Human capital and decision-making are becoming key strategic risks for fast-growing companies. Speaking with Balticnews.com, Alena Padalnitskaya, Head of the League of Analysts at Zubr Capital, discusses why many ambitious young professionals struggle with independent decision-making and why this challenge has become increasingly important for investment funds and scaling businesses. Padalnitskaya explains the gap between university education and real business environments, where decisions often must be made under time pressure and with incomplete information. She also discusses how companies can develop analytical thinking through initiatives such as the League of Analysts and the Zubr Capital Young Hackathon. The conversation also explores how AI tools should be used in professional environments — not as a replacement for analytical thinking, but as a tool to support structured decision-making.