Before I left Russia in 1999, I was living in a very poor factory town with my family and friends, and nothing was ever going to change.

I was born in Nizhny Novgorod to a very poor family and unfortunately my father and mother separated when I was very little.

We all have our own purpose in life and I feel very strongly that I have a bigger purpose than giving to just my immediate family and friends.

I raised my sister. I was six when she was born. My mother had to make a living for herself and it was very hard, so I was looking after my sister, cooking and cleaning, and she had four jobs.

I live a very different life now, with incredible privileges, but looking back I realise that growing up in Russia gave me tools that other people don't necessarily have - such as the will to push that bit further, to make things happen, to succeed.

I learnt early to have little expectation so I protected myself from ever feeling greatly disappointed.