On April 14, the Community Power space in Dubai Media City hosted a high-profile event dedicated to Cosmonautics Day. The evening was organized by the Russian Women Association with the official support of Community Power Dubai, the Russian Business Council (RBC), Rossotrudnichestvo, and KSORS.
The core concept of the evening “Woman Above Gravity” served as the thematic foundation of the gathering. It seamlessly bridged the majesty of space exploration with the modern role of women, focusing on inner strength, the capacity to make critical decisions amid uncertainty, and the power to shape the future.
The event commenced with welcoming remarks from distinguished guests and community leaders:
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Arina Berg, Representative of Community Power Dubai
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Aleksandr Bashkin, Representative of Rossotrudnichestvo in the UAE and Gulf Countries
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Elena Tarilova, Chairperson of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots (KSORS)
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Kirill Podgorny, Chairman of the Russian Business Council in the UAE (RBC)
The highlight of the program was an exclusive online meeting with Hero of Russia and cosmonaut Elena Serova. During an inspiring open dialogue, attendees listened to her personal journey, her professional choices, and her firsthand experience of spaceflight. She also shared profound insights on discipline, immense responsibility, and mental resilience.
The evening gained further momentum with the participation of Aleksandr Samoylenko, an actor in the groundbreaking film The Challenge, the first feature-length movie in cinema history to be partially shot in space. Samoylenko offered behind-the-scenes insights into the unique filming process in orbit, the intense emotional gravity of the project, and the film’s overarching significance as a cultural and technological breakthrough.
Following the discussion, guests attended a private screening of The Challenge, which beautifully reinforced the event’s central theme: breaking past conventional boundaries and unlocking human potential.
According to Yulia Podgornaya, Chairperson of the Russian Women Association, the event successfully achieved its goal of creating a premier platform for dialogue, inspiration, and reflection on leadership in a rapidly shifting world.
“Today, it is crucial to speak about women not just through a rigid set of traditional roles, but through the scale of their personality, their inner foundation, and their ability to move forward even when there are no ready-made answers. These are precisely the meanings we wanted to weave into the fabric of this evening,” Podgornaya noted.
The Russian Women Association continues to drive initiatives aimed at uniting professionals, building a powerful social and business ecosystem, and providing an elite platform for the exchange of high-impact ideas and experiences.
