Coffee break with Vlad Grigorev

From intern to data & AI projects: Vlad’s journey at Solaris

Interview: Marina Burtyleva

Interviewee: Vlad Grigoriev

This Coffee Break brings you a chat with Vlad, who now leads Data Projects in the Commercial team. From starting as a working student when Solaris had just 100 people to driving AI initiatives today, he shares insights on growth, change, and the routines that keep him energized.

Take a moment, enjoy your favorite drink, and discover Vlad’s story in this Coffee Break.

What is your role at Solaris and what was it when you first joined?

Vlad: I joined Solaris six years ago as a working student while finishing my master’s degree. Back then, I was part of a small quantitative team—lots of Excel, programming, and building business cases for new partners. Solaris had around 100 people at that time, and you could literally recognize every face in the office.

Today, I lead Commercial Data Projects, driving initiatives such as data literacy, advanced analytics, data strategy, and AI projects.

The path wasn’t linear: I also spent time in the Project Management team, onboarding clients like Vivid Money and launching new products with our long-term banking partner Tomorrow.

I had the chance to get to know the entire organization—legal, compliance, engineering, and more. Those years put me on the steepest learning curve and gave me a true 360° view of Solaris.

How has the company changed since you first joined?

Vlad: When I joined, Solaris felt experimental, fast, and small-scale. You could try things quickly. That culture of curiosity is still here, but with growth we’ve naturally had to add more structure. Today, we’re much bigger and more complex, which means more approvals and processes.

But with scale comes opportunity: more domains to explore, more people to learn from, and more ways to make an impact. Growing at Solaris looks different now than it did before, but it’s just as rewarding.

What stands out as a key moment or achievement during your time at Solaris?

Vlad:

1. Bringing Vivid Money to life: One of our most demanding and fastest onboardings, completed in just a few months with over 50 people across the organization contributing.

2. Introducing AI to Solaris: Years ago, I worked with colleagues to design an optimization algorithm that improved fraud detection. It was highly technical, custom-built, and intense—but it worked, and it’s still in use today.

3. Hackathon wins: Beyond the ongoing work, I deeply value the time spent on things like hackathons. The reason is simple: we get two days to drop our usual tasks, follow curiosity, and work on ideas we believe can create impact but feel too risky to try in day-to-day projects. I was lucky to team up with amazing colleagues and win twice. Even better, several hackathon projects later found their way into product roadmaps.

What’s one non-work-related thing or habit that helps you stay energized and balanced?

Vlad: Sports and movement are my go-to. These days it’s mostly the gym, with tennis or padel when I find the time. Even a late-evening workout is better than none—it keeps me energized and helps me reset.

Another source of energy is being a dad to my little daughter. It’s a challenge, of course, but also one of the most meaningful parts of my day. I also treasure a small morning ritual: after dropping her off at Kita, I take 15 minutes to enjoy a cappuccino and calmly plan the day. It’s a simple habit, but it brings focus and balance, especially in busy times.

Final thoughts?

Vlad: It’s been a long and productive journey from intern to leading AI and data projects. What keeps it exciting is the opportunity to grow in new directions, explore new domains, and build solutions together with fellow Solarians.