258 | Breaking Barriers: Svetlana Winters’ Journey from Russia to CFO in American Oil & Gas

Breaking Barriers: Svetlana Winters’ Journey from Russia to CFO in American Oil & Gas

In this episode, we sit down with Svetlana Winters, CFO at Alteriver, whose journey from Russia to the executive boardroom of a U.S. oil & gas company is nothing short of inspiring.

Svetlana shares how she left a top finance role in Russia to start over in the United States—facing language barriers, cultural challenges, and the uphill climb of rebuilding her career from the ground up. Her story is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and the strength required to thrive in male-dominated industries.

Key Insights You’ll Learn

Starting Over with Courage: How Svetlana navigated language and cultural barriers while rebuilding her career in a new country.

Leadership in Oil & Gas: The realities of being a woman leader in a highly male-dominated sector—and how she earned respect through expertise and resilience.

The CFO’s Role Beyond Numbers: Why financial leadership is about relationships, trust, and proactive decision-making, not just balance sheets.

Building Trust as a Leader: Svetlana’s three-part formula for becoming a trusted advisor: build credibility through action, anticipate needs, and communicate with clarity.

Global Lessons in Leadership: The cultural differences in management styles she’s observed across Russia, the U.S., and beyond—and how they’ve shaped her approach.

Svetlana’s journey shows that even when you have to start over, determination, strategy, and a positive outlook can take you to the very top.

🌐 Official Podcast Title

Breaking Barriers: Svetlana Winters’ Journey from Russia to CFO in American Oil & Gas

🔗 Where to Find our Guest

What Guest is Promoting: https://alteriver.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlanawinters/

👤 Guest Bio – Svetlana Winters

Svetlana Winters is a seasoned finance and accounting leader with over 25 years of experience spanning FP&A, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial management. Currently serving as CFO at Alteriver, Svetlana has driven transformative initiatives including a $70 million cost recovery, IPO-critical audits, and the overhaul of asset management systems.

Her career includes senior roles at industry giants like Baker Hughes, CNJ Energy Services, and Tubular Solutions, where she led GAAP/IFRS compliance, tax strategy, and capital planning. Svetlana holds both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in accountancy and auditing from the East Siberian University of Technology, is a certified financial director and professional accountant through IFAC, and is fluent in English and Russian.

Her global perspective, technical expertise, and passion for mentoring make her a powerhouse in the world of finance and a role model for aspiring leaders.