Elena Klaas has built a career defined by her ability to bring together people, ideas, and strategies across cultures and industries. At ToYou, she works as the director of processes and reporting, overseeing planning, reporting, data management, and supervising the work of the business intelligence team. She leads weekly meetings with her staff, focusing not only on operational excellence but also on cultivating professional development within her team. She values the relationships she has built and takes pride in empowering others to grow in their careers. The trust she inspires is reflected in the recognition she has received from colleagues, including a former manager who invited her to join a new project based on her proven contributions.
Ms. Klaas’ academic background has been integral to her success and continues to inform her leadership approach. She earned a Master of Business Administration in strategic management and finance from the School of Business at The University of Chicago, Booth. She also completed coursework in financial management at Finance University under the Government of the Russian Federation and holds a Bachelor of Science in management and business administration from Touro University in New York City, awarded in partnership with a Moscow-based institution. This combination of international education and financial expertise equipped her with the skills to thrive in both consulting and corporate leadership.
Previously, as deepwater financial control manager at Maurel & Prom, Ms. Klaas managed complex financial operations in the energy sector, refining her expertise in oversight and collaboration. At OFS International LLC and NewTech Services, she worked as a project manager, leading initiatives that improved efficiency and strengthened organizational performance. During her tenure at LUKOIL, she was a planning and cost efficiency manager, coordinating communication among operations, finance, and geology teams, an experience she regarded as especially meaningful because of its emphasis on integrating diverse perspectives.
Ms. Klaas’ career foundation was established in consulting, beginning with Ernst & Young and later A.T. Kearney, where she advised clients facing challenging business environments. Earlier roles as a business analyst at Arthur Andersen LLP and junior financial analyst at Norilsk Nickel gave her exposure to international business practices and prepared her for the complex responsibilities she would later assume.
Beyond her corporate roles, Ms. Klaas has been active in civic and community leadership. She volunteered as a troop co-leader for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, a role that allowed her to mentor youth and encourage the development of leadership skills. She has also pursued entrepreneurial endeavors, launching an e-commerce business designed to simplify the online shopping experience with curated collections that prioritize accessibility and customer comfort.
Ms. Klaas personal life is equally dynamic. She enjoys writing and is in the process of authoring a book about her family’s history. She also pursues genealogy research, practices yoga, studies coding, and plays video games with her children. Her daughter is involved in Model United Nations and is considering following her mother’s academic path to The University of Chicago, while her son shares her passion for technology through coding projects and creative work in Minecraft.
Looking to the future, Ms. Klaas intends to continue guiding organizations as they integrate artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into their operations. She is particularly interested in supporting businesses through transformation and exploring opportunities in private equity operations, especially turnaround work. She also envisions academic collaborations or speaking engagements that would allow her to share her insights on leadership, cross-cultural communication and organizational evolution. At the same time, she remains committed to growing her entrepreneurial venture into a sustainable business rooted in ethical values.