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Portfolio · 2026

Darina
Mikhalina

Business · Events · Experience

Building the operational and strategic foundation for cultural projects and professional formats.

My pigs have grown wings Illustration of a flying pig with wings
Portrait of Darina Mikhalina
5.0 / 5.0
Academic GPA
15+ Mo.
Professional Experience
10+ Yrs.
Performing Arts
60,000
Peak Audience Reach
200+
Events & Projects
01 / About

From the stage
to strategy.

More than ten years inside performing arts taught me to see the live experience from both sides.

Transitioning from performer to organizer, I help coordinate school productions and larger public events, build tools to simplify complex processes, and study the practical mechanics of the creative industries. Experience with social theatre, community initiatives and interactive formats shaped my focus on making cultural and professional events more accessible and better structured.

My background is in creation and coordination. Now I need to learn how to manage organizations, resources, markets and growth, and apply that foundation to events and live experiences.
02 / Selected Work

Many projects.
One direction.

Founder & Project Lead · Digital Service & Research

JobSPB
Youth employment service

Designed and launched a digital service translating complex legal and bureaucratic hiring procedures into actionable, structured guidance for teenagers. Grounded in a two-stage empirical study (55-respondent baseline assessment and 103-respondent post-use evaluation), the project addresses young job seekers' specific information gaps through a targeted digital platform and a multimedia video guide, demonstrating end-to-end product execution.

01
91.3% User clarity
hiring rules became clear and easy to follow, earning 4.32 / 5 usability
48.5% Action rate
prompted users to start job searches, send applications, or get hired
78.7% Real help
helped teenagers overcome bureaucratic barriers with confidence
Product logic
research → user needs → service design → implementation → measurement
View Project · PDF
JobSPB research diagram and user survey analytics
JobSPB project hypothesis and testing workflow
02:55
Educational lesson and presentation slide for JobSPB youth guide
01:25

Program Development & Operations · Educational & Cultural Event

SPB IEF
Venue operations & visitor experience

My work at the Saint Petersburg International Educational Forum ranged from creating an original dance film in 2024 to leading concept development, program structure, and operational coordination for a major school-led section in 2026. This project served as a practical case in resource coordination, visitor flow management, and scalable event execution.

02
Program development
structured a repeatable, engaging format for successive visitor groups
200+ guests
end-to-end visitor coordination and venue logistics
Stakeholder alignment
managed teams, schedules, and interactive engagement loops
Operational efficiency
outperformed traditional delivery models through interactive design
#1 MOST-VISITED SCHOOL-LED VENUE AT SPB IEF 2026 · SELECTED AS A HOST VENUE FOR THE FOLLOWING EDITION
06:53
Interactive group workshop at Saint Petersburg International Educational Forum
00:09
Darina Mikhalina giving an interview about the educational dance film project
Participants engaged in collaborative activity at SPB IEF venue

Performer & Production Participant · Professional Live Events

Large-scale live events
& broadcast production

First-hand experience across major arenas and televised productions provided deep operational awareness. Working within high-pressure environments taught me how massive live projects coordinate multiple moving parts under strict timelines.

03
60,000 capacity
direct exposure to arena-scale live logistics and execution
Multi-stakeholder environment
synchronized crews, artists, technical teams, and security
Contingency management
real-time problem solving and timing in high-pressure settings
Core takeaway
large creative visions succeed only when operational logistics run flawlessly
00:50
01:05
Live choreography performance on stage at Gazprom Arena
01:11
Mass choir performance at Rastrelli Square near Smolny Cathedral

Event Coordination · School Projects

School events
& execution

Hands-on experience turning ideas into structured programs for different school audiences. I developed scripts and choreography, coordinated participants and rehearsals, and designed interactive formats including demonstration lessons, intellectual quizzes and quest-based tours. Experience as a debate leader and peer mediator strengthened my ability to lead teams and work across different perspectives.

04
End-to-end ownership
from concept and program design to final delivery
Team leadership
coordinated 15–25 person teams through rehearsals and performance
Resource management
worked within fixed school budgets for costumes, lighting and logistics
Process improvement
refined planning, coordination and audience engagement with each edition
Peer mediation team presenting at regional competition
Darina speaking as debate leader during school competition
03:00
Students participating in an interactive quest tour
00:59

Social Impact & Research

Inclusive cultural
experiences

LOGOS is a dance project exploring how gestures can speak louder than words (3rd Place, Sozhsky Karagod International Festival). Additionally, I have performed in Brys at the State Theatre of Musical Comedy, a production advocating for stray animals with tickets distributed through charities. I have also contributed to volunteer shows for retired actors in a nursing home.
My research on disability inclusion showed that every project should consider diverse needs.

05
LOGOS project
non-verbal communication through dance
50+ performances
professional stage experience and charitable outreach
Cross-sector experience
theatre + charities + nursing homes
Driving purpose
accessibility as an essential standard for audience engagement
View research project · PDF
01:45
Award ceremony at Sozhsky Karagod International Festival
LOGOS sign-language dance performance on stage
Volunteer theatrical performance for retired actors in a nursing home
04:05
03 / Foundation

What drives
my readiness.

Illustration of a flying pig reading a book
Academic profile & analytical foundation
5.0 / 5.0 Unweighted GPA
  • Class Rank: 1 / 48 students
  • Specialized Psychology & Education curriculum (focus on behavioral understanding and group dynamics)
  • Semifinalist in Academic Olympiads in Financial Literacy, Economics, and Business Fundamentals
  • Coursework covering organizational behavior and conflict management
PDF · Certificates & Diplomas
Leadership & negotiation

Debate & mediation

  • First Speaker & Debate Leader in competitive brackets (2,000+ participants)
  • St. Petersburg City Mediation Tournament Winner
  • Youth Law Enforcement Rally & Spartakiad Competitor — applied legal frameworks, conflict resolution, and group dynamics in team challenges
PDF · Certificates & Diplomas
Practical work experience

Official employment & volunteering

  • 9 months choreographic assistant
  • 6 months school assistant
  • 7-Year Modern Dance Diploma with official state authorization for children's dance instruction
  • Registered Volunteer supporting elderly stage performers and inclusive community initiatives (120+ hours)
PDF · Certificates & Diplomas
Research & Analysis

Macro-environment & socio-economic analysis

Research on systemic barriers, economic resource allocation, and institutional stability (Educational Disparities, The Resource Curse in Libya) — evaluating external factors shaping human capital and market risks.

PDF · READ STUDY

Market dynamics & industry strategy

Applied evaluation of sectoral opportunities (Aquaculture Development in Chile) — analyzing market conditions, supply chain parameters, and financial viability that determine project scalability.

PDF · READ STUDY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & SCALE

Extensive experience across major venues: Gazprom Arena (60,000+), BKZ Oktyabrsky Concert Hall (3700+), the State Theatre of Musical Comedy, and others

Knowledge of arena crowd dynamics, multi-camera production logistics, and live televised broadcasts

Experience in event organization and on-site delivery

Performances & Awards · PDF
04 / Approach

From insight to structure.

01
Perception

Working with teenagers, seniors, and creative professionals across projects of different scales has shown me how differently people perceive the same space. Instead of assuming what an audience wants, I begin with their actual barriers and needs so the final outcome is engaging and truly works for them.

02
Systems

Creative ambition only holds when the structure underneath is reliable: clear roles, realistic timelines, resource allocation, and coordination. I focus on setting up each project so it remains workable under real constraints, allowing the execution to stay consistent and considered from start to finish.

03
Purpose

My next step is to strengthen the business and organizational side of this work. I want to apply strategy, resource management and operational clarity to professional events and cultural projects, so ideas can grow into initiatives that are both viable and carefully shaped for the people they serve.

Illustration of a flying pig standing
06 / Contact

Let's make these
wings count.

MIKHALINADARINA@GMAIL.COM
Download CV · PDF
© 2026 Darina Mikhalina. All rights reserved.