Women in Tech: Interview With Kseniia Ivanova, a Woman of VFX

Kseniia Ivanova is a founder of boutique VFX studio InSoul Effects, known for producing effects for significant blockbusters. But her superpowers do not stop here. She is also a driving force behind significant blockbusters such as Game of Thrones, Empire V, Leftovers, Love and Monsters, Tomb Raider, and Mary Magdalene Jock Wick 2, among other creative ventures.

So, what is hidden behind Kseniia's personality? Let’s reveal it!

Tell the HackerNoon Fam about yourself

Greetings! As you might have guessed from the title, I'm Kseniia Ivanova, the mastermind and founder of InSoul Effects, a boutique VFX studio. Our passion lies in creating magic for movies and series in our company. We've been fortunate to work on some fantastic projects, Pennyworth, Santo, Shattered, and Under the Banner of Heaven.

Why did you choose this field in the first place?

Thanks to my family, I was exposed in books, movies, and music. I loved using my imagination to create stories. Chess, violin, and art classes helped me develop critical thinking skills and an eye for aesthetics. I also developed a passion for computer games and programming, eventually leading to a visual effects career (VFX).

While studying filmmaking at university, I realized that my love for movies and my programming skills could be combined in the field of VFX. Along the way, I discovered Cinefex, a magazine that covered VFX in films and proved to be a valuable resource for me. Nevertheless, breaking into the industry was challenging, as there was no information about creating computer graphics in my native language.

What tech are you most excited/passionate about right now and why?

In the VFX field, artificial intelligence has long been a hot issue. I love the concept that you can automate boring stuff since I am all up to that! So, we are exploring all possible solutions for implementing this technology into our ecosystem.

Another exciting topic is real time rendering. As a vivid example, Pixar’s Toy Story movie utilized 800,000 machine hours and 114,240 animation frames across 1,561 shots, lasting around 77 minutes. Interestingly, some sources claimed that Pixar renders less than 30 seconds per day which is hard to believe! Today, producer Jonas Rivara claims that if they had to render “Toy Story,” they would take so little time that you could watch the entire movie in one sitting.

What are you most worried about right now and why?

ChatGPT remains one of the significant concerns for me as people spend more time chatting with this artificial intelligence technology on their mobile devices than speaking with real people in the physical world. Of course, this technology is well-trained and creates a grand illusion of you being right and being heard.

However, I notice that more and more people prefer chatting with the ML tool, escaping the reality of today’s world. The more advanced the technology, the more lonely and isolated people may become.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of tech?

My childhood affinity for literature and television series continues to this day. I enjoy reading, whether it is classic, non-fiction, or poetry. I also love to write mostly short but several times I've written some screenplays.  Who knows, maybe one day it could come to life at InSoul Effects.

Let's talk about breaking the glass ceiling. What were the biggest challenges you faced as a woman in tech, and how did you deal with them?

Throughout my career, I've seen some unpleasant and unequal attitudes toward women in the tech industry. But I've also seen progress over the years, and I'm hopeful it will continue. Regarding my work, I focus on finding clients, colleagues, and partners who prioritize professionalism and experience and share my values. And if a workplace doesn't feel right, I have no problem moving on.

As for me, finding ourselves in a male-dominated industry that does not want to acknowledge the leadership role of women, earning respect has been a struggle. Recognizing business communication styles of each gender helped me better understand our colleagues and get the most out of our working relationships, creating a win-win for all. Sometimes I have to act more aggressive and unyielding - and often just for show rather than for the cause. In some places, people wouldn’t expect to see me as a CEO — thinking that I’m simply a secretary or coordinator of the project.

Despite progress, women still face significant disparities in representation, pay, and opportunities compared to their male counterparts. We must address these disparities' root causes to change the status quo.

This means tackling implicit bias, providing equal opportunities for education and training, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and implementing fair hiring and promotion practices.

Any questionable misogynistic story/situation you faced/handled and you want to share with the HackerNoon Fam?

As an intern, the studio's boss told me I would never succeed as a VFX artist. A few years later, I disproved his assertion. There was also another situation, when a studio owner informed me at a Christmas party that there were no excellent female artists in the world and that he didn't believe one could exist.

I really doubt we ever cross paths since they are still stuck in the same market they were 10 years ago.  And one valuable lesson I learned from these experiences is not to take it personally and waste time on toxic people.

What was your biggest setback/failure, and how did you manage it?

I was surrounded by people that needed my support and aid throughout my career to accomplish their objectives. This has led me to take on risky projects - other people were scared enough to take full responsibility for them. Despite the risks involved, I successfully delivered each project, which helped shape my mindset before co-founding InSoul Effect, a VFX company, with my business partner.

It never scared me to accomplish impossible tasks, and I prefer to do them over simple projects as they are more exciting and entertaining. Yet, one of my most challenging setbacks was the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As a Russian citizen, navigating society has become increasingly complex, leading to numerous roadblocks in our career and business lives. I cannot change my passport, but this situation has revealed those who are professional enough to separate a country from a person. Despite these challenges, there is still a substantial demand for our services.

What's your most significant achievement that you're really proud of?

A turning point in my career came when I was offered to work on Game of Thrones in Australia. I was 23, and my career was starting. After taking this job, everything appeared more straightforward and doable, and I was confident that nothing was impossible.

Therefore, never question your abilities, even if your dream feels too challenging. Once you overcome those obstacles, you realize you can achieve anything.

Who is your tech idol? Why?

Alan Mathison Turing. The man ended the war, that's impressive.

Do you have any advice for aspiring girls who want to join the field?

Never doubt yourself, and go for it! It’s the most fantastic time to be in tech, so don’t be afraid of anything - we will navigate through hardships together!

This was truly meaningful! Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your ‘backstory’ and expertise!