Upon return back to Ukraine I got BA in Business Administration from the private university ICU-Kyiv. By the age of 20 I organized three national level charity balls, raising awareness and funds to help orphans, children suffering from tuberculosis and psycho-neurological disorder. While in Ukraine, I was also an active member of AIESEC, Rotaract Club and European Youth Parliament, as well as co-founder of a network of young people interested in innovations.

After I received my MA in International Relations and European Studies from Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, I decided to stay here to add an additional ingredient to my recipe – Hungarian paprika.

Currently I’m working on alumni networks and the Annual Alumni Fundraising Campaign at CEU.

At the same time I am developing a local chapter of an international organization for young professionals and entrepreneurs, Junior Chamber International (JCI). I am a President of JCI Expat Budapest for 2011 and this has been an amazing and a challenging year so far!



1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
Pursuit of truth brought me to Central European University in 2007 J Got my MA degree and got a job with TATA Consultancy Services afterwards.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes, I lived in the US as an exchange student for the academic year in 2001-2002.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
Language. I didn’t expect it would be so different with Hungary being a neighboring country.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
After long walks I will take my friends to chill in the baths. Either night bathing in Rudas, melting pot experience in Széchenyi or more local version of a lazy relaxation at Lukács gyógyfürdő.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
My Hungarian best friend’s mom’s cooking.
Btw, is Pogácsa a Hungarian invention? ;)

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Kefir and yogurt

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Csajok = in Ukrainian “csaj” means tea.

8. What do you miss the most from home?
My parents and food. It’s a shame there is no Ukrainian restaurant in Budapest and the longer I stay here, the more I want to open one!

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Doctor

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Ticket controller

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Tarragona, Spain, while attending JCI European Conference 2011

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Braunschweig, Germany, for JCI European Conference 2012. Ja, ja!

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
U2. Twin Peaks. Drawing

14. What can't you resist?
Smiling and dancing

15. Red wine or white?
Red & sweet

16. Book or movie?
eBook

17. Morning person or night person?
Night. My friends know well not to disturb me before 12:00 at the weekend

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Climate change.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Buda, because I live here :-)

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Take everything you like seriously, except yourselves. - Rudyard Kipling