Never downplay a serendipity – everything might be for a reason!

When I flick through the new issue of The Baltic Times Magazine – every bit as dear to me as all the others in the past, I find myself contemplating that the majority of the successful ground-breaking heroes have found themselves in the right place at the right time – at least at some stretches of their lives.

Of course, personal traits, like being determined, hard-working, goal-oriented and smart, mattered and matter a lot in building successful careers and rising to the top, yet – who knows? – maybe the “right-right” thing has been more than serendipitous?

The story of our cover hero, Vilma Vaitiekunaite, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Skyllence, which is part of AVIA Solution Group, a recognized international aviation market player, is not different.

Asked how a girl from the sleepy Lithuanian-border town of Kazlu Ruda, ended up orchestrating the Group’s communications and, from now on, will be heading Skyllence, the Group’s company specializing in the planning and provision of corporate, private, and group air charter flights in the Baltics and all over the globe, Ms Vilma answers simply, grinning: “I came to Vilnius to study and things here happened on their own.”

With the ambitious plan to be the best while serving all the high-sky jetsetters– Ms Vilma cannot even think of less! – she may be destined for something a lot more – shattering the aviation industry’s machismo.

“The situation is changing slowly, in aviation as well. The world has finally realised that women are that hidden resource, which can bring a lot of talent into any industry,” the Skyllence CEO says.

But frankly, I cannot even be sure if the “to-be-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time” is applicable to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian opposition, who now lives in exile in Vilnius.

Being a loving mother and wife, in a twist of destiny and history-making, she has become a tough warrior, leading her country’s battle for democracy and freedom while sacrificing so much in her personal life.

“When the war ends in Ukraine, Ukraine’s victory will trigger something big – a change of the regime not only in Russia, but in Belarus too,” Ms Sviatlana emphasised to The Baltic Times Magazine.

Understandably, the topic of war is still on the lips of many – we haven’t gotten an inch closer to peace over the last half year. 

How long will the bloodshed last?

While the passage of three Baltic mayors – Valdas Benkunskas of Vilnius, Martins Stakis of Riga and Mihhail Kolvart, mayor of Tallinn – to the top job of the respective capital cities – can certainly not be chalked off to a set of serendipities, the “right-right” thing cannot be disregarded either.

The three mayors cordially invite one to the great cities, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn, and suggest that the future belongs to them – so cosy, green, smart and safe!

No doubt about that!

 

Yours sincerely,

Linas Jegelevicius

The Baltic Times Magazine editor-in-chief