Refugee Relief NGO Founder, Leader, VC Maven, Humanitarian, Proud Ukrainian, Warsaw, Poland
I have a theory that the world naturally conspires to protect certain people. Without knowing why, we want to support these individuals and bring them hot soup when they are sick. Why? Because they are the real doers in this world. We know that for these people, women especially, the road can be really difficult and full of personal sacrifices. There is no conventionality for them, no Monday to Friday, nine to five or even six to seven. If not them (the women who dive in head first), then who? We know we must protect them at all costs because we need them. We ourselves don’t have what it takes, and we need them!
In the past eight months of russia’s defacement of Ukraine, I was fortunate to meet a handful of doers in Poland; the sort of women who, when crisis hits, don’t just roll up their sleeves and volunteer, they quit their jobs, fundraise for a pick-up and for drones, drive into the conflict zone and deliver humanitarian aid. Ms. Victoria Umanska is such woman. My natural instinct with Vicky is to give her support, and lots of it. I have seen the pace with which she works in Poland, absolutely incredible. Before the war, Ms. Umanska boasted a successful career in finance and start-up sectors, but then russia invaded Ukraine, indiscriminately bombing peaceful Ukrainian cities. Vicky assembled a team and dove in, head first.
At least 12 million Ukrainians have fled their homes; more than five million women and children left for the neighboring countries in Europe. While most of us living abroad felt helpless and angry, Ms. Umanska jumped into action and assumed a bunch of new roles: a full-time humanitarian relief worker, an NGO founder, organizer, rescuer, fundraiser, child-whisperer, negotiator and a leader of volunteers.
When I met Ms. Umanska, she was running a shelter for over 300 Ukrainian women and children, right in the center of Warsaw. Office cubicles, converted into makeshift rooms, separated by privacy sheets. Kids were playing soccer in the conference rooms, mothers and grandmothers huddling in the Wi-Fi zone while messaging their men in Ukraine, little girls conspiratorially giggling, playing with dolls. Four storeys of organized chaos.
Behind the scenes, Victoria’s workload was immense: food to be procured and delivered, holding meetings with the Polish Government authorities, liaising with the local schools, distributing donated children clothing, arranging job training and language classes for the mothers. The list went on and on (and still does). The center is still operational after eight long months of war. Victoria remains the woman behind it all.
Thanks to Ms. Umanska’s professionalism, drive and tireless fundraising efforts, other Ukrainian shelters in Warsaw have also received clothing and food. In addition, Victoria oversees regular procurement of humanitarian aid (medicine, food, clothing); she also organizes deliveries of ambulance vehicles from Europe into the war zones inside Ukraine.
People like Victoria, who transition from the industry into the NGO space, seem to apply efficient practices in the NGO world; they are optimized for competency. Efficient practices and an intense personal connection to the cause produce effective outcomes. We must protect competent leaders and doers like Ms. Umanska; because if not them, then who?
1. Name
Victoria Umanska.
2. Where is your hometown?
Zhytomyr, Ukraine.
3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?
I moved from startups to venture capital and back.
Now, after the start of the war in Ukraine, I started and run an NGO called Servive (still searchable under its former name, Team Ukraine Love. All the steps of renaming are taking place right now).
4. What did you study in school?
Political Science and International Relations from University of Silesia in Katowice.
5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of.
I lived in six countries during the previous eight years. Finally, my life brought me back to Warsaw, to Poland. I’ve worked in four startups and two venture capital firms. My career is always high-paced, high-risk, and high-pressure. That's exactly what I enjoy. I moved to Poland from Ukraine at the age of 18.
By the age of 21, I had closed my first million-dollar deal. By the age 25, I sourced deals worth around $120M in accumulated value. After a huge burnout, I moved to the South of France (Auch) and dedicated half of the year to helping a local community there.
When it was time to get back to work, a friend introduced me to a company based in Barcelona. It was an incredible contract, where my main goal would be selling yachts. I was very excited and decided to make a week trip to Warsaw, in order to complete some necessary paperwork.
During this time, the second wave of COVID hit. I remained in the cold Warsaw, as my dream job contract in the sunny Barcelona was cancelled. I was to start a new chapter of my life in Poland, just me and my suitcase. I joined another Warsaw-based VC firm. This time, my job was connected to fundraising for the Venture Capital firm. During that nine months I learned a lot. For example, for the first time, I left a negotiation table not closing the deal, because my interests were not met. I returned to the investors and explained. The investors understood my hesitation and supported my move; none decided to proceed with the investment. I understood what it was like to be empowered by smart men in this male-dominated industry.
I enjoyed pro-bono work as well. One of the projects was exceptionally good, so I decided to join. We got ourselves to the YCombinator interview (YCombinator is an American technology startup accelerator that launched more than 3,000 companies, including Airbnb, Dropbox, Instacart, Quora, Reddit and Stripe, among others). As soon as I thought that life was sort of stable, russia invaded my country, and the war in Ukraine commenced.
Of course, my focus shifted. About this, read below.
What was the moment for you that changed your life (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life?
The War in Ukraine.
How did you start helping Ukrainian women?
With WOW Women Olga Kharun (PGNiG, ex. PWC) & Lesia Gabelchuk (JPMorgan Chase & Co), we started the refugee reception center at the University of Kozminski. Huge thanks to Kozminski's Rector Prof. Grzegorz Mazurek & Mariusz Łopaciński, for their support in our mission.
6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?
When I was 20, there was war in Ukraine too (the conflict in eastern Ukraine began in April 2014 with low-level fighting between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatist rebels who seized some towns in predominantly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, source). Russia’s first attack on Crimea happened. Practically, I thought that it would never repeat. My personal and emotional defense mechanisms forced me to get deeper into my work, where I would find myself the most secure and safe from the headlines. In the recent months I’ve been discovering, in the recent months, the various coping mechanisms humans employ to deal with the war. By the way, I absolutely would recommend therapy to everyone.
At 20 I also thought becoming a mother at the age of 25 would be a good idea. Well, that's another story.
7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out, and how did you get back up on your feet?
Yes, many times. I don’t want to complain here, as it will take too much space.
8. Advice for other women?
Don’t be afraid to take responsibility and lead.
If you work in a female-dominated industry, stand up for men and learn more about their needs, and of course, vice versa.
9. Knowing what we know now in a current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world?
Yes, absolutely.
What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?
Finally, start supporting women around you
Don't be afraid to stand up for another woman if you feel it is the right thing to do. Don’t be afraid of standing up to a man.
Learn more about the problems of women in male-dominated environments; and of men in female-dominated environments
10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?
Next to the people I love.
11. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?
Playing tennis, practicing yoga, professionally complaining (kidding). I enrolled in several courses on Coursera, focusing on Disaster Management and Finance.
12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?
I'd like to run a hedge fund.
13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?
There is a whole list of them and it will not be made public.
14. Anything you'd do differently if you had another go at life?
I have had daily acrobatics training for eleven years. I dropped the practice entirely when acrobatics didn't become my career. However, I wish I had kept at least one daily hour of training.
15. What/who inspires you?
Francine Katsoudas, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer of Cisco. Fran didn't just inspire me, but also empowered me earlier this year. At the Stand Up for Ukraine event, Fran gifted me a necklace with a beautiful stone, a reminder that I can be strong enough to accomplish anything I set out to accomplish. I have worn it for every important public event since then and of course, think of her words often.
16. What are you hopeful about?
That the war in my country will finally end.
I’m also hopeful that humans will make more data-driven decisions for themselves and in societies in general.
17. What are some ingredients to a good life? How did the global pandemic and war in Ukraine change your perspective about the world, about your life, your goals and dreams?
Family, safe and alive
Exploring and addressing your feelings
Short trips to the mountains/forests, if only to recharge
What do you want the world to know/realize/understand/appreciate about Ukrainians and Ukrainian women in particular?
Women now account for about 22 percent of Ukraine's military. Every fifth person. This should tell you everything you need to know about us. We are strong and we are not afraid.
18. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why? What are your superpowers?
Dedication
Honesty
Loyalty
Humility
Working on my integrity
I'm terrible with some aspects of planning and would love my next quality to love about myself to be “I’m always on time”.
19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self? What advice would your 14-year-old self give you in return?
Don't be afraid to look awkward or stupid. Speak up. No one cares anyway.
My 14-year-old me would spend five minutes stuttering, while trying to explain something. Then she would sit back down, quietly hoping to disappear in her shyness.
20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)
"Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. "Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, from Someone Who's Been There" by Tara Schuster. They are two very different, but necessary, books. I highly recommend.
21. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, about why you admire them?
Francine Katsoudas - is a WOW Woman who inspired me to keep going when I was at my lowest. I will forever admire her work ethic and focus on social impact in the tech community. Francine is of the most inspiring women.
Paulina Josków - is an outstanding Head of Business Development at one of the top startups in Poland. I believe that the crypto community will be shaped by Paulina. I admire how passionate she is about her work.
Lidiya Terpel and Ola Gatkiewicz are already here.
22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?
At the moment, you are still able to donate through the TEAMUKRAINELOVE.com website here.
1. Where were you when the attack took place? Did you believe in the possibility of the RF attacking key cities of Ukraine and continuing full-scale aggression?
Yes, I've seen it coming and kept telling my family in Ukraine. Everyone kept telling me that I was causing panic.
I was living in Warsaw already.
2. What was your experience of the day the war started? Where did you go and what do you recall was your plan?
I woke up in my ex’s apartment. I saw a message from my mom, which said "if we aren't answering, just know that we love you". I started crying.
I remember going to the protests in Warsaw immediately. But that first day, I felt powerless. That was the time the media predicted that Ukraine would fall in three days.
3. How are your family and friends doing? How often are you in touch?
I am constantly in touch will my family and friends. So many of them are in the Ukrainian army or are actively helping the army. I also travel to Ukraine from Poland quite often. At first, after I would return back to Poland, I had problems with sleep and was acutely aware of loud noises. Now, I'm working with my psychologist on how to better manage the stress and deal with the bombing experiences appropriately. All good :)
4. What are some ways you are supporting Ukraine now, from abroad? I run my own foundation. It's called Servive. So far, we have:
fundraised along Global Citizen and EU Commission +10,1 b euro, article
created the first refugee reception center in Warsaw and found housing for +1500 people in the first three days of the war in Ukraine.
Fundraised +$800k in 8 weeks, and spent it all in 16 weeks, website
We are the NGO behind the logistics of Starlinks and the only Ukrainian NGO promoted by the Coldplay concert in Warsaw (personal win)
We are changing our name from “Team Ukraine Love” to Servive and will work on helping in high-risk social crises. The focus will be utilizing of the enabling new technologies. Our legal organization name is Mama Vdoma (KRS: 0000970572) (which in Ukrainian means Mother is Home).
5. What do you want the world to know about Ukrainians during this difficult time? About Ukrainian women?
By asking Ukrainians to surrender - you are asking Ukrainians to die. Ukraine is not causing the hike in energy prices, Russia is. It is Russia who is declaring the energy war on Europe.
6. What will be the first thing you'll do when Ukraine wins?
I'll cry. Then I will allow myself to feel happiness. I will return to work in my foundation.
Humanitarian crises and disasters are happening not only in Ukraine. Helping those people, regardless of their nationality, is my life’s purpose now.
Bonus Quick Round Qs:
1. What and who is worth suffering for? What a wonderful question. I've been recently diagnosed with a pre-cancerous state. Of course, in the beginning everyone called it "cancer". This thought was on my mind all the time.
The reason I keep going, am ready to suffer and go through pain is humanity. I believe that we were all created on this planet to help. Whether we are the parasites or the natural flora depends on each of us. I believe that my purpose in life is to utilize my knowledge and dedicate my time for the benefit of other people and nature.
Having said that, I don't believe that one realizes happiness or life’s purpose from suffering. I much rather live, be healthy, smile, travel, teach and learn while being human. Ultimately, we have so little time. I realized this recently: I can't suffer for happiness. Rather, I am learning how to be happy, even in the most critical situations. There is a quote by Nietzsche, "To Live is to Suffer, to Survive is to Find Meaning in Suffering". Well, I disagree with it. I belive that in order to survive, there has to be happiness. Otherwise, you keep on suffering. Awesome question.
2. What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you?
I'd dance on the table in that Greek restaurant.
3. If you didn't have to work anymore what would you do with your days? Exactly what I'm doing now.
4. If you could be anyone for a day who would you be? A polar bear or penguin.
5. If you could relive one year in your life, which one would it be? Definitely not 2022 (laughing hard now)
Could I choose a year sometime long ago? Perhaps in the times of the height of the Roman Empire? My life is too active. I prefer to go somewhere with good wine and study philosophy. Or how about pick a time in the future. Like 500 years from now.
6. What bothers you most about other people? What do you love most about other people? I love people in general in all their flaws and redeeming qualities. I don’t appreciate people’s lack of respect for others. I feel angry when I witness people devaluing children and belittling other human beings.
