“I am a seasoned project manager with 20 years of progressive working experience,” says Jamilya Yusupova, a business development consultant based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in the latest episode of She’s Next Talks, empowered by Visa.

Her journey spans health, education, and rural development—but her heart lies in agriculture. 

“Tajikistan is a rural country,” she explains. “I’m passionate about creating long-term value to the community and environment.” That passion led her to develop a mobile app and e-trade platform, now used by more than 200,000 farmers across Central Asia. “It’s applicable in all Central Asian countries, including Russian speakers.”

Jamilya’s career began in 1995 as a junior accountant, but she quickly pivoted from finance to development. “I find out for me it's boring to continue this accounting procedures from time to time,” she recalls. Her move into private sector development eventually led her to mentor women-led businesses across Tajikistan—from robotics and aquaculture to greenhouses and agritech.

She names the barriers clearly: “For me, actually, it was ageism and sexism.” Even now, she says, “when you become professional... most of the private sector, they don't trust.” But change is underway. “I was surprised when I found out that we have mining companies led by women.”

Jamilya currently mentors three successful women entrepreneurs—and sees a common thread in their journeys: “Most of them are scaring for failure. I think they have to believe in themselves. They need to trust their skills and judgments.” Access to finance and ownership remains a challenge, but mindset is where she starts. “Learning is one of the key issues for women entrepreneurs.”

To Jamilya, entrepreneurship requires grit, patience, and adaptability. “By taking patience, he motivates others... by patience, I think you can just destroy the rocks.” She sees adaptability as essential—especially in uncertain times. “You don’t have to panic. You have to believe in yourself that you are able to manage.”

Her most memorable risk? Launching a cross-border platform for Tajik and Kyrgyz farmers. “Of course it was calculated, and I believe in my intuition,” she says. The result: a digital hub that outlived donor-funded projects and still serves thousands.

Looking back, she credits her former managers, colleagues—and family—as mentors. “My great-grandfather was the first teacher in Dushanbe,” she shares. “I think it’s important when you have such examples from a person who already has expertise and he just shows you the way.”

Her advice to her 20-year-old self is simple: “Trust, learn, and appreciate what you have... appreciate the people whom you met... appreciate the task which you gave.”

And to young women starting out today: “Every challenge you face is an opportunity to grow.”

“I graduated into chaos,” says Sanja Popović Pantić, President of the Association of Businesswomen in Serbia and head of the female entrepreneurship group at Enterprise Europe Network, in the latest episode of Emerging Europe Talks She’s Next, empowered by Visa. 

Sanja came of age during Serbia’s hyperinflation in the 1990s—when your salary could become worthless within an hour. “I studied economics, but nothing in the textbooks matched reality.” While many of her peers emigrated, she stayed—and started building. 

She now leads research at the Mihajlo Pupin Institute, one of Serbia’s top centres for science and technology. But her deeper purpose emerged through supporting women entrepreneurs. “I hadn’t even heard of ‘women’s entrepreneurship’ until a conference in Washington opened my eyes.” 

Back home, she co-founded the Association of Businesswomen in Serbia—during wartime. At one early workshop, displaced women shared their stories. “They’d lost everything—but were still determined to build something. That day, I decided: don’t leave—help.” 

Over the past two decades, Sanja has helped reshape the landscape for women in business, including launching Success Flower, a national award recognising exceptional women entrepreneurs. “Many winners cry on stage—they never saw themselves as extraordinary until others told them.” 

Despite progress, challenges remain. Traditional inheritance practices still block rural women from owning land. Young female founders are doubted twice—for their age and their gender. “It still takes women nearly a decade to earn the trust men gain in three.” 

Yet Sanja believes women bring vital strengths to leadership. “We think beyond profit. That’s not a flaw—it’s long-term strategy.” 

“Sanja’s story blends resilience and clarity,” says podcast host Andrew Wrobel. “She proves that reinvention starts not with power—but with purpose.” 

Asked what she dreams of today, Sanja smiles: “To stay young in spirit. And to keep believing that goodness wins—even when the world says otherwise.” 

“I applied for a job I wasn’t fully qualified for—at least on paper,” says Iryna Tytarchuk, Executive Director at Ukraine’s Investment and Trade Facilitation Centre, in the latest episode of She’s Next Talks, empowered by Visa.

Back then, she was a university lecturer with deep expertise in agricultural policy but only intermediate English. “I rehearsed idioms just in case,” she laughs. “But at the interview, they never even asked.” She got the job—and it changed everything.

Today, Iryna leads both policy work and grassroots entrepreneurship initiatives. She’s also the founder of Women In, a platform born from a simple observation: “Most of the people showing up to export training sessions were women—and most had more questions than confidence.” That realisation turned into action, then into a movement supporting female-led SMEs in navigating finance, strategy, and global markets.

When war broke out in Ukraine, Irina saw both devastation and reinvention. “Some businesses were destroyed—literally,” she says. “Others pivoted with extraordinary courage. It wasn’t just about survival. They learned to calculate, strategise, export. They became true businesswomen.”

She’s clear-eyed about the challenges, including access to finance and the biases women face in male-dominated investment circles. “We need to stop romanticising support,” she warns. “It’s not just about helping women because they’re women—it’s about recognising the innovation and value they bring.”

Iryna is also redefining leadership. “Mentorship isn't therapy,” she says. “It’s about accountability, structure, and growth. And yes, we need more of it—especially in Eastern Europe, where the concept is still new.”

“Iryna’s story is full of grit, warmth and practical reinvention,” says podcast host Andrew Wrobel. “She doesn’t just support women—she challenges them to own their potential and make bold moves.”

Looking back, Irina has one message for her younger self: “Ask for help. Sooner. You’re not alone. And if something feels off—change it. Don’t wait five years like I did.”

Across emerging Europe, almost 2.2 million women entrepreneurs form a vibrant community, yet they face profound disparities when it comes to securing venture funding.  

According to recent figures shared during a panel discussion moderated by Andrew Wrobel, Chief Reinvention Officer at Reinvantage, women-founded businesses receive a meagre one per cent of venture capital. Mixed-gender teams fare slightly better at five per cent, while all-male teams dominate with 94 per cent of the total funding pie. 

Emilia Mamajowa is a founding partner at Espira Investments, a private equity fund, which has a gender-smart investment strategy. Before founding Espira, she says that the funds she worked for made “very few” investments in women-led or gender-diverse firms. 

“I saw a gap on the market,” she adds. “I carried out a great deal of market research which reinforced international findings: companies with gender diversity in leadership positions prove significantly more resilient, particularly during financial downturns.” 

Ewa Chronowska, general partner at NextRoad Ventures and CEO at Vestbee, echoes this sentiment, emphasising perseverance and mission-driven entrepreneurship.  

“I just went for it,” she says, underscoring the need for laser-focused determination and the willingness to manage significant personal sacrifices, especially when balancing family and career demands.  

Chronowska stresses the importance of changing societal attitudes early: “We need to educate the market, but without turning it into a gender fight—this harms the perception of women who have already achieved success.” 

Viktorija Trimbel, managing director of the sovereign VC fund Co-Invest Capital, provides a compelling personal narrative of navigating professional roles in traditionally male-dominated financial sectors while balancing family life.  

Trimbel highlights the critical role of support networks, suggesting that success for women in leadership roles also requires systemic shifts within company cultures.  

"We need mixed environments,” she says, “mixed funds. We need to look at entrepreneurs as innovators, first of all, rather than as simply men or women. Only when speaking together can find best solutions that will address problems in a way which is beneficial to everyone.” 

Confidence is often misunderstood as a trait you either possess or don’t. However, according to prominent female leaders from diverse professional backgrounds who recently discussed this topic on She's Next Talks, confidence is much more akin to a muscle—one strengthened with practice and determination. “Confidence gets stronger each time you push past your comfort zone,” shares Jovana Vulic, a project manager at Digitalise Me from Montenegro, recounting her nerve-wracking first presentation as a university student in front of CEOs and royalty. “Preparation and mindset shifts,” she says, “helped me to take control of the situation. Zhanna Kazakbayeva, founder of Botaqan, a resale platform for children’s items, highlights similar strategies drawn from her early career as a drilling engineer—a notably challenging field dominated by men. She pinpoints mastery of knowledge, mentorship, and proactive initiative as critical confidence builders. “My knowledge became my power,” Zhanna asserts, underscoring the tangible results of persistent learning and advocacy. Cristina Doros, senior vice president at Visa, reinforces this narrative by reflecting on her initial lack of industry knowledge and resulting self-doubt. “I realised that I needed to make my expertise unquestionable,” she said. Through diligent study, she turned her uncertainty into strength, proving that confidence indeed can be cultivated strategically.

“I became CEO on the day the war in Ukraine started — it’s a date I’ll never forget,” says Olga Surugiu, CEO of Orange Moldova, in the latest episode of Emerging Europe Talks She’s Next, empowered by Visa. 

For Olga, leadership began long before the boardroom. “I think my leadership skills were visible back in kindergarten,” she laughs. Born and raised in Moldova, she left home at 17 to study in Bucharest, then later in France, driven by insatiable curiosity and a desire to understand the ‘why’ behind everything. 

Despite speaking seven languages and earning multiple degrees, Olga recalls struggling with insecurity early on. “I wasn’t sure anyone would hire me,” she admits. “But within 10 days, I had seven offers. That changed everything.” 

Today, Olga leads Orange Moldova with what she calls an “entrepreneurial mindset.” She’s built products from scratch, launched a robotics and innovation hub, and champions simplicity as a business principle. “Simple sells. Simple delights. Simplicity is tough—but it's worth it.” 

She’s also outspoken about the need to redefine leadership. “We become leaders so we can grow other leaders. You shouldn’t be afraid that someone will outgrow you—that’s the point. They should.” 

“I found Olga’s story both striking and grounding,” says podcast host Andrew Wrobel. “She’s reinvented what it means to lead, especially in a region where transformation isn’t abstract—it’s lived daily.” 

Reflecting on her journey, Olga says: “I’d tell my younger self—take it easy. Don’t worry so much. Things have a way of working out.” 

“Growing up in Gyumri, Armenia’s second city, I was surrounded by traditions that often-placed limitations on women. My dream was always to escape, to leave for Yerevan, the capital, and start a new life. But life had other plans for me, and I’m glad it did,” says Amalya Yeghoyan, Executive Director of the Gyumri Information Technologies Centre (GITC), in her conversation with Andrew Wrobel. 

Amalya’s story began in 2007 when, as a 21-year-old linguistics student, she was encouraged to apply for a receptionist role at GITC. Despite her doubts about succeeding without connections, she aced the interview and began her journey at an organisation that would transform her life and her hometown. 

“GITC was a revelation for me. At a time when Gyumri was struggling with poverty and unemployment following a devastating earthquake, the centre’s mission was to teach people how to ‘fish’ instead of giving them fish. We aimed to train young people in programming and coding to create opportunities and attract companies to Gyumri,” she recalls. 

Amalya’s vision doesn’t stop at technology. She has spearheaded initiatives like empowering war veterans and developing entrepreneurship programmes for women displaced by conflict. “Women are natural problem solvers and risk-takers. They see opportunities where others see obstacles. This is why entrepreneurship is so vital for them,” she says. 

Amalya Yeghoyan’s journey from a linguistics student to a trailblazer in Armenia’s tech ecosystem is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of investing in people. 

Just recently, Amalya was also named Emerging Europe’s Female Business Leader, chosen in a public voting and by a professional jury.  

Technology increases productivity. But it also brings about other consequences: it creates, removes and modifies the tasks that are supposed to be performed. This in turn affects the demand for workers with new skills.  

This is why equipping all young people with the skills to adapt and reinvent themselves is one of the three policy recommendations, alongside promoting technology adoption and adapting technology to meet society’s needs, included in the recent report The Future of Work: Implications for Equity and Growth in Europe, released by the World Bank. 

“I'm talking about numeracy, literacy, problem-solving, and in particular social skills; the ability to work in teams, the ability to project a future and be consistent...the ability to listen to others. These types of skills, these foundational skills are the perfect complement of new technologies,” Rafael E. de Hoyos, programme leader in human development for EU member states at the World Bank and one of the report’s authors, tells Andrew Wrobel. 

“These are precisely the things that we should provide to our students because this is what will allow them to re-invent themselves,” he adds. “[These skills] will allow them to benefit from technology, not compete with it.”

They also talk about the future of education and about how to prepare educational systems in Europe and the emerging Europe region for future challenges. 

“I was working in a corporate environment, in a hotel, in the marketing department, and we were seeking professional travellers and family travellers [who could help us] promote our hotel,” Havva Safarova tells Andrew Wrobel. 

“Unfortunately, I couldn't manage to find any travelling families who have a blog. One night my husband said to me: ‘You travel, we have kids, and you are a marketer so you can do it best’.” 

Now, Havva is an internet personality and a content creator with thousands of followers. She also educates others. She is the author of seminars and marathons that empower women and emphasise that, “the limit of women is only in their brains.” 

Like many mothers, she struggled with dividing her time between family and work. 

“I couldn't work and manage, taking the kids to the kindergarten and then taking care of them. As a freelancer it was very hard; when you are in a corporate environment, you are working from nine to six. But when you are a freelancer, you are working 24/7. 

“And I was sitting in coffee shops aware that people were watching...I was bringing my kids to the coffee shop and people were saying that they disrupted them.” 

So, Havva came up with yet another idea: Ninja Kids Club.  

“My mother was my first mentor. I remember her advice when I was a child. Back then, we had grades from one to five. Five was the best mark, four was okay and three was not very good. And one day, I came back and said ‘Mum, I got a four, and that’s really good because the rest of the class got threes.’ And my mother said to me, ‘Darling, you had better look at those who are ahead of you, not those who are behind,” Viktoria Konstantinova, Head of EMEA Talent Marketing at GlobalLogic, tells Andrew Wrobel. 

With over 20 years in marketing across various sectors, Konstantinova now works for an international software company with 30,000 engineers worldwide and leads marketing efforts in 20 countries. Now she encourages other women to look for mentors. 

"We are literally sitting and waiting for you to reach out and ask questions. This is a two-way street. This is not a monologue. This is a dialogue. While giving, we are receiving; and communicating with inspiring people, especially women who want to start a business or who want to change their lives. This is inspirational for us.”