E78: Kateryna Havrylova isn't afraid anymore

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

For our third #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Kateryna Havrylova, Co-Owner and CEO, Best Solution Windows & Doors.

Helplessness, panic, worry, uncertainty, guilt, longing...Kateryna has probably felt all these emotions and more in the past two years. A routine family vacation for her husband's birthday turned into an extended stay in Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022.

Her city (Kharkiv) was among the first to be occupied by Russian forces. And so with her 3yo and husband in tow, Kateryna moved to Germany after some months in Poland, then Germany, then back to Poland, and then Canada.

Canada was supposed to be a 10-day visit to spend time with some familiar faces. However, the family made the spontaneous decision to stay because Canada felt welcoming and safe.

For the first time in a while, Kateryna wasn't afraid anymore.

In this conversation, Kateryna and I explore the impact of the war on her 3yo son and her relationship with her parents and grandmother. We also chat about:

* Her unfounded fears of integration

* Becoming antifragile

* Why she feels safe in Canada

* Losing her car import business and starting afresh

* Tips for newcomers to Canada, and more good stuff.

Kateryna is a superhero!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Kateryna on LinkedIn

🫶🏽 Check out Kateryna’s new business, Best Solution Windows & Doors

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