In the words of Yevheniia Chernuska: "I used to work to cover my living expenses. Now, I work to enjoy life and help others"

Yevheniia Chernuska, a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman from Dnipro, began her career in psychology after losing her business and relocating to a small village in Volyn, thanks to the mentorship program of the Women For The Future initiative. Photo: courtesy of Yevheniia Chernuska

Before participating in the program, Yevheniia earned a master's degree in psychology but had no experience working. Before this, she worked as a surgical nurse for ten years and then spent another ten years developing her advertising agency. The full-scale invasion dramatically changed her life: the agency ceased to exist, clients relocated to different countries, and Yevheniia experienced burnout, leading her to decide against continuing in marketing. These events motivated her to make an important career change. However, transitioning was not easy, so Yevheniia registered for the mentorship program offered by the Women For The Future initiative to receive professional support.

"I received a degree in psychology, but I was uncertain about what to do next. After spending many years in medicine and advertising, everything changed dramatically due to the war: I lost my business and left my hometown. Panic set in as I pondered the question, 'What should I do next?' The market was becoming saturated with psychologists, and all the available positions required experience that I didn’t have. I moved from Dnipro to a small village in Volyn where there seemed to be no job opportunities—neither in inclusion centers nor in schools. Even if there were positions available, they were already filled. I realized that my only viable option was to start online practice. To be honest, this thought filled me with despair; just a short time ago, I had been running my advertising agency, and now I found myself in a village without a clear plan for how to earn a living in a new profession," recalls Yevheniia.

During the first meeting with the mentor, it was clear that the focus was on discovering a professional identity. “When I met my mentor, I didn’t fully understand what career path I wanted to pursue—whether to become a psychologist, a coach, or something else altogether. My mentor quickly recognized my confusion and suggested that we work through it together. She provided me with resources and literature, and we began by exploring what truly resonated with me,” shares Yevheniia.

The mentor helped Yevheniia clarify her values and better understand the direction that resonates with her. Most importantly, the mentor provided support throughout all stages of the program. Together, they developed an action plan that included creating a resume, establishing a presence on social media, and taking the first steps into the online professional environment. “The mentor didn’t provide direct instructions; instead, she asked questions that prompted deep reflection: What do I want? How can I achieve it? What’s holding me back?”

Working with the mentor was a structured process that involved setting weekly goals, submitting reports, and receiving support. “At the beginning of each week, we would determine my objectives. By the end of the week, we would review what worked, what didn't, and why. These mini-reflections provided me with strength and focus,” says Yevheniia.

Yevheniia was able to quickly transition to real practice because she consistently completed her tasks. "I had been putting off registering on platforms for psychologists for a long time. However, when I made it a goal for the week, I finally completed the process. To my surprise, I was accepted almost immediately; I had expected to wait a month or two. Remarkably, clients began reaching out to me just the second day after my registration." The beginning of the practice was a turning point: clients appeared, positive feedback, a sense of accomplishment, and the first money earned. “I didn’t even have time to feel scared. I just started doing what I had studied for and pursued for so long.”

One significant benefit of working with a mentor was overcoming imposter syndrome and recognizing the value of one’s knowledge and skills. "It was a frightening experience—the imposter syndrome just wouldn't let go. It felt like everyone around me was more powerful and more experienced, leaving me to question my own worth. Even though I understood as a psychologist how to overcome these feelings, it was still challenging. However, I persevered, and my mentor provided invaluable support." 

By collaborating with her mentor to set short- and long-term goals, Yevheniia developed a vision for her professional role and pathways for grow. “It was a tremendous joy to realize that I was truly doing what I had wanted for almost my entire life. Previously, I worked just to make ends meet, but now I worked to enjoy life and help others.”

Yevheniia has several goals for the future, including creating an online community for individuals affected by the war, collaborating with resilience centers in major cities, and actively engaging with youth and women who wish to make positive changes in their lives. "I understand what it's like to start from scratch, and I want to help others, especially women and young people, take action when they feel scared or unsure of how to proceed." 

This publication has been created as part of the Women For The Future initiative, which is implemented by Happy Monday (NGO "Professionals of the Future") within the UN Women project titled "Transformational Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine." This project is funded by the Government of Sweden and is in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.