Resolute. Real. Caring – key stories and insights from SHE Congress 2025
23 December 2025 14:43
on December 17, Kyiv became the center of power of ideas and bold decisions – it hosted the She Congress under the auspices of WoMo. The event brought together leading representatives of business, social initiatives, creative industries and education around practical cases, strong personal stories and growth strategies. She Congress has become a space where new meanings, partnerships, and impulses for development in times of change are born.
In the morning, guests were greeted with velcro coffee from Foundation Coffee Roasters. This year’s congress was hosted by Yulia Zoriy (ICTV2). In her welcoming speech , Tetiana Smirnova (ekonomika) emphasized the importance of internal support and gratitude to oneself.
Leadership in action and how women change the rules of the game
The event was opened by the She in Business panel moderated by Yevheniia Blyzniuk (Gradus). The panelists Yulia Zavalishyna (Kyivstar), Tetiana Abramova (Rito Group), Maryna Avdeeva (Arsenal Insurance), Kateryna Zagoriy (Darnitsa), and Polina Lysenko (NABU) shared stories that strengthen modern women leaders and discussed the principles of transparency, strategic thinking, and courage to act.
Svitlana Tyuhayeva (UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group) spoke about the role of technology and humanity in shaping the new financial reality in her presentation “Finances of the Future”.
“We have gone from a small regional bank to one of the major players. And to do this, you need to constantly change.”
Olena Lada (BROCARD) in her presentation “Light Projects in Dark Times” showed how space design and atmosphere influence customer behavior and create new commercial meanings.
Support for women’s leadership and the role of allies in business was discussed during the He for She panel moderated by Yuriy Klyatskin (Klyatskin School of Improvisation). Sergiy Martynchuk (Cisco Ukraine), Sergiy Naumov (Oschadbank), and Vladislav Antipov (CERN) joined the conversation. The participants shared their management cases and emphasized how diversity in teams affects the quality of solutions, corporate culture, and business efficiency.
Natalia Franchuk (STB) spoke emotionally and insightfully about creating content that resonates with the needs of women and approaches to forming products and formats in accordance with the expectations of a modern audience.
Good deeds and creative solutions that change the world around us
The She in Social panel, moderated by Natalia Dmytrenko (Presidential Administration), showed how social projects change communities. Tetyana Kukhotska (Heart of Azovstal), Tata Kepler (Birds by the Charity Foundation “Feel”), Ksenia Voznitsyna (Forest Glade), Oksana Lebedeva (Gen.Ukrainian), Valeria Tatarchuk (Your Support) highlighted the stories of initiatives that combine charity at the call of the heart with a strategic approach.
And She in Creative Industries, moderated by Ivanna Slaboshpytska (KIEV24), brought together media and design leaders. Vlad Ivanenko (Playboy), Antonina Khyzhnyak (Honored Artist of Ukraine), Iryna Metniova (Vandog Agency), Svitlana Tereshchenko (BORISTENE), Anna Machukh (OIFF) shared their experience in project development and the entry of Ukrainian brands into the international market. And Tetiana Korovina (Molokiya) told how creative solutions inspire women to come up with bold ideas and new projects.
“The worst thing a woman can do for herself in the creative industry, business, everyday life, and in general in her life is to stop trying new things,” said Tetiana.
Education and communications as the basis for future changes
In an interview titled “Educational Track 360°: A Strategy That Grows with the Child,” Tetiana Smirnova (ekonomika) and Olena Sahitova (KMDS Grand) discussed the integration of school development strategies with children’s needs.
The She in Education panel moderated by Tetiana Sherman (DTEK Academy) highlighted the key competencies of the future and academic leadership. Anna Mishchenko (Nizhny Kyiv State University), Yulia Yudina (Collider), Lilia Grinevich (Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine), and Valentyna Sakhno (Graduate Business School) discussed the creation of modern educational programs.
The She in Communications panel moderated by Olena Moshenets (Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine) focused on strategic communications and brand strengthening. Participants: Olena Derevyanko (PR-Service Agency), Oksana Stekhina (dentsu Ukraine), Ksenia Tyurikova (WTECH), Irina Miliutina (SCM).
The She in Health panel moderated by Olga Zyma (ekonomika) discussed health as a resource for leadership. Valeria Zaruzhko (CNM London), Maxim Rabinovich (Healthy Mind), and Ilya Bachurin (psychologist, mental health consultant) spoke about physical and mental health, the role of sports, and the use of AI in wellness.
Managing chaos in a changing world
The She and Red Flags panel moderated by Tetiana Honchar (DCT Consulting) discussed management risks. Maryna Mkrtycheva (Magnet Legal Law Firm), Olena Shulyak (Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning), Olena Vedmid (Postmen), Kateryna Kuzmina (AB InBev Efes Ukraine) analyzed “red flags” in corporate culture, and Iryna Zaslavets (UNBROKEN) presented the “(Not) to Beauty” project to support women after traumatic experiences.
The panel She in Military, moderated by Ksenia Drahaniuk (Zemlyachky, WISPR), revealed the role of women in the Armed Forces. Lidiya Mudrachenko (Pill), Nadiya Samoilova (Tora), and Daria Borysenko (Gilka) spoke about mental health and public perception of women in the military. Lidia Mudrachenko shared: “There is still a stereotype that a woman will not go into a trench. I have many sisters who say we want to, but we are not allowed to.”
The day ended with the She in Chaos panel with Yuriy Klyatskin (Klyatskin School of Improvisation), who showed how chaos and rapid change can be turned into strength and adaptability.
She Congress 2025 demonstrated that leadership is a way of thinking, acting, and interacting that brings together business, education, social projects, and creativity for the sake of joint development and change for the better.
The organizers are grateful to the partners:
General partner – UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group
Main partners – Molokiya, L’Oréal Ukraine, BROCARD
General media partner – Starlight Media
Hospitality partner – DTEK Academy
Beauty partner – Shiseido
Coffee partner – Foundation Coffee Roasters
Sweet partner – BCC
Water partner – Morshynska
Alcohol partner – AZNAURI
Event partner – AB InBev Efes Ukraine
Security partner – SHERIFF
Media partners: Mediafusion, ADV.expert, Megapolis Advertising Holding, Reklen Media, Infovision, Live Marketing, VS Media, We are Ukraine, We are Ukraine, ICTV2, 1 1 Media, KIEV24, Apostrophe Media Holding, UNN, Liga Zakon, HiTech Expert, Kyiv1, Logist.fm, Kommersant Ukrainian, Business Capital, Kosht.media, Burda media Ukraine, Glavkom, trueua, ProfBuild magazine, Marketer.ua, Founder, Economist, budynok.com.ua, 44.ua, Economic News, Expert, Pervyi Business, Divoe Media, Blur, HR Liga, Mind.ua, European Business Association, Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers of Poland.
