The Story of Who I Am

I believe the world doesn’t need more plans. It requires more people who are willing to move.

That belief wasn’t born from theory; it was shaped by experience. I’ve taken risks, failed, rebuilt, and kept moving. And what I’ve learned is this: real momentum begins the moment you take action.

It started early. I was a loud, energetic kid until I wasn’t. I was bullied at my first school and shut down completely. Luckily, my mom noticed. She moved me to a different environment, and I came back to life. That moment taught me two things: people matter, and your environment shapes who you become.

I never thought of myself as “the smart one.” I worked hard, but I often felt that others were naturally gifted. Then I took a national school exam and scored the highest possible mark. That single moment changed how I saw myself, and sparked a pattern that has followed me ever since: showing up fully, even when the odds or my doubts say otherwise.

I channeled that energy into field hockey. I was the captain, trained five to six days a week, and made my debut on the first team at the age of 16. Later, I studied in the United States, joined a fraternity, and became its president. That role taught me how much I thrive when rallying people around a shared mission, building momentum together.

After graduating, I joined Unilever in the finance department. On paper, it looked great. In reality, I was in the wrong role. I struggled. I made mistakes. At one point, I made a mistake in an entire regional forecast. I still remember sitting alone, feeling completely overwhelmed and questioning everything. But that experience gave me something priceless: clarity. I learned that I’m a builder and a connector. I lead through energy, not spreadsheets. And when I believe in something, I find a way to make it work.

That mindset led me into marketing and then into entrepreneurship. My first startup experience was far from ideal. The culture was not lovely, and I eventually left the company I helped build. I went with more questions than answers, but also with a renewed sense of clarity about what I truly wanted to make. If I were to create something meaningful, it would have to reflect who I am at my core.

That’s how MATCHR was born. I co-founded the business from scratch and poured everything into it. I moved to Kyiv. I didn’t know the language, didn’t have a network, but I believed in what we were creating, a recruitment company built on energy, alignment, and transparency. No shortcuts. Just people and momentum.

Around that time, I met Olya, my now-wife, at Burning Man. Now we live in New York with her daughter, and building a life together is one of the things I’m most proud of.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I launched 24 The Planet, a 24-hour walk to raise money for a cause I deeply believed in. No roadmap. Just a willingness to start. That first edition raised over €30,000 and sparked something much bigger than I imagined. It reminded me that meaningful change doesn’t require perfection; it requires movement.

Today, I’m still building. MATCHR is growing fast. I create spaces for people to connect, reflect, and take bold steps forward. Whether it’s through business, experiences, or the stories I share, my purpose remains the same:

To create magic through action.To connect deeply.To inspire possibility.

Because when people move with purpose, belief, and others beside them, everything changes.

That’s who I am.