Career Without Illusions: 5 Key Insights from the Women in Tech Meetup

22 April 2026

How do you keep up the pace, build a personal brand, and turn failures into fuel for growth?

Together with 37 participants of the second Spring Inspiration: Women in Tech meetup by Kharkiv IT Cluster, we openly explored real career trajectories of women in tech — without embellishment or unnecessary illusions.

Speakers of the evening:

• Kseniia Bai, PR & Media Relations Manager at EPAM Ukraine
• Halyna Shcherbata, Director in Mobility and Transportation at Intellias
• Anna Malfanova, Co-founder of SevenPro
• Olesia Ulianova, CEO of Telesens

We’re sharing the key insights worth taking with you.

#1 Your brand already exists — are you managing it?

One of the most common career traps is thinking that a professional brand is only for those seeking publicity. In reality, everyone has one. If you don’t shape it consciously, chance will do it for you.

Visibility is not just about social media or public speaking. First and foremost, it’s about speaking the language of results: what exactly you did, how it impacted outcomes, and what value you delivered. Reporting, participating in internal initiatives, networking — all of this builds your reputation from within.

“Professional visibility is not bragging — it’s informing the market or your company. If you’re not noticed, your expertise simply doesn’t exist for the business.” — Kseniia Bai, PR & Media Relations Manager, EPAM Ukraine

There is a turning point in professional growth, it’s no longer enough to just be a great specialist — you need to become visible. If you stay silent about your experience, it remains in the shadows, no matter how much value you create.

“You are not an abstract person—you are an individual.” — Olesia Ulianova, CEO, Telesens

#2 There is no perfect start

Failed interviews, the feeling of “this isn’t for me,” starting from scratch — all of this is part of the journey, not an obstacle to it.

Anna Malfanova, Co-founder of SevenPro, shared how she long believed IT wasn’t her field. In the end, what mattered wasn’t a technical background, but experience working with people and the ability to handle unusual situations.

“You don’t have to know ‘your thing’ right away. Sometimes it’s enough just to start.” — Anna Malfanova, Co-founder, SevenPro

Olesia Ulianova, CEO of Telesens, with a technical background as a systems analyst, wasn’t afraid to experiment with career paths. When life offered her a direction different from what she expected — one based on her existing experience — she accepted the challenge. This willingness to deviate from the original plan and see new horizons in familiar things eventually shaped her as a strategic leader.

“It’s better to regret what you’ve done than what you haven’t.” — Olesia Ulianova, CEO, Telesens

#3 Stopping means falling behind

The moment you stop moving forward, you start losing ground. Technologies evolve quickly, the market changes, and what made you successful yesterday may limit you tomorrow.

“Without accepting new challenges, we cannot learn.” — Halyna Shcherbata, Director in Mobility and Transportation, Intellias

Sometimes, internal effort alone isn’t enough for the next step — you need to change the context. If your current environment no longer provides room for growth, it’s not a failure — it’s a signal to move on.

In this movement, the most valuable asset is not a static set of knowledge, but the ability for “easy learning” — the capacity to quickly absorb new things. Technical skills can be taught on the job, but mental flexibility is what opens doors.

“You never know when a particular skill will come in handy.” — Olesia Ulianova, CEO, Telesens

#4 Leadership is a mindset

The transition from an expert role to a managerial one is one of the most difficult transformations in a career. It’s not just new responsibilities — it’s a shift in mindset.

Olesia Ulianova, CEO of Telesens, described the evolution through three stages: expert — “I do,” manager — “we do,” leader — “where are we going.” In a leadership role, no one assigns you tasks — you define the direction and take responsibility for it.

“Leadership is a mindset, not a position.” — Olesia Ulianova, CEO, Telesens

Moving into management is, above all, about working on yourself and stepping beyond your comfort zone. True leadership begins with an honest answer: are you choosing this path consciously, or simply yielding to career expectations? A leader is defined not by formal status, but by depth of expertise, the ability to guide others, and continuous work on personal growth areas.

“As we receive more complex tasks, our brain stops being afraid of them.” — Halyna Shcherbata, Director in Mobility and Transportation, Intellias

#5 Mistakes are material for growth, not for shame

Another recurring theme of the evening was an honest look at oneself. Progress isn’t always visible from the inside — but it’s there if you give yourself time and space for inner dialogue. Recognizing your own weaknesses doesn't destroy you — it changes you.

“Analyze yourself and your actions.Don’t judge — grow consciously at your own pace.” — Anna Malfanova, Co-founder, SevenPro

This approach turns self-reflection into an effective tool for personal growth. It helps you better understand yourself, recognize the value of what you already do, and move forward with awareness.

“Hear yourself. Have courage. See the value in what you do.” — Halyna Shcherbata, Director in Mobility and Transportation, Intellias

Ultimately, this journey is not about forced leaps, but about consistency. What matters is being a slightly better version of yourself every day: without guilt, without rushing, but with a clear understanding of each step.

“Today you need to be better than yesterday. It can be a micro-step.But you should go to bed knowing there is a result today.” — Olesia Ulianova, CEO, Telesens

Women in Tech meetups are more than events. They are a space where the experience of female leaders becomes your resource for growth.

If these stories resonate with you — join our community. Become part of Kharkiv IT Cluster to build your career in an environment where challenges are discussed honestly, openly, and with support.

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