How to support women’s leadership in times of crisis: Outcomes of the second DE&I Club meeting

26/ 06/ 2025

On 25 June, the second joint meeting of the HR Committee and the ESG Hub of the European Business Association took place as part of the DE&I Club. The event focused on women’s professional self-fulfilment and leadership in the context of war. Speakers Iryna Rubis, Head of Biasless and Diversity & Inclusion Strategist, and Yevheniia Blyzniuk, Sociologist and Founder & Director of the research company Gradus Research, presented findings from the third wave of the Women and Well-Being in Ukraine study. The research tracks the impact of the full-scale war on women’s life goals. According to the findings, women are experiencing heightened levels of stress. However, despite the challenges, their career ambitions are growing. The discussion also explored barriers to women’s leadership, the potential of women in traditionally “male-dominated” professions, and the imposter syndrome often faced by women. Olha Veselovska, Head of the NGO “Association of Women Ambassadors of Ukraine”, spoke to participants about women’s leadership in integration and reintegration processes, including NGO-led programmes. Tetyana Kononykhina, Quality Director at JTI Ukraine, shared her personal career journey to becoming a director at an international manufacturing site. The event was moderated by Mariia Abdullina, Head of the OLX Jobs platform and Chair of the EBA’s HR Committee. The meeting highlighted the critical role of women in the economy and labour market, particularly during times of crisis. The event served as a platform for discussing strategies to support women’s leadership and create a more inclusive working environment in Ukraine.

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Speakers Iryna Rubis, Head of Biasless and Diversity & Inclusion Strategist, and Yevheniia Blyzniuk, Sociologist and Founder & Director of the research company Gradus Research, presented findings from the third wave of the Women and Well-Being in Ukraine study. The research tracks the impact of the full-scale war on women’s life goals. According to the findings, women are experiencing heightened levels of stress. However, despite the challenges, their career ambitions are growing.

The discussion also explored barriers to women’s leadership, the potential of women in traditionally “male-dominated” professions, and the imposter syndrome often faced by women.

Olha Veselovska, Head of the NGO “Association of Women Ambassadors of Ukraine”, spoke to participants about women’s leadership in integration and reintegration processes, including NGO-led programmes. Tetyana Kononykhina, Quality Director at JTI Ukraine, shared her personal career journey to becoming a director at an international manufacturing site. The event was moderated by Mariia Abdullina, Head of the OLX Jobs platform and Chair of the EBA’s HR Committee.

The meeting highlighted the critical role of women in the economy and labour market, particularly during times of crisis. The event served as a platform for discussing strategies to support women’s leadership and create a more inclusive working environment in Ukraine.