A former Komsomol activist and engineer at Zelenograd Institute of Molecular Electronics, she went into politics in 1989, joining Boris Yeltsin's support team for the Congress of People's Deputies election.
[2] From 1991 to 1997, she was first deputy prefect of Zelenograd Administrative Okrug for science, industry and entrepreneurship development.
[3] In 1998, 1991 and 1996 she was a representative of Boris Yeltsin during the parliamentary and presidential elections.
[4][5][6][7] In November 1997 – May 1998 she was a Deputy Chief of the Presidential Staff for regions, succeeded in 1998 by Vladimir Putin, in November 1998 – January 1999 she was President Yeltsin's adviser.
[9] She is a friend of Tatyana Dyachenko, Yeltsin's daughter.