olga steppe

International Sales: Eastern Europe / Russia

"Success in Eastern European markets today rests on two pillars: insight into the local context and direct access to key decision-makers. I establish transparent sales frameworks that turn European product into highly profitable local ventures ".

My name is Olga Steppe.

Based in Belgium (Gent) since 2009 and originally from the Saint Petersburg region.

My primary focus is to find large-scale B2B clients for European manufacturers and increase sales in complex East European markets.

Over nearly two decades, I have engineered resilient international trade routes, securing multimillion-euro turnovers for several European companies across 13 countries, including Russia, the Western Balkans, and the CIS region. My cross-sector expertise spans highly demanding industries: FMCG, DIY, PPE, and construction.

In today’s disrupted geopolitical landscape, traditional export models no longer work. My mission is to provide European exporters to scale their businesses within volatile macroeconomic environments that hold high sales potential.

B2B Client Acquisition & Strategic Growth: I do not only support existing sales; I actively scale brand presence and restructure disrupted sales channels. I specialize in introducing and selling brands to this region under shifting macroeconomic conditions.
Direct Access & Executive Networking: I leverage long-term, direct relationships with key industrial decision-makers and major buyers in the region. Through regular international travel and face-to-face negotiations, I build deep institutional trust and foster proactive partnerships.
Commercial Distribution & Pricing Architecture: I design sustainable commercial frameworks, optimizing pricing structures and product assortment policies. My strategies effectively balance stakeholder interests, eliminating channel conflicts and price dumping between dealers and direct corporate accounts.
Compliance & Commercial Risk Management: I provide advanced screening of EU regulations, dual-use goods verification, and thorough counterparty risk assessments, backed by experience in credit insurance and corporate risk evaluation.

Experience

19 Years in the Profession: International sales, B2B marketing, business development, and branding, operated directly from Russia and from Belgium.
13 Sales Markets: Direct introduction of products to the markets of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo.
Multimillion-Euro Turnovers: Physical launch of commercial channels and steady sales growth for European factories.

Education

East- and West- European economic science with elite trade and diplomacy training:

2012 | Master of Applied Economics (Bedrijfskunde) — University of Antwerp, Belgium

2010 | Academic Dutch Certification — Linguapolis, University of Antwerp, Belgium

2009 | International Marketing & Trade Diplomacy — MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations), Russia

2005 | Master of Applied Economics & Informatics — Moscow University of Economics, Statistics, and Informatics, Russia

I can recommend Olga to all companies seeking a smart, hard working person eager to learn. Olga is from Russian origin but after being one only and a half year in Belgium Olga understands and speaks fluently Dutch. Olga helped us in seeking information and solving problems related to business with Russia. She will continue to do so on a free lance basis as her studies in Antwerp (master after master) are difficult to combine with a regular office job in Aalst. We are very happy with the contribution of Olga to our company.

2011, Luc Gillijns, CEO at Trade Insure NV

During the 3 years that I have worked together with Olga, she proved to be a self conscious, remarkably driven and hard working lady.

Olga has good insights in marketing and sales and she is a strategic thinker. A target is never lost out of sight and she will battle to reach it. Her splendid knowledge of languages support her ambitions in an international trade environment. I was happy to get to know Olga and sad when she left our company. Good luck Olga!!

2015, Bet Nys, CSO at Glacio NV

I met Olga as a starter entrepreneur. She had the ambition to leverage her well-built network in Russia in Belgium.

She's a very quick learner and make things happen.

She is a good relation-builder and together with her language skills she's able to create trust between Belgium & Russian business people. When you want to develop the Russian Market give her a call.

2020, Xavier Goddaer, Managing Director at Goddaer & Co bvba

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse