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My Journey of Leadership
Hello and welcome to FemFront! I'm Kate Grass. My career started as a psychologist in Ukraine. When something bad happens, people in my country come together to help each other. And it doesn't matter which social status you have, or how much money you earn. I was driven by a deep empathy for people and wanted to help during some of Ukraine’s most challenging times. That's where my leadership journey in extreme situations began...
From the Revolution of Dignity to the War Zone
When the Revolution of Dignity happened in Ukraine, I joined a group of volunteer psychologists to assist victims affected by police violence. At just 23 years old, I found myself coordinating a team of over 150 experienced psychologists, providing critical support to victims and earning their trust as a young leader.
In February 2014, after more than 100 people were tragically shot in the city center, I took on the responsibility of leading a group of psychologists, to support the families of the deceased. We managed to bring families together, launching the biggest grief processing group. This initiative was called Family Circle (Rodynne Kolo).
As the situation in Ukraine worsened with the annexation of Crimea and the Russian invasion of Eastern Ukraine in May 2014, I transferred my management of Family Circle to my colleague and joined mobile groups of psychologists to work directly in the war zone with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We provided psychological stabilization to soldiers who had faced the deaths and injuries of their comrades.
Shaping Military Psychology
Risking my own life while working under fire and bombings on the frontlines, I supported soldiers, officers, and my team, ensuring their mental well-being. That was the responsibility I took as a female leader, being in the position of the head of psychologist volunteers working with the Ukrainian military. But that wasn't enough. We needed a system of pre-deployment training and more qualified specialists.
That's why throughout 2015 and 2016, I continued my frontline efforts while also collaborating with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NGOs. Together, we trained soldiers, paramedics, and officers in psychological regulation before their deployment to the war zone.
In 2016-2017, I partnered with Zoran Komar, a former head of the Croatian military psychology department during the Croatian War of Independence, to create a comprehensive training program, educating over 200 military psychologists.
Transition to Digital Entrepreneurship
In 2018, I transitioned to the digital business world, joining the startup of my close friend Ruslan Nesterenko. During the next years, I traveled in Asia and Europe, enjoying my calm life as a digital nomad. Being in the COO position, I scaled our team, product, and revenue fivefold 5 times. In 2021, we co-founded Papa Vector in Poland, which later in 2023 became IMG Visuals in Canada.
But February 2022 brought a new challenge with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time I just returned home to Ukraine to have a short break after traveling. And my team and I suddenly found ourselves in the midst of war actions.
Russian troops landed at the Hostomel airport 10 km from my home on the 1st day of the invasion. What did I do first? Yoga. I realized that this day would be the day of tough decisions, extreme management, and my physical survival. So I needed 100% of my mind's and body's capabilities.
I learned new things during this invasion as my responsibility was not only team survival but also business strategy and operations. We focused on evacuating team members and restructuring operations to navigate the crisis effectively. During 2022 under my leadership as the CEO of Papa Vector, we managed to survive, launch a new product line, and generate more revenue than the previous year.
My Vision for the Future
My mission is clear: to share my vast experience with you, helping you navigate extreme situations effectively. I believe that strong female leadership is key to overcoming any crisis, and FemFront is my platform to make this vision a reality. Be part of a community that champions female leadership and resilience. Subscribe to our newsletter, participate in our masterclasses, and stay tuned for our upcoming online courses. Together, we can navigate any challenge and emerge stronger.
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