"If a business doesn't make money, it's a hobby" - Veronika Dubrovina on business, family, and the ability not to waste oneself.

      Veronika Dubrovina is not one to speak about business slyly, with the phrase "the main thing is calling." She talks about money, control, delegation, and the fatigue from arguing with people who cannot be convinced anyway. Behind her is a network of entertainment centers "Royal Quest," a recreation base in Crimea, a role as an investor in the first Russian horror park outdoors, and an ambitious resort project by the sea. At the same time, she manages to dance to good music when no one is looking and only regrets one thing: that the time with her family is always a little less than she would like. We spoke with her honestly – about failures, doubts, women in business, and why the happiness of guests is not just a beautiful slogan, but a very specific business strategy.

      What business decision was the hardest for you, and are you still unsure if it was the right one?

      Perhaps the most ambiguous decision was to bring my husband onto the team. This was a step I thought about for a long time, and honestly, I still ask myself: how comfortable is he in this role? I periodically ask myself this. There is no answer that completely satisfies me yet.

      What career failure do you now remember with gratitude?

      Our first joint business with friends – a lingerie store. We worked for about a year and closed it at a loss. It seemed like a classic story about "don't do business with friends" – but I remember this experience warmly and with sincere gratitude. It clarified many things: how to build relationships within a partnership, why a year is not enough time for conclusions, and most importantly – that development does not equal "investing everything you earned back." You need to move gradually and definitely save. Basic truths that you truly understand only through your own loss.

      What do you think of entrepreneurs who publicly say "I do this not for money"?

      With a slight skepticism. It seems to me that those who say this usually have a business that is more of a hobby, and their main income comes from somewhere else. That's fine, but then let's honestly call things by their names: a hobby is a hobby, even a very beautiful one. If a project does not earn money – it is not a business. I genuinely love everything I do; each project truly ignites me. But I am not at all sure that I would be as passionate if it did not bring in income. Money is not the only motivation, but it is a very honest indicator that you are doing something right.

      What do you spend time on and then regret – regularly, in a loop?

      I try not to regret anything – this is a principle I have consciously pursued. But to be honest, from time to time I catch myself wanting to prove my point to someone. That is a real trap. Once stating your position is enough. If a person has their own truth, no arguments will change it. I used to spend both energy and nerves on this. Now I understand: it simply is not worth my time. I understand and still sometimes find myself back in this loop. I am working on it.

      Is there something you sacrifice for business and try not to admit to yourself?

      Yes. It is time with family. I genuinely enjoy my work, and that is why I easily "fall" into it for an entire day, not noticing how the time has passed. And then you realize that once again you lacked those few hours when you just wanted to be close. Perhaps that is the thing that is easier not to articulate out loud: if you articulate it, you will have to do something about it.

      When was the last time you did something absolutely useless – without a goal, without a result, just for fun?

      To be honest, I have a real problem with this. I always act with some purpose. Even when I rest, I do it consciously: to work better later. Once on the subway, my phone died, and I usually work while traveling. And suddenly, for a whole hour – complete emptiness. I found nothing better than to start counting: how many people are looking at their phones, how many are reading, who is talking. Just to not sit idle. In the end, I even came to the conclusion: with a smartphone, we manage to do three times more than before. So even that became a mini-research. It seems I really find it difficult to just exist.

      Your business is tied to the emotions of guests. How do you handle negative reviews – especially those that are unfair?

      I often read reviews myself and respond to them; I genuinely enjoy it. When a negative one appears, we analyze the situation in detail: we look at the cameras, reconstruct the details, check if what was written corresponds to what actually happened. After that, the manager contacts the client personally: calmly, without a defensive position, just to figure things out together. Very often after such a conversation, people themselves admit that they simply misunderstood something. If contact is impossible, we provide a public response based on the facts. Not to justify ourselves, but to give a complete picture.

      Does being a woman help or hinder in negotiations with partners and contractors?

      Sometimes it hinders. There are times when you are not immediately perceived as an equal participant in the conversation; you need to earn that right first. To prove that you are here as an entrepreneur, not for some other reason. It is a bit tiring, but honestly, I have already gotten used to it: I perceive it as part of the game and just do my job.

      If you were offered to scale your business with an external investor but lose control – what is more important: growth or independence?

      In the past, I would have answered without hesitation: independence. Now my view has softened; I am ready to think about growth. But to completely let go of control – no, that is not me. Control for me is not about distrust, but about responsibility: for quality, for people, for what the final product turns out to be.

      What do you do in those rare hours when no one is looking for you and asking about anything?

      I watch movies, dance to good music, and go with my daughter wherever she wants. No plans, no agenda. Just being close – it turns out, you also need to know how to do that.

      What book, movie, or conversation changed your perspective on business?

      A turning point for me was Maxim Temchenko's financial literacy training "Millionaires Club." After several courses, I finally got out of operations, learned to delegate, and build a system instead of holding everything myself. Working with business coach Elena Gashnikova also gave me a lot, and she still doesn't let me "slip away" at the right moment. This is important: you need a person who structures you, sometimes gives you that push after which you just go and do.

      Is there a project you dream of but seems "too big" or "too strange" to implement?

      I have two such projects, and both have already stopped being just dreams. The first is "Hill Farm" in Elektrostal: the first themed horror park outdoors in the country on 7 hectares, with over 200 scary exhibits and 5 atmospheric locations. I am an investor and the general director; the opening is already in July. The second is the resort sports complex "Constellation" in Crimea: 6.5 hectares on the first line by the sea, with football fields, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and entertainment centers. The land is available, the project is ready; we just need to attract investors and wait for peace. Earlier, such scales seemed unattainable to me. Now I look at them differently: it is just the next step.

      What do you want people to feel when they leave your space? And does this match what they actually feel?

      My mission is a world of happy people. It sounds naive, but everything I do is behind this. "Royal Quest" brings happiness through bright emotions and excitement, "Sunny Idyl" in Crimea – through quality rest, silence, and a homely atmosphere. Even the horror park, I am sure, will be about happiness: just through adrenaline and that special feeling when you are scared, but you survived and are laughing. When a person is truly happy, there is simply no room for anything dark in their life. I believe in this. And I strive for each of my projects to confirm it.