Art in all its permutations has always been valued for more than its decorative qualities. Like music, art evokes emotions, passions, and provokes thought. It encodes values, shapes identity, and reveals how societies think. It’s a reflection of history, religion, and it is, I submit, at its greatest a mystery.

Nowhere is this clearer than in the tradition of Eastern Orthodox icons. For centuries, icons have been “cultural DNA” in Russia, Ukraine, and across the Slavic world – wherever Greek Orthodox faith dominates. Yet, icons are beyond religious expression or relics. For me, collecting these works is not just about heritage or beauty. It’s a lens through which I interpret modern business strategy when I work on transnational business combinations, market entry projects, or political roadblocks. As an attorney and political strategist who, at times, advises Eastern European business leaders and politicians, I’ve found that icons teach lessons about resilience, symbolism, and culture that apply directly to leadership and negotiation. Moreover, they often explain seemingly irrational or awkward business rituals. These are often predicated on superstitions, traditions, and the sense of identity of principals and opinion leaders.