Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has displaced millions of people, with women and children making up the overall majority (close to 80%) of those who crossed into Poland in search of safety. Many arrived with limited resources, having left their homes and jobs behind, and the immediate need to start making income to support their families. Navigating an unfamiliar job market, learning a new language, and carrying caregiving responsibilities make this transition especially challenging.
Olena, an entrepreneur and mother from Ukraine, arrived in Poland in 2022. “I remember the day when I had to make a decision I never wanted to make. Pack your life into one suitcase. Protect your daughter. Go into the unknown.”
In Ukraine, Olena led a successful career in the construction industry, where she certified construction products, led the energy efficiency of buildings and ensured they met European standards, and took part in scientific research. Her job was secure, and she had plenty of opportunities for professional development. “I had a clear plan, a vision of the future, a sense of home,“ she recalls.
“I had a clear plan, a vision of the future, a sense of home.”
A seasoned construction professional and researcher, Olena left a secure job in Ukraine and began a new life in Poland seeking safety for herself and her daughter.
Despite feeling deep gratitude for the warmth with which she was received in Poland, Olena faced many challenges to rebuilding her life there.
“I had to learn a new language, integrate into a different work culture, adapt to new realities, combine motherhood and work without guarantees, and stop comparing the “before” and “after”. There were moments when I felt like I was starting everything from scratch, although I had dozens of completed projects for large construction companies in Ukraine and a scientific career behind me.”
As she began searching for work and a way to regain her independence, she came across Women’s Entrepreneurship Foundation (WEF) – Siec Przedsiebiorczych Kobiet in Polish – an organization that supports women – especially those facing displacement – to access job training, mentoring, and employment opportunities.
Photo: WEF networking event
Olena enrolled in several of WEF’s programs aimed at supporting refugee women to start new business ventures and regain their financial independence, including the “Business Academy for Women from Ukraine” and “Business in Women’s Hands” programs. The latter program focuses specifically on integration and building personal connections crucial for establishing a reputation and securing clients.
The turning point for Olena was understanding that her experience and knowledge could also be valuable in Poland. She began to receive her first consulting requests and to get acquainted with the Polish market. As her first clients appeared, she saw that her skills were both valued and needed.
"[This] was a very important stage for me. [WEF] helped me structure my experience to meet the requirements of the European market, understand how to properly register a business, how to position myself and build communication with potential clients.”
Since 2021, WEF has supported 242 refugee and migrant women like Olena in their job search through skills training and job placement support, as well as the donation of essential items.
WEF’s support for displaced women aims to address four challenges that entrepreneurs arriving in Poland report: limited financial support, lack of knowledge on Polish law, uncertainty around marketing, and social isolation. The enterprise’s comprehensive programs address these gaps, in addition to educating women about grant and subsidy opportunities and supporting them to actively seek investment, directly addressing concerns around financing.
“Given that most women rely on “personal savings” or a “minimal” budget, a crucial role for the organization is not only teaching business plan writing but actively connecting [women] with public support programs and grant providers to shift from a survival phase to a growth phase.”
Beyond offering programs specifically tailored to the challenges of women newly arrived in Poland, the foundation ensures all women have access to its entire portfolio of business support services. It also provides 150 free tickets per year for refugee women to attend high-quality networking events, eliminating financial barriers.
“This is our strongest mechanism for supporting women’s integration,” shares Agata. “Strength lies in integration, not isolation: The key to rebuilding is not just creating parallel support structures but integrating migrant women into the local business community.”
The tailored training and mentoring Olena received from WEF covered entrepreneurial development, networking, materials for understanding business processes in the EU, as well as support from mentors to access wider opportunities.
This guidance propelled her toward her next goal in Poland – starting her own business.
“This [support] gave me confidence in my capabilities and became the basis for opening my own company Lab-Consulting in Poland — a company that combines business and science, which helps Ukrainian and European manufacturers go through complex certification processes [...] and implement EU standards.”
“My own company gives me a sense of inner freedom and self-sufficiency.”
Olena launched Lab-Consulting combining her expertise on technical consulting, energy efficiency, European standards, and innovation. She focuses on connecting Ukrainian companies with the EU market.
Looking to the future, Olena plans to develop Lab-Consulting as an international platform to support companies from Ukraine and other European companies. She also wants to develop educational products, lead webinars, and offer consulting services to help other Ukrainian entrepreneurs navigate the requirements of the European market more easily.
As Olena reflects on all she has achieved since arriving in Poland and her future in the country, she shares:
“[Launching] my own business has given me a sense of inner freedom and self-sufficiency. It restored my confidence and opened up new horizons — from developing a personal brand to entering international markets. It gave me faith in my strength, the opportunity to build a future for myself and my daughter, the feeling that I am needed and useful.”
“Most importantly, I began to dream and make dreams come true again. For myself and my family, I dream of stability, development and freedom of choice, a sense of home, no matter where I am. For my daughter, I want to be an example that strength is always within us.”
Women’s Entrepreneurship Foundation is a Polish enterprise in the NESsT Central and Eastern European Accelerator program supported by IKEA Social Entrepreneurship. Learn more about NESsT’s work in Poland below.