Each day she meets with the three sales representatives who work the Khabarovsk area, to plan the next step in what she jokingly calls the "chewing gum wars." The representatives gather in her office and report their findings: which kiosks aren't using the display racks, which stores don't have the full-color promotional posters hanging on the walls, which sellers ran out of their gum and didn't call to get more.

In her working relationships with the representatives -- all of whom are men, and all older than she is -- Larisa is coolly self-assured. She treats the employees under her supervision with respect, but makes clear what her expectations are. She gives them no room to criticize.