Since 2007, she has focused on design and research activities in urban economics, urban development, urban land management, municipal finance and urban law.
Her work and teaching experience includes leading Russian and international universities and organisations such as MIT, Harvard University, Cambridge University, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, UN-Habitat, and Jones Lang LaSalle.
Elena has served as the Head of the Centre for Urban Economics of Strelka Commercial Bank since 2016.