When I joined the Geneva School of Diplomacy, I was looking for an education in international relations. What I found was much more than that: I found a community that encouraged me to lead, to serve, and to believe that diplomacy can create tangible change.
Looking back, some of my most meaningful memories are not only from the classroom, but from everything that happened beyond it. I had the privilege of serving as Student Body President, where I learned that leadership is not about holding a title; it is about bringing people together around a shared purpose.
During my time at GSD, I organized our women’s team to participate in the Geneva Marathon for UNICEF, bringing students together in support of a humanitarian cause. I also volunteered with refugee families in Geneva, experiences that reinforced the importance of compassion, service, and community.
One moment, however, changed me forever.
I still remember arriving in Zanzibar for my humanitarian internship. It was my first experience working so closely with local communities in a completely different cultural and social environment. Very quickly, I realized that the theories we discussed in the classroom came to life through people: their stories, their resilience, and their determination to build a better future despite daily challenges.
That experience taught me one of the most important lessons of my career: diplomacy is not only practiced in international organizations or negotiation rooms. It begins with listening. It begins with understanding another person’s reality. It begins with earning trust. Those lessons have stayed with me ever since.
After graduating, I had the privilege of working within the United Nations system, contributing to international cooperation and sustainable development. I worked with the World Trade Organization on issues affecting Least Developed Countries and later joined the International Telecommunication Union, supporting digital development initiatives and international partnerships. Each role deepened my understanding of global challenges, but they all traced back to the same foundation that GSD had helped me build.
Today, I serve as Chief Global Affairs Officer at Epicentr Group, one of Ukraine’s largest companies, where I lead international partnerships and global engagement during one of the most challenging periods in my country’s history. I am also the Co-Founder of Blaho for Communities, an initiative dedicated to supporting local communities, building sustainable partnerships and creating meaningful social impact.
Looking back, I can clearly see the thread connecting every chapter of my journey. From leading fellow students at GSD, to learning from communities in Zanzibar, to serving within the United Nations system, and now working at the intersection of business, diplomacy, and social impact, each experience has reinforced one belief: real leadership is about creating opportunities for others and building bridges between people.
What makes the Geneva School of Diplomacy unique is that it encourages students to step beyond the classroom and embrace those opportunities. It gives you the confidence to lead before you think you are ready, and the perspective to understand that even small actions can create lasting impact.
To future GSD students, my advice is simple: say yes to opportunities. Volunteer. Lead. Organize events. Ask questions. Build friendships with people from around the world. Make the most of Geneva’s extraordinary international ecosystem, because you never know which experience will change your life.
When I look back today, I realize that the journey that eventually led me to the United Nations, to global business leadership, and to founding my own non-profit organization truly began at the Geneva School of Diplomacy.
For that, I will always be grateful.
It was not simply where I earned my degree.
It was where I discovered the leader I wanted to become.
