From Corporate to Founder: Aya Kikimova on Fortune 500 Marketing, Small Business ROI, and Building Leap Engine Without Funding

In this episode of Uncomplicated, I sit down with Aya Kikimova, Founder of Leap Engine and former Microsoft marketing leader, to unpack what it really takes to leave “golden shackles,” build a business from referrals, and deliver growth that’s rooted in data, margins, and real ROI, not hype.

Born in Kazakhstan and arriving in the U.S. at 16 with no computer skills, Aya built her way to an MBA and a powerhouse corporate career. In 2021, she walked away from corporate life as a new mom and launched Leap Engine in the middle of the pandemic, no outside funding, no safety net, just skill, resilience, and a mission to make high-level marketing accessible to small businesses.

Today, Leap Engine has generated $100M+ in revenue for 100+ clients, proving that small businesses can get Fortune 500 strategy without paying Fortune 500 prices.

We cover:

• Aya’s journey from Kazakhstan to the U.S. at 16 and how she rebuilt from zero
• How she broke into Microsoft and earned recognition in the top 0.01%
• What $50M/year in ad spend teaches you about accountability, testing, and ROI
• The “golden shackles” moment: leaving corporate as a new mom with no funding
• How Leap Engine grew through referrals and why Aya didn’t plan to start an agency
• The difference between enterprise strategy and what actually works for small businesses
• Aya’s GPS audit (Growth / Profit / Sales) and the numbers founders must know
• When marketing isn’t the answer yet (and why Aya turns businesses down)
• The role of social proof, conversion paths, and clean digital foundations
• AI in marketing: why it’s exciting, but not “set it and forget it”
• The myth Aya wants to bust forever: “Guaranteed results”

Key Takeaways:

• Small business marketing fails when the math doesn’t work not because “marketing doesn’t work.”
• Strong growth starts with LTV, margins, and conversion paths before scaling spend.
• Data-driven testing beats guesswork especially with limited budgets.
• AI can enhance execution, but strategy still needs humans.
• Sustainable growth comes from clarity, not shiny tactics or promises.

This is a grounded, tactical episode for founders who want to spend smarter, build stronger foundations, and grow in a way that actually supports their life not just their revenue.

🔗 Connect with Aya Kikimova / Leap Engine:
 Leap Engine: https://leapengine.co/
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akikimova

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