From Operations to Sustainability: Insights from Oleksandra Fomin-Liachovic

I am originally from Ukraine. I was born in Uzhhorod and grew up in the small town of Irshava in the Zakarpattia region. Growing up in a small community taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of taking initiative. From an early age, I was interested in education, leadership, and creating opportunities not only for myself but also for others. These values would later shape both my academic and professional journey.

My academic path led me to the National University of Ostroh Academy, one of Ukraine’s most respected universities. As a scholarship student, I became actively involved in student leadership, academic publishing, youth initiatives, and community development projects. During my studies, I was also awarded a scholarship from the Government of Lithuania, which allowed me to study abroad and experience a different educational and cultural environment. Living and studying internationally broadened my perspective and strengthened my interest in international cooperation and cross-cultural collaboration.

Alongside my studies, I launched and coordinated several youth and community initiatives. One of the projects I initiated later evolved into an official department within the Municipal Youth Council of Ostroh. I was also involved in organizing academic conferences, educational events, and international youth programs. These experiences helped me develop skills in project management, stakeholder engagement, communication, and leadership while showing me how local initiatives can create meaningful and lasting impact.

A defining moment in my journey came in 2022, when the full-scale war in Ukraine began. At that time, I decided to move forward with a sustainability-focused startup idea that I had been developing with mentors in Lithuania through a program for young entrepreneurs. Despite the uncertainty of the war, I co-founded Sustainable Agency, secured grant funding for the development of a sustainability chatbot, built partnerships, and coordinated a volunteer team. The experience taught me how to lead through uncertainty, build projects with limited resources, and turn challenges into opportunities for innovation and impact.

The same year, I received a scholarship to join the Kectil International Youth Leadership Program. Following a successful year in the program, I was invited to the United States in 2023 to represent Ukraine and share my experiences during one of the most difficult periods in my country’s modern history. In 2024, I was elected to the Kectil Board, and in 2025 I launched the Kectil Community Projects initiative, aimed at strengthening participant engagement and creating opportunities for young leaders to develop and implement community impact projects. As part of this initiative, I coordinate international activities, webinars, speaker sessions, and a volunteer team, while supporting more than 1,400 participants across the global Kectil network.

Today, alongside my role at EY, where I work with financial reporting, analysis, and documentation in an international environment, I continue to contribute to leadership, sustainability, and international development initiatives. Looking back, my journey has never been linear, but every experience has reinforced my belief that meaningful change is created through collaboration, continuous learning, and the courage to take action when it matters most.

Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have learned that innovation is rarely just about technology. While new tools and digital solutions are important, meaningful innovation begins with understanding people, their needs, and the challenges they face. Whether I was working on community initiatives, developing a sustainability-focused startup, or supporting projects in an international environment, I found that the most successful ideas were those that solved real problems and brought people together around a shared purpose.

Another important lesson has been that leadership is not about authority or titles, but about responsibility and service. Many of my leadership experiences began long before I held formal positions. From initiating youth projects and coordinating volunteer teams to mentoring participants and serving on international boards, I learned that leadership is about creating opportunities for others, building trust, and helping people succeed. The most effective leaders I have met were those who listened carefully, empowered others, and remained willing to learn themselves.

The experience of living through the war in Ukraine reinforced this lesson even further. During times of uncertainty, people do not look for perfect plans; they look for stability, direction, and someone willing to take action. Launching projects and coordinating teams under challenging circumstances taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of focusing on solutions rather than obstacles.

My work in sustainability also shaped my perspective on development and innovation. I came to understand that sustainability is not only an environmental concept; it is also about creating long-term social and economic value. Projects become truly sustainable when they continue creating positive impact long after the initial idea, funding, or enthusiasm has passed. This belief influenced my work in community initiatives, educational programs, and sustainability-focused projects.

Finally, international experiences have shown me the value of collaboration across cultures, sectors, and disciplines. Studying abroad, participating in global leadership programs, and working with people from different countries taught me that complex challenges cannot be solved in isolation. Innovation, leadership, and sustainable development all depend on our ability to learn from one another, combine diverse perspectives, and build partnerships that create lasting impact. These lessons continue to guide both my professional decisions and my long-term aspirations.

Looking back on my journey, I believe that the most significant challenges I have faced have also become my greatest teachers. Whether it was launching projects with limited resources, navigating uncertainty during the war in Ukraine, adapting to new countries and environments, or taking on responsibilities beyond my comfort zone, each experience has shaped my perspective on leadership and professional growth.

One of the most important lessons I have learned is the value of relationships and collaboration. Early in my career, I often believed that success depended primarily on knowledge and hard work. While these are essential, I gradually realized that meaningful opportunities are created through people. Many of the most impactful projects, international programs, and leadership opportunities in my life became possible because of collaboration, trust, and the willingness to build genuine relationships. Strong networks are not just professional assets; they are communities that help us learn, grow, and create greater impact together.

The second lesson is the importance of discipline and continuous self-development. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline creates consistency. Many opportunities in my life—from scholarships and international programs to leadership roles—required sustained effort over long periods of time. I learned that personal growth often means facing uncomfortable situations, challenging self-doubt, and developing the habits necessary to achieve long-term goals. Some of my biggest breakthroughs happened only after I confronted fears that initially seemed overwhelming.

A third lesson is that growth rarely happens inside our comfort zones. Some of the most transformative experiences in my life began with uncertainty: studying abroad, launching a startup during wartime, speaking on international stages, or taking on leadership responsibilities for projects involving hundreds of participants. Those experiences taught me that confidence is not something we wait to feel before acting; it is something we build through action itself.

The fourth lesson is resilience. The full-scale war in Ukraine changed the lives of millions of people, including my own. It taught me that uncertainty is often unavoidable, but our response to it remains within our control. During difficult periods, I learned to focus on solutions, adapt quickly, and continue moving forward even when circumstances were far from ideal. Resilience is not about avoiding difficulties; it is about learning how to grow through them.

Finally, I have learned that leadership is not about titles or authority. Leadership is about creating opportunities for others, helping people recognize their potential, and building environments where individuals and communities can thrive. Whether mentoring young leaders, coordinating international initiatives, or managing project teams, I have found the greatest satisfaction not in personal achievements but in seeing others succeed. This belief continues to guide my professional decisions and the type of impact I hope to create in the future.

When I think about the future, I believe the most important trend is not technology itself, but the people who will shape how technology is used. Every generation faces its own defining challenges, and throughout history, young people have often been the driving force behind social, economic, and technological change. I believe this will remain true over the next decade.

Today’s young generation is growing up in a world that is more connected than ever before. They have access to unlimited information, global networks, and opportunities that previous generations could hardly imagine. At the same time, they are also facing new challenges. The rise of social media, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms has created an environment where misinformation, distorted realities, and information overload have become increasingly common. Having access to information is no longer enough; the real challenge is learning how to evaluate it critically.

For this reason, I believe one of the most important responsibilities of leaders, educators, and institutions is to invest in young people. We need to help them develop critical thinking, media literacy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to distinguish facts from opinions. These skills will be just as important as technical knowledge in the future.

My experiences working with youth initiatives, leadership programs, and international communities have shown me that young people are eager to contribute and create positive change when they are given the right opportunities and support. Through programs such as Kectil and other community projects, I have seen firsthand how mentorship, education, and international collaboration can empower individuals to transform ideas into meaningful action.

Ultimately, I believe the organizations and societies that will thrive in the coming decade will be those that invest in the next generation. Technology will continue to evolve, but it is people who will determine whether that technology is used to divide, mislead, and create uncertainty, or to solve problems, strengthen communities, and build a more sustainable future. Our role as leaders is not only to adapt to change ourselves, but also to help prepare the next generation to lead it.

International collaboration is essential because the most important challenges we face today do not stop at national borders. Whether we talk about technological innovation, sustainability, economic development, education, or security, no single country, organization, or sector can solve these issues alone. Progress happens when people with different experiences, expertise, and perspectives come together to share knowledge and work toward common goals.

My own experiences have reinforced this belief. Through studying abroad in Lithuania, participating in international leadership programs, representing Ukraine in the United States, and collaborating with professionals and young leaders from around the world, I have seen how diverse perspectives often lead to stronger ideas and better solutions. International cooperation creates opportunities not only to exchange knowledge but also to build trust, mutual understanding, and long-term partnerships.

The importance of international collaboration has become especially visible through the experience of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the support of international partners, organizations, governments, businesses, and civil society has demonstrated how interconnected our world truly is. Many initiatives that support resilience, recovery, education, and innovation would not have been possible without global cooperation. This experience has shown me that international collaboration is not simply a strategic advantage—it is often the foundation for resilience, sustainable growth, and the ability to overcome challenges that no country can face alone.

One of the most important lessons I have learned through working with international programs, youth initiatives, and diverse communities is that meaningful progress is rarely achieved through competition alone. While I am encouraged to see more opportunities being created for women in business, technology, and innovation, I believe the ultimate goal should not be competition between women and men, but collaboration between them.

For many years, women faced barriers to education, leadership, and professional development, and it is important that these barriers continue to be addressed. At the same time, I believe we should be careful not to create new divisions while trying to solve old ones. The future I would like to see is one where opportunities are based on talent, commitment, and potential, regardless of gender.

Through my work with young people from different countries, I have observed that while many programs today focus on empowering young women, young men are also facing their own challenges. They too need mentorship, positive role models, emotional support, and opportunities to develop leadership skills. Building stronger societies requires investing in both young women and young men, rather than viewing their development as competing priorities.

I would also encourage organizations to think beyond gender-specific solutions whenever possible. Many of the challenges we face today—whether related to leadership, education, social inclusion, or community development—affect entire communities. Even in initiatives designed to support vulnerable groups of women, long-term impact often requires engaging men as partners in the conversation, helping build understanding, respect, and shared responsibility.

My advice to young women pursuing international careers would be to focus on developing competence, confidence, and strong values rather than comparing themselves to others. Build meaningful relationships, seek mentors, remain curious, and never stop learning. Some of the most valuable opportunities in my own life came not from trying to outperform others, but from collaborating with people who shared a common purpose.

Ultimately, I believe the strongest teams, organizations, and societies are built on equality, mutual respect, and inclusion. The goal should not be to replace one imbalance with another, but to create environments where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, grow, and succeed together. That, in my view, is what sustainable progress truly looks like.

When I think about my future, I do not focus on specific job titles or positions. What motivates me most is the opportunity to contribute to something meaningful and create value through the knowledge, skills, and resources available to me. I have always believed that work becomes truly fulfilling when it serves a purpose beyond personal achievement.

Over the past few years, I have become increasingly convinced that impact matters more than visibility. In a world where social media often encourages us to constantly share and showcase our accomplishments, I have found myself moving in the opposite direction. In recent months, I have been far less active online, partly because I realized that the results of meaningful work speak for themselves. The projects we build, the people we support, and the opportunities we help create often leave a stronger legacy than any post or announcement ever could.

Professionally, I hope to continue working at the intersection of leadership, education, sustainability, and international collaboration. These are areas that have shaped my own journey and where I believe I can contribute the most. Whether through community initiatives, international programs, business projects, or mentoring young leaders, my goal is to help connect people, ideas, and opportunities in ways that create long-term positive impact.

I also hope to continue learning. One lesson life has taught me is that no matter how much experience we gain, there is always more to discover. The world is changing rapidly, and I believe curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning will remain essential qualities for anyone who wants to contribute meaningfully to society.

Ultimately, if there is one impact I would like to leave through my work and leadership, it is helping people realize their potential and encouraging them to create positive change within their own communities. I do not believe that changing the world always requires grand gestures. More often, it happens through consistent actions, collaboration, and the willingness to use our knowledge and resources to make things a little better than we found them. If my work contributes to that process, I will consider it a meaningful success.