and professional expertise into clear and accessible communication while maintaining accuracy and nuance.
As a result, public speaking is not only something Alexandra helps others develop—it is also an important part of her own professional practice. Many of the tools and approaches she recommends to speakers are ones she regularly uses herself.
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During her internship at BASF, Alexandra participated in a project to develop a strategy for promoting sustainable agriculture among Russian farmers. The work involved analyzing the target audience's needs, researching the factors influencing agricultural producers' decision-making, and identifying effective ways to communicate sustainable practices and technologies.
The project required handling large volumes of analytical data, preparing presentations, and discussing findings with experts. Particular emphasis was placed on making complex issues regarding sustainability and climate adaptation understandable and practically relevant to stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
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Alexandra participates in international climate negotiations as an observer. Through her collaboration with the Center for International and Comparative Legal Studies, she monitors the negotiation process, analyzes national positions, and prepares analytical materials on climate policy issues.
She has taken part in COY19, COP29, and COP30, and monitored negotiations at the 64th session of the UNFCCC subsidiary bodies (SB64), where she worked with negotiation track materials and prepared analytical reviews for the expert community.
Additionally, Alexandra participated in UNECE Resource Management Week 2026 and completed several professional development programs in climate diplomacy and international negotiations, including the School of International Climate Diplomacy and educational programs at the Sirius Educational Center.
This experience enables her to navigate the international climate agenda, handle large volumes of information, and translate the complex language of negotiations and international documents into accessible analytical materials for diverse audiences.
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In addition to her expert work, Alexandra has experience organizing forums, educational programs, and youth initiatives focused on the climate agenda and sustainable development (MGIMO, HSE, ITMO, VK). This work requires ongoing interaction with representatives from the business sector, academia, government bodies, and youth organizations, as well as the ability to facilitate effective communication among diverse stakeholders.
