Ekaterina Sizova: Blending Strategic Thinking With Operational Excellence To Deliver Customer-Centric Innovation

In today’s evolving education sector, mathematics is no longer taught in isolation. Schools specializing in the subject are leveraging modern technologies and pedagogies to integrate math with science, technology, and economics, and even the arts. The cross-disciplinary approach not only enhances critical thinking but also prepares students for complexity if real-world problems-solving in a digitally interconnected economy.

Leading the charge to equip students with the modern-day mathematic skills is Ekaterina Sizova, the Principal of Russian School of Mathematics (RSM), Tel Aviv. Within a year of coming on board, she successfully established seven locations in Tel Aviv by collaborating with public schools.

Beyond being a math whiz, Ekaterina is an innovation facilitator as well. With a strong foundation in both technology and management, she leverages her acumen to bring an end-to-end experience in building and launching B2C, B2B, and B2G products globally. Her entrepreneurial journey is driven by a passion for problem solving and purposeful design. It spans diverse verticals including FoodTech (dark kitchens), EdTech (online courses, math education, educational centers), HealthTech (functional beverages), and hybrid hardware/software products for enriched customer experiences.

Take us through the formative years of your life.

With a lifelong foundation in Mathematics, my journey started in early childhood in St. Petersburg. Encouraged by both family and educators, I pursued competitive math programs and joined a specialized school through Olympiad participation. After completing high school, I pursued a degree in applied mathematics while simultaneously teaching. While I found purpose in education, I eventually realized I wanted to make a broader, more scalable impact beyond individual classrooms.

I then pursued a master’s in management at the Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University. Shifting from math-focused mindset to business disciplines was challenging, but it proved transformational in expanding my perspective and career direction.

Later, I ventured into entrepreneurship, initiating several projects with mixed outcomes. These formative experiences sharpened my resilience, strategic thinking, and ability to navigate uncertainty.

You have over a decade of experience as a product manager and entrepreneur. Take us through your diverse professional journey that touches several innovative products.

Starting as a high school math teacher at 18, I continued working through my undergraduate studies. An early research opportunity allowed me to apply mathematical concepts to real-world energy projects. This experience clarified my preference for dynamic, result-driven environments with human interactions. As a part of my master’s studies, I gained startup experience in Austria at Quested, where we developed tech-enabled learning tools. Later on, I helped launch and scale a dark kitchen business, making it profitable within three months, it was my first real-world project. After relocating to Israel, I briefly worked at a mobile gaming startup as a product manager before I was invited to launch Russian School of Mathematics in Tel Aviv.

What key areas of specialization have you developed as a product manager over the past decade?

My core strength lies in customer development, rapid product iteration, and driving people-centric innovation. I am frequently brought into projects to translate ideas into real-world solutions, refining them for usability, sustainability, and market relevance. I specialize in user research, product-market assessment, strategic planning, and leading high-performing cross-functional teams. At RSM in Israel, I have had the opportunity to help shape meaningful programs from the ground up. I thrive in early-stage environments, where I can build from scratch, refine through continuous learning, and deliver solutions that create measurable value.

Introduce us to Russian School of Mathematics? What’s the underlying idea and vision behind the venture?

Originally founded in Boston nearly 30 years ago, RSM now serves over 85,000 students across the U.S. and Canada. I was invited to lead its first global expansion into Israel, where I have restructured key elements to align with the local education and cultural landscape. RSM is one of the most successful in-class after-school math programs globally, with 90 percent of its operations held-in person. Its unique approach to math education strengthens conceptual understanding, abstract reasoning, and problem-solving.

What key role and responsibilities do you shoulder as the Principal of RSM Israel?

As a Principal, RSM in Tel Aviv I was the first employee in Israel and built operations form the ground up. My role includes establishing long-term partnerships with local schools, ensuring academic excellence, and recruiting top teaching talent. Today, I lead a passionate team of 10 educators. My role extends to student acquisition, day-to-day operations, and strategic planning. As RSM scales quickly in Israel, I am focused on building sustainable systems to support long-term regional expansion.

Stay resilient with a willingness to move forward

Our curriculum does not just teach numbers, it equips students with the cognitive tools needed to successfully navigate any future path.

How do you spend time beyond work? What are some activities or hobbies that you enjoy in your free time?

I balance my professional life with a love for books and an active lifestyle. I have been involved in mountaineering since high school and continue training through climbing and running. In Israel, I established a volleyball community for new immigrants to create social and physical engagement. I thrive on routines that challenge both brain and body and enjoy activities that build discipline and clarity. I prioritize habits like reading and fitness to refresh my focus and support both brain and body to peak performance.

What is your mantra for growth and success? What’s your vision for your professional future?

I believe that success often starts before one is fully ready. At RSM Tel Aviv, we embraced this startup mindset, launching two locations in September and growing to seven through rapid experimentation and iteration. If something did not work, we learned and moved on.

One value that anchors me: never give up-a lesson learnt form my father. My core principle is to stay persistent, no matter the challenge.

While I am currently focused on growing RSM across Israel, I am equally drawn to the FinTech and HealthTech sectors. Both offer high-impact opportunities to improve everyday life in Israel and align closely with my long-term goals.

Ekaterina Sizova, Principal, Russian School Of Mathematics Tel Aviv

With entrepreneurial experience in developing scalable solutions across businesses and industries, Ekaterina Sizova relies on her acumen to perform and excel globally. Her academic training in Applied Mathematics and Management informs a versatile approach to product development. From launching FoodTech and EdTech ventures to innovating in HealthTech and customer experience platforms, Ekaterina has driven products from concept to scale.