Jane Klepa: Changemaking, Mental Well-Being, Women Entrepreneurs, and the Ukrainian Economy | Be Yourself Podcast

Be Yourself Podcast

JaneKlepa

Changemaker, consultant, and young mother — on environment, mental well-being, clear goals, a career-defining turning point, and how women entrepreneurs are shaping Ukraine's economic future

Changemaking · Mental Health · Women in Business · Ukraine Economy

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About This Episode

What Does It Really Take to Create Change — in Your Career, Your Mindset, and the World Around You?

Jane Klepa is the kind of guest who speaks from experience, not theory. A changemaker, consultant, and proud new mother, Jane joined Serhii Beverly for a conversation that is as honest as it is insightful — about what it actually looks like to pursue transformation when the stakes are personal.

In this special episode, Jane opens up about the environment she has built around herself, why mental well-being is not a luxury but a prerequisite for impact, and how clarity of goals has been the single most consistent thread running through every significant decision she has made. She also shares the pivotal moment in her professional life — the turning point that made it impossible to stay where she was and necessary to build something new.

The conversation also reaches outward, into the broader question of what is happening in Ukraine right now. Jane brings a clear-eyed perspective on the role women entrepreneurs are playing in the country's economic growth — a story that deserves far more attention than it gets. This is must-see television for entrepreneurs, young parents, and anyone who wants to make a real impact on the world around them.

The Power of Environment — why your surroundings shape your outcomes

Jane breaks down why the environment you choose — the people, the spaces, the culture — is one of the most powerful levers available to anyone who wants to grow, change, or build something meaningful.

Mental Well-Being as a Foundation — not a bonus, but a baseline

For Jane, mental health is not something you tend to after success — it is what makes success possible. She shares her own approach to protecting her well-being and why she believes it is the most underrated professional skill.

Clear Goals — the difference between motion and direction

Having goals is not enough. Jane talks about what it means to have goals that are actually clear — specific enough to guide decisions, honest enough to reflect what you actually want, and flexible enough to evolve as you do.

The Pivotal Career Moment — the shift that changed everything

Jane shares the defining moment in her professional life that made staying where she was no longer an option. A candid look at what it feels like when the gap between where you are and where you need to be becomes impossible to ignore.

Women Entrepreneurs and Ukraine's Economy — a quiet revolution

Jane brings a grounded and optimistic perspective on the growing role of women entrepreneurs in Ukraine's economic recovery and growth. A conversation about real impact, not abstract empowerment.

Being a Young Mother — changemaking and a newborn

Jane is navigating the remarkable challenge of raising a newborn while doing the work she cares about. She speaks honestly about what this intersection looks like — and what it has taught her about priorities, presence, and what actually matters.

About the Guest

Jane Klepa — Changemaker, Consultant, and Young Mother

Jane Klepa is a forward-thinking consultant and changemaker whose work sits at the intersection of personal transformation and professional impact. Known for her clarity of thinking and her willingness to speak candidly about the harder parts of building a meaningful career, Jane brings a perspective that is both practical and deeply human.

Her approach to consulting is rooted in a belief that sustainable change — in organizations, in careers, in lives — begins with the right environment, a stable foundation of mental well-being, and goals that are honest enough to actually guide decisions. These are not abstract principles for Jane; they are things she has lived through and tested in her own professional journey, including a pivotal career moment that reshaped everything she thought she knew about her path.

Jane is also a passionate advocate for women entrepreneurs in Ukraine, and a proud new mother navigating the remarkable challenge of doing meaningful work while nurturing a remarkable newborn. She is exactly the kind of guest this show was made for.

Who She Is

Changemaker, consultant, and young mother. Jane works at the intersection of personal transformation and professional impact, helping people and organizations navigate meaningful change.

Her Core Beliefs

Environment shapes outcomes. Mental well-being is a professional prerequisite, not a reward. And clear, honest goals are the difference between motion and direction.

Her Advocacy

Jane is a vocal supporter of women entrepreneurs in Ukraine, bringing a grounded and informed perspective on how they are contributing to the country's economic recovery and growth.

Right Now

Jane is currently raising her newborn — a chapter she is navigating with the same intentionality and honesty she brings to everything else in her life.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro 2:01 Background and Education 5:22 Finding the Spark 8:56 After Graduation 12:37 Employee to Entrepreneur 19:50 Combining Roles 26:47 Pivotal Moments 34:32 Mindset Change and Therapy 43:35 Startup Landscape in Ukraine 53:04 Women in Business 58:45 Motherhood and Business 1:02:41 Closing

Key Quotes

I'm not a person I'm not a woman I'm something that may be closely connected with vegetable uh and in that moment when I have no energy when I am vegetable uh I understand that it's enough for me and stay here and think about uh something else see and this something else it's you girl it's you think about you please

Jane Klepa

I try to count the number of projects that I have for that moment it's around 100 projects per year so um 365 days uh and almost 100 projects in it it's something uh terrible

Jane Klepa

if if you have no uh I mean that in the end of the day or in the end of the week uh when I'm checking all my tasks and my ideas and have for example only 30 40 or even 60 percent closed I'm happy with that

Jane Klepa

Full Transcript

BTW: This episode of the Be Yourself Podcast is produced by Beverly Media. Want a podcast that looks and sounds this good? Check out Beverly Production →

0:00 Intro

Serhiy hey everybody this is Sergey and be yourself podcast the podcast for people who Express their true selves today my guest is Jane klepa hi Jane who's my friend she's a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur involved with startup communities Innovation leadership and other stuff in Ukraine and in Europe for the last 10 years so Jane thank you so much for taking the time with me

Jane thank you for the foreign for such uh words because yeah you know uh of course it's about me but we combine and mixed different roles and not only entrepreneurial and business women role it's about me but also another one but I think we discuss it today

Serhiy yeah we'll take we'll definitely cover both professional and some personal stuff and I I 100 I don't want to lay I don't want to label people because I it's something that kind of constrain us so I I am on totally on board with you so Jen as I Was preparing for this episode I checked everything that you've been that you are doing or have been doing and I it just caught me by surprise how many things you're able to combine uh the best uh word that I found one of your on one word or socials to describe you is a change maker and I love it so much because it seems like this is what you do this is the impact that you have and you have so many people from various Industries but before we get to the everything that you're doing and have been doing professionally let's start with your background tell us a little bit about your education what have you graduated and uh yeah maybe we'll start from there

2:01 Background and Education

Jane uh let's start from area long story short actually I'm going to do it from cave Polytechnic University Institute um but I'm not a tech guy only from that that time uh because uh I I try to choose the university because of this community because it's atmosphere and something else so it's about added value not only about the professional or some special uh I don't know knowledge that everyone can choose and as for me it's really important from that time to choose something else and that's why uh Cave Polytechnic Institute was like a top for me because of its uh incredible atmosphere and students community and of course I try to do my best and uh like uh like cover and at this National universities not only kpi but this University in my soul and I started my story from this uh this place my alma mater and me inside it it's about administrative management uh it's about management at all but of course as the average student I cover some technical um lessons at uh first and even at second years of my education and I never think about that this part could be a part of my life in future because um I'm a girl very active girl of course and I was like a lead of profcom it's like something student can be a leader of student communities student councils and I try to develop inside my not only universe University but at my faculty with my friends we try to do something like conferences I mean even science conferences some parties uh we create some activities like Miss or Mister of the faculty and that's why it's about some communication between people um about impact because this impact in student life it's it's combined hard work and hard knowledge with this hard fun in the evening and even at night and work hard and play hard yes and that's why actually um one part of my students life it's about nightlife because I'm working as an art manager I organized in parties at nightclubs uh I try and also I have some achievements in that I'm working with booking of DJs here in Kiev and that's uh that's that was fun for me and that was fun for me but I try to monetize this fun

5:22 Finding the Spark

Serhiy let me just uh stop you there because there are a lot of things to unpack I'm interested because the name of the podcast is be yourself or finding yourself and it's super critical for our audience to understand for example for you since this organization sort of skill set or where you uh started creating some events or whatever organizing events it started somewhere where did it start where did you get the spark and the desire to like do something from nothing like create these events or whatever what is it was it somewhere maybe in your upbringing maybe somewhere or let's dig even deeper okay let's try it

Jane um firstly of course it's about people because uh to meet right people and some person who could motivate and drive you it's very important and at that time I have such person and even a few persons who already Drive some initiatives and activities inside University and out there and I try to develop this network even behind the university and these people they are like um the full of energy and something great on this emotional uh part and emotional level they just do their best in their life and don't think about the next day they live here in this day and I saw that yeah and just thinking about wow wow is it true is it like uh so that's why maybe it was some uh some like miracle for me and motivation from this

Serhiy so you saw an example they draw an example for you it's not a role model at all but yes it's an example right

Jane yes and um when I try when I have this first uh connections when I have a chance to um connect with some people for example from music industry who organize big festivals like uh um maybe you remember or Ukrainian audience remember Global Gathering sure something like that yeah and when you meet uh such uh incredible uh teams and uh these people who are in the heart of these festivals who generate and create these ideas that's amazing for a student who almost 20 years and this girl like say yay I want to be a part of such culture and I want to create this culture inside not only University but in my life in my heart that's why uh yeah that was a first step and a huge boost for me

8:56 After Graduation

Serhiy great okay that's interesting so you saw people who were creative who created additional value did this these things on the even Global stage brought in artists and uh I can testify to this that the energy that we get from all the music festivals is just unmatched it's incredible that's so cool tell me more what happened after you have graduated

Jane um after I graduated I tried to do my best with my skills because I already had a high level communicative skills uh I understand how to build some Partnerships community building part and I try to find something some work that could uh fits for these skills and I became an employee and mice agency so I'm working with business and we as an agency our team working with business with their um offers and requests for some corporate trainings and their entertainment after that so our target audience was the um super huge corporates International companies uh which has like a different Regional Offices inside Ukraine all over the country and uh even abroad and that's why we need to have more time to create not only a concept of these sessions and trainings and their entertainment part but also to have some logistics for hundreds of people to get there in one place to communicate with them to generate something else um so yeah that was the next step for me but um I can say that um that's maybe um this part of my life was very short actually because um it was the last uh half a year of my graduation from the University at my Master's Degree uh because I I'm right in my master work and uh before that um I work in work with that organization we have like uh only women team and that there are also important thing because there I understand how it's uh crucial maybe to work with the like to have some matchmaking between you and other persons and to have this women team and this power it's also about some energy level and about the productive and effectiveness of this team now we are working and uh maybe uh you know some researchers that say that if you have sea level and even some part of female Founders these are organization they are more productive they have a high level of values and of course of some revenues uh but we're speaking about that here in this time and a few years ago but that time I I don't heard about that but I have such team and such experience uh which also was a great lesson in my life and in my background not only as an employee and as a professional but also as the person and potential role model for uh further times

12:37 Employee to Entrepreneur

Serhiy well I can I can tell that I know from checking out your socials and your professional uh life that you are a role model for so many women and you're pushing the envelope for the uh women as entrepreneurs which is really really cool do you do you think that before we can tap into entrepreneurship we have to um have this experience as an employee and uh what after you have worked for for how many years have you worked did you work as an employee before you shifted to more of an independent type of work and tell me about this transition maybe and why did it take place yeah on emotional level or psychological and professional levels

Jane um let's divide this in two parts because um first of all uh employee and entrepreneurial life we is we can combine that actually okay and it's also normal because I see many people actually who are employed in a big company but also it has their own project or own startup or something like that and that's also a way uh a very important lesson yeah um why uh and if it's great to be employee and entrepreneur after that yes because you know some background of uh the business uh where you work in uh you know some maybe yeah and understand um some specific parts of uh organizational structure of um Team bill filled in and some even legal issues you understand that not from your experience which you have at for example zero level but you already understand that from your colleagues and your boss for example if you are in play and you can understand which issues you will have if you will go by your own as an entrepreneur and that's a very big plus and achievement for every person who switch from this to that role if you but I know uh great cases when an entrepreneurial uh person go into employee and that's also a great one why because for example I think that that's also a success story uh but not a failed one uh we're working with one of the startups which are uh like developing Smart City smart home systems um they give us the name Why Don't We advertise what is the name of the server yeah of course it's Echo is me startup uh they are the um they are working in Ukraine for a few years and have a great results with even with fundraising campaign they have Investments uh here in Ukraine and then abroad and uh and uh hey they have a business development process uh during the creation their solution uh they have a great result with prayer sales potential pre-sales abroad in different countries but in one moment this team because they have three co-founders main co-founders they understand that uh they can't uh to do this solution and at the thinking about of that um and uh the investment that they are raised uh they are felt with that because uh it's not enough money to develop uh in the final this solution and uh for those potential customers that they have for that moment that's why uh they understand that and it's a clear and weary powerful decision of this team they say no we can't do that we failed with this company uh and they say this publicly uh they are say that we are closing their startup uh and say goodbye to their entrepreneurial life for that moment but they have such cool background as an entrepreneurs uh that's why this three co-founders going after that to the companies and then employees and they gave gave to these companies uh super powerful and impactful um value with this background uh every of these co-founder they are going to different companies one of them go into Telecom company one of the famous in in our country another one to security company and the uh yeah they get their sea level positions because they um leads the companies and the leads to the Departments of Innovations in these companies and they produce new products uh with their new teams inside companies with this background and that's also as for me that sounds Life's a success story so that's why I say that not only employee to entrepreneur is important but important uh and it's also uh could be to switch from entrepreneur to employee and it it also have uh its achievements

Serhiy that's interesting I've never heard this and from my experience person who oh I I don't want to say lost my business but I was kind of an entrepreneur and I had this experience with invest investors and running my own business and then out of the blue it all ended and I went on the Journey of you know self-discovery and after that for like two years I could not stand a thought about working for someone again but that's my ego and I also believe from what you said that if these guys were able to bring so much value to these companies that they started working after their startup It also says a lot about their leaders about their managers who were willing to use their experience you know and maybe bring some fundamental changes based on their experience so it's really cool to hear stories like that not about not only about Founders who are willing to try again as employees but also the their their managers in new companies and great great leadership yeah so but tell me about your transition like yeah you're still employed is that what you're saying that we can combine that's the Insight number one are so you are com what are you combining now if you're combining can you tell us about them

19:50 Combining Roles

Jane actually yes because uh I'm combining it even now um and it's interesting uh with my lifestyle because I can buy not only entrepreneurship with the employee level but also uh my business part and business life with my mom's part uh and you recently gave an earth to a baby yeah I know that yeah uh that's also work that's why uh I say about that um and um yeah how how I'm going to do that I have one of the fails actually of everyone had these fails uh I try to build the company with my friend um we have a super friendship relationships even now and it's okay so it's not about uh some conflict behind that but it's about maybe we're not at that stage at the same page with each other that's why we have the fail with it because uh at that moment I I was ready to build the company and I tried to push it with these operations with strategic and we have very active first part of planning and our background but when we start officially yeah my partner say that like um she has another priorities she finds some another project at the freelance person or something like that that's why I understand that it's not for me with my capacity at this moment because and at that moment I can't do everything by myself uh maybe maybe if I can our company grow even now maybe but at that moment I can't do that and that's why we filed because of uh different priorities in our life I mean professional life and our own life so that's why we uh keep on going on hold our idea and this idea transform in other way with her new partners and it's also our decision as a Partners uh in in work in in life so I'm happy that she find in another format another uh way how to do that further in maybe in six years yeah it's like reintegrate in six years this idea with another Partners but it's her story my story uh that uh when we failed with this idea and this agency that we have uh I what was it a couple of years ago uh it was like 10 years ago or 10 years ago okay 10 years ago and uh I'm going to uh find another project that I can maybe transform uh now we use such word but at that time I use like how to find some work um and uh I try uh to find something but then this something and this match uh find me and because I have different ideas of tech events of how to build the tactics ecosystem I have it keep in mind uh every year and in my life but then I met um the team that uh going to do such interesting projects and they want to do something but they haven't any leader in this process who could create these projects and who could create such activities so it was like a match between us and then I'm starting with the this uh um firstly with events with stack events then I transformed this uh activity in supports and startups and businesses to match make actually startup with the investors or with corporates where they can have their deals and this mini platform yeah the uh gave an understanding clear understanding that I want to support young businesses I want to support Ukrainian Founders and in this process it's like some reflection for myself in this process I found myself as a professional and now I understand that yeah I'm working with a strategic development of innovation projects and it's cool now but it's not clear at that time and uh that's why uh I'm switching to an euro which can buy fine actually some employee part and entrepreneurial part and I uh I suggest actually that uh when I'm working with startups and not with corporates but for with startups uh inside acceleration programs or even if it's like some requests direct requests I understand that um when I'm working with each startup I'm working with a new company I became a new entrepreneur and you uh teammates with this company and every company and you uh experience and that's uh that's a combo for me so the best interests are the ones who still learn every day I can change my mind and every day I can change the strategy actually uh and that's uh that's maybe a most impactful part for me in my work

Serhiy sounds very exciting and it seems to me that you know how on resume people put their experience that complement each next phase as if everything was well planned out but in reality it's usually just a chaos that we structure to make it look like it like it's all was all planned right so my question to you is throughout your professional experience did you have like some pivotal moments you know when you change

26:47 Pivotal Moments

Jane moments in my life yes um and this change in to change milestones in my life and in my professional work of course too so these moments um closely connected with uh my mindset actually and with my uh priorities as the person um at one moment I understand like that uh I'm I'm not a uh I don't say I I don't think how to say um I'm not a person I'm not a woman I'm something that may be closely connected with vegetable uh and in that moment when I have no energy when I am vegetable uh I understand that it's enough for me and stay here and think about uh something else see and this something else it's you girl it's you think about you please um and I try to count the number of projects that I have for that moment it's around 100 projects per year so um 365 days uh and almost 100 projects in it it's something uh terrible it's really terrible it's it's cool maybe for a student so for how many years did you have such a workload four years almost four years four years you have you oh my God okay okay four years in such mode uh without any vacations of course I have some weekends of course I understand that I I I need to do that but it's not like a it's a vacation or Retreat or something else where I have no laptop I'm not answering the mails or calls or something like that or I'm chilling only chilling no that's why it's um at this moment and this Milestone became my Pivot uh and then this um terrible uh physical and psychological and mental uh atmosphere uh with myself I try to Define what I need actually how I need to restructure my life my uh my old life because I have no I have only maybe a one true friend for that moment I have no uh clear relationships with my partner it it was something toxic um I have no uh relationships with my I mean not it's not uh cool relationships it's something with issues with my mother with my family so everything everything uh was changed after this moment because I tried to reject these problems after that I try to clarify how I can transform it but not at the at physical level but at emotional level firstly so uh after I'm starting working with in therapy for example because it's important for me um and I understand that I need this help uh and when I'm working in in therapy I understand that after I'm changing my mindset and after I'm changing uh my view to myself uh their relationships uh I'll be also change it yeah and it's not my work only it's the first in my work with myself but I'm not connecting with these people but they changing uh also some some uh specific maybe um um these relations between us the change in uh because of uh me but because of them too uh and it's something like like magic at that moment uh like wow it could be uh with me something else uh okay let's do to to try uh to do my best in this field and I'm going to this therapy I'm going and I'm starting to have some uh additional uh net courses but training and Coach sessions with other mentors and other persons who could support me in my life and after that I clarify that okay here it could be better in I'm in with mental health so it's like a basic level to find uh this mental part after that I'm thinking about my professional part uh and in this a professional part I'm also understand that okay I'm working and I'm I'm pretty good in in that day I'm working with uh but what I want from this in like some uh B point I understand that I see um that the happiness and that uh the Readiness of the businesses that I'm working with they could have uh um a real value for the society for that industry where they work and I can support them in it and it's more about this impact and it's more about some values which is non-monetary so it's not only about to monetize my work and to have more money it's more about uh this uh energy that they have after this work so when we are um I'm not drinking wine or alcohol last year and uh one and half a year because of my baby of course uh but uh when as an example when you're drinking the wine or even coffee when you have this uh drink and you understand it oh it's uh it's really tasty after that the next three reality it's tasty but maybe you have some uh additional points uh in this process uh you smell it and understand that oh it's something a great mix and it's like um a new fantasy in your mind after that and this and the parallel how I understand what I want and how I clarify what I want in my professional life I taste it and they smell it and step by step micro dozing with it I understand how to do my best and how to be at the same page in my mindset in my work and uh with it was actually Society

34:32 Mindset Change and Therapy

Serhiy well so many great insights if you don't mind I'm just gonna list them after the sensor so you said that after four years of intense work you basically burned out in in a way and you realize that you were quote unquote a vegetable the work that you were doing was no longer driving you or something of this kind right and you realize that that was the time for a change and and this is the lesson for a lot of a lot of people don't be afraid to change things even if they look good from Financial standpoint or other stuff it's okay to listen to yourself understand if you're emotionally healthy and mentally healthy and if it's not the case change something um then you said that you change

Jane I want to add that that it could be um another way whether for example this last year when people are after war begins uh many of people uh have the same Milestone but they are like a zero point with their mental health and at zero point with their uh some uh money their businesses and and so on so forth and that's also uh this brick breakout point where they can start from this uh and start something new

Serhiy yeah start from scratch that's what I also said that you know there is always um a silver lining in every cloud so I don't want to sit here and say that you know there are benefits to war but if we think about it that could have served as a wake-up call to a lot of people and maybe right now it's time to finally think about what do I really want is this something that I was doing before war was really my thing or maybe I was just pretending maybe this is the time for us to make a breakthrough and and maybe do something that we always wanted to do you said that you changed perception that you started working with the we actually me and Jane we actually met at one of the psychological uh trainings called upgrade Camp level up hi to everyone who's listening um and uh yeah that was the place where we met and you say that that was I think that was part of your growth something that helped you to maybe not judge other people but first try to to change your own perception and you said that your relationships with other people in a really surprising way started to change I wanted to ask you did you have some open conversations with them when you thought that they you know your relations were not up to par were not great

Jane uh yeah when I have this open conversation with them uh it's like transformed into a new conflict with them and even after I change and try to change some and to fix it in my mind and when I um when I create a new Option uh in these relationships or open maybe a new door in my heart even after the year our um our discussions uh have more structured and more insightful actually and these answers uh from both of us they are not about some conflict they are about um compromises or Alternatives it's about games it's about uh how to Solutions how we fix it and it's really a discussion it's not like uh only positive words in this podcast or not so that's why I try to no you can use any language okay okay so yes yeah it's not only conflict it's like some something terrible for me to have this conversations uh with the some of these difficult conversations no one likes them yeah it's not a conversation it's like you are with the wall and the wall with you and it's it at the end um when you are speaking with the person who could hear you and you are the person who could uh who couldn't uh see this person and uh this uh these are something yeah uh but yes uh coming back uh after that we have these conversations and we have this dialects and this structure dialogues and uh I understand that uh of course uh it's um maybe vibrations uh and my work with myself which helped me to to connect this bridge

Serhiy maybe they start feeling that you are more willing to I don't know hear them even if you don't if you disagree you're still willing to listen you know and that's part of what makes a great conversation where people first let I give this lesson to folks who I consult that you have to let people empty the bucket if you let the person empty the bucket say everything they have to say they will be much more willing to listen to you next basically you just have to be really really patient

Jane and I upskill my empathy I'm really upscale my empathy

Serhiy you were not super empathetic um some years ago yes you were a strict manager um

Jane I'm not a strict manager but um I'm echocentric person I was a negocentric person weary egocentric person yeah

Serhiy well this is the transformation that a lot of people are making and uh I'm also making it and as you and as you mentioned at some point you realize that you want to give back more you want to make it about others more than about yourself and that's something that I can really relate to Jane because that's what I'm doing in this podcast is also part of this thing where I'm just giving back and um the hardest part is not to expect anything in return because in a way we still expect something right but I think when we train ourselves just to give back and do it with the Open Heart I think the universe will find a way to reward us yes yes I agree with that absolutely but sometimes you need to ask that's something that I also realized you remember at a great Camp they said if you don't raise the hand No One's Gonna know that you need help

Jane for sure for sure uh just to recheck at this moment maybe uh because uh yeah firstly raise the hand uh when you need your uh when you need some help or um to speak about yourself don't be shy in this uh world because it's also important so it's not only about help it's also about uh your to be yourself um be yourself

Serhiy thank you for using the name of podcast product placement that's the real DNA yeah so yeah so not be afraid and this is the something that a lot of people in Ukraine um have like in common worst kind of shy to talk about ourselves like you know sometimes even um brag you know we can we can brag a little bit bit you know just to say that we accomplish this we accomplish that because in America they do this all day long they're not shy at all for some reason ukrainians were just not accustomed to to listing all our achievements for some reason yeah yeah okay Jane uh let's talk about some entrepreneurial things or startups uh or the community of women entrepreneurs that you're involved now and then to end this session we will talk a little bit about how you combine work and personal life this would be really interesting for all the business women especially coming from someone who successfully combined few things but before that I I saw you uh performing on the stage I see that you are that you work with accelerators such as 1991 accelerator uh Satan University wtac you said that in your case studies there's only one man who's missing it's Elon Musk because you have all the case studies in the world and you run this Jane Clapper consultancy agency that provides workshops leadership trainings you also guys do um

43:35 Startup Landscape in Ukraine

Jane yes it's not all about me so yeah of course I combine these uh roles and different skills that I already have in my background and uh um yeah yeah

Serhiy but can you tell us like I was meaning to ask you work with so many startups what is the current length landscape of startup community in Ukraine um is there some attractive startups that investors can look at right now foreign investors never mind in the war the startups that are still succeeding or have some great prospects and are there many women entrepreneurs right now in Ukraine who you can mention

Jane um firstly if we're talking about startups we have a great challenge now it's like a word time challenge because you actually and our audience I think you understand that uh any Investments inside our country it's really a great risk and uh it's only about business that's why any startup did a residence of Ukraine I mean that they are physically here in our country they can't get any investments from investors abroad from foreign capitals or VCS that's uh that's a problem for this moment but if we are talking about uh I'm not motivating to uh go abroad of course not because we have a great brain drain for this year uh we missed a number of talents and I mean not only startups but employees too and I'm not sure that most of them are coming back after war ended it's also another challenge not only in startup and entrepreneurial landscape but it's also for economic development of the country of course um so yeah when we are going uh talk about startups I'm sure that those who transform their ideas and maybe even pivoting um in this new reality wartime reality and those who go in to be sustainable in this moment they are going sustainable even after and no one investor they needed the best investor that they have it's their customers yes and if if they have these relationships and they build this bridge everything rate and I'm sure that uh these companies really more sustainable than startup who are who has something interesting and has a great capacity of their team but they need only Investments and maybe after that they are going to do something else yeah so no so they first want someone to give them money instead of going and earning money making money yeah those who those Founders those entrepreneurs who work in this uncertainty world uh like a normal world uh they understand me and they understand how to fix anything they can and it's also about planning it's also about their strategies and the where I'm working with them um of course uh we need to measure every step and uh I'm I'm also about Samsung data driven uh stories and scenarios and that's why it's important to measure um step by step that they have inside their business and in their life and to build this uh and to fix their strategy every moment uh not like how we say every five years or every three years no maybe you haven't anything even in one months yeah that's why so yeah uh that's why it's a challenge maybe for someone and for Ukrainian startups at all that we haven't new Investments uh from foreign investors but of course for example we have some Angel Investments or um VCS that are working here in Ukraine of course it's also an option but uh here we have less money than abroad that's why it's a problem

Serhiy can you can you sound up some Venture funds if some startupers are listening uh can you tell us what are some Venture funds in Ukraine that people still can apply for to get some support

Jane yeah sure we have such funds for example SMR Kaya font which are leading by uh which found it but uh by Alex cosavan from MacBook this uh yeah this font uh already live and they have new portfolio startups even this year one of that I'm happy to work with that too because uh it's an awesome it's like a project for disinformation but not only for defense and disinformation they have a great AI algorithm inside that's why it's really interesting team and their solution so uh it's like an example of where they are and they raise one million dollar so it's not it's not twenty thousand or something like that yes and it's a in Wartime uh of course we have CID fund it's like um fund which created by interpreters from different fields and um you know maybe Sigma software uh company and their Founders uh they are going to make this fund so they are also actively speaking with startups and try to diversify their portfolio and actually most of their startups Ukrainian startups and the ukrainians and the founders um if we're talking about new funds for not new but we're interested in portfolio funds it's a flyer one Ventures but I know that the in the last half we haven't any new deals in Ukraine but they are actively speaking with startups too and they also focus in on our Founders and it's also an opportunity for Ukrainian ecosystem

Serhiy should should our Founders Target Western markets well obviously the question is the answer is yes right or or there are some who can still work in Ukraine and get gets get Investments

Jane it's not about Western markets it's more about scalability if this uh Team um could scale and they have this uh scale and strategy at all and it's clear even for investor of course yes um here in Ukraine they can start they can pilot in here because it's a cheaper one way of course and they could validate um my some number of hypotheses here in Dubai and after that go into New Market now uh it's not about wartime it's about actually covered time which we have before uh all over the world now we have an option to have more zooms some online meetings and not every font or company uh thinking about uh physical offline meetings very strict no no that that's why it's also an option for every startup to boost their product even if they are here in Ukraine yeah

53:04 Women in Business

Serhiy tell me about women in Business and Entrepreneurship

Jane um actually we don't have uh here in Ukraine but I know that abroad too uh so much number of female Founders and if we're talking about Investments we have some problems in it because investors uh trust more for male I don't know uh yes yes we have some statistics uh not only I mean Eastern and Central Europe but all over the world um but female Founders raise more money step by step and I think that if we're talking in five years almost five years we have another results uh for example if we compare this moment uh even for with two or three years ago uh the female Founders and their um uh their startups and their companies uh they are perform uh in 30 percent better uh for these years and uh that's cool you mean if they provide the first year they also have a great Revenue yeah um yes um when we are talking about the communities and professional communities what you you mentioned about wtac this uh Community um was born in Ukraine now it's uh have more than 20 chapters abroad in different countries and cities uh all over the world and I see how it also help this female Founders and even employees because it's not only about entrepreneurial uh part but also about for example leadership at all um I saw how many the sea level uh female sea level I can find more and more more and more cases here in Ukraine with such uh incredible women and I saw how my friends also push and boost this information and new and new companies try to transform their policies and their strategies uh inside it and that's uh that's really uh appreciate me but of course when we are talking about uh is it okay or not of course not uh we could be better and it's only a first steps uh in the in our community um for me it's important to support women uh it's important to talk about that it's important to uh just open this topic uh and discuss it because uh not every even founder I mean not startup founder but even those who had already 20 years experience with their companies or more they don't think about that but when you they start to transform this idea and saw the results it's again about measurements uh they just say okay it's maybe it's true maybe yes not only uh we are not talking about this man's world uh we're talking about some hybrid format which could be um which half I'm sure more values um and yeah yeah that's why but as for me actually it's uh it's uh some uh some another way of motivation uh when I saw such cases

Serhiy you know I totally agree with you because this man should be man or this whole thing where you lead your company as a dictator you know with author ethereum kinda type of management I think these years are in the past I think leaders who showcase empathy who ask who are cool with their employees working in other companies as long as they deliver on their obligations you know uh just more understandable and caring leaders and I I think you know um you know Jana ibrahimova who was our um like uh lead the development Camp she she's such an inspiring business person for me and I find myself in the position where I really get uh get motivated by uh women a lot and I and I and in my in my business years there were only men I work with Genesis and it's LED uh 100 by man for the most part except for uh this girl um who runs better me what's her as I forget her Victoria rapper yeah Victoria rappa but it's not an I'm not knocking on Genesis but that was just the case when I was working there and it was right raising Investments there but uh yeah so that's a wonderful change even if we're taking one step at a time can you tell on this note how do you kind of combine how you do you juggle with the the life of a young mother and uh and uh as a a businesswoman with all your activities what are some secrets that women can hear from Jay and klepa

58:45 Motherhood and Business

Jane um yeah and as for me firstly it's about this decision because it's my my own but with my partner decision and it's like an adult decision for us uh to have a baby and we're thinking about that before war of course but uh as we have for this moment yes um happens yeah but no baby is not a but I mean the war yeah I mean yeah uh yes um it's like a new teacher for my life and every day I I have a new knowledge with my baby and that's a actually not about not only about empathy it's about more uh new fibers and vibrations inside and uh you have no plan but you have it and it's to combine this uh this skill too and upscale this uh because even if you have some strict plan for this day or for this month uh as for me when I'm planning I I'm planning every day uh because I have some meetings I have some strategic work I'm having a new partners or something like that I'm working with them and need to have this plan but if this plan I I mean that my baby could have another one and I need to um not fix but to match it as a puzzle uh it's hard of course hard it's not a simple one uh but if if you have no uh I mean that in the end of the day or in the end of the week uh when I'm checking all my tasks and my ideas and have for example only 30 40 or even 60 percent closed I'm happy with that so if we're going uh to this way that sixty percent it's also a great result uh it will be easier to combine their role of uh businesswoman and mother role because if you want only 100 every day um I I think that uh it's it's impossible for example or it will be but what the price of it

Serhiy you can't be a perfectionist right you have to understand that they're going to be sacrifices

Jane of course you have a support and uh when I became a mother I understand that uh ask to for some support for some help it's very important if you have something to deliver or something like that do that uh I'm having less control with my life and even with my work and process than before yeah and I'm okay with that

Serhiy that's a new level for you right to be okay

Jane it's a new level and it's maybe a new level of my exam yeah yeah

1:02:41 Closing

Serhiy Jane what that was a bliss I think we covered a lot of topics and that this talk can be really beneficial to people from various areas in professional personal um I just want to say that I appreciate you and uh it's just interesting time in our life but I think with people like you we will be just fine so keep setting example uh and yeah thank you once again for joining my show

Jane for the invitation and I hope that the people who are listening this podcast and our episode understand that everything is possible if the E will be yourself be themselves

Serhiy yeah be themselves yeah okay guys so thank you bye guys