From refugee back to leader: how a Ukrainian MBA alum is rewriting her narrative

Global Online MBA alum Maryna Salomatina, Class of 2024, describes her cohort as offering her a “masterclass in perspective.” Fittingly, that is exactly what Maryna offers to others, too. Her story of new beginnings amid crisis is nothing short of inspirational. 

Maryna’s Global Online MBA story

After fleeing Ukraine with her children, Maryna was faced with a new home in a new country, a new language, and a new career – all while also being a single parent. For many people, this would be the point where they crumble. Not Maryna. For her, this was an opportunity for growth.

Read on to discover how Maryna drew on her natural grit – and the lessons from her ESMT Global Online MBA – to change her story “from refugee back to leader.” 

Hi, Maryna, please introduce yourself.

I am an entrepreneur at heart and a strategist by vocation. In Ukraine, I built a successful B2B business in the aesthetic medicine sector along with a network of training centers for medical aestheticians. 

Today, following my move to Germany and my graduation from ESMT Berlin, I consult companies on business development, growth, and the implementation of AI-supported customer strategies. But above all, I am a mother of two who personally navigated a total life crisis, transforming it into a new point of takeoff for my career and my family.

Could you share a bit about the path that brought you to Germany?

It wasn’t a choice – it was a rescue mission. My personality has a zero-tolerance policy for aggression, and I was determined to protect my children from the psychological trauma of war. We put our lives in a car and drove.

The first few months in Germany were a brutal reality check. I had to watch my Ukrainian business evaporate as teams dispersed and supply chains broke. However, instead of grieving the loss, I chose to see this zero point as a blank canvas. I channeled my energy into decoding the German corporate language. 

I started from the ground up in international premium retail, quickly rising to earn an offer for an Area Manager position for Germany and the Netherlands. This was my corporate school – a necessary bridge where I mastered German labor law, high-stakes operations, and the corporate mindset.

It proved that I could successfully integrate my entrepreneurial grit into a highly regulated European environment. I was also fortunate to work frequently at the HQ in Paris, collaborating with true “retail sharks” and learning how world-class premium brands operate from the inside out.

What shaped your decision to pursue the Global Online MBA in particular?

“I chose the Global Online MBA because it allowed me to integrate growth into my life rather than pausing my life for growth.”

I reached a point where my practical intuition needed to be backed through professional frameworks. While my “street smarts” as an entrepreneur were extensive, I realized that to operate at the high strategic levels in Europe, I needed a proper academic foundation to validate my expertise.

As a single mother working full-time in a high-pressure role, I couldn't afford to stop my life to study. I needed a program that didn’t just teach management but embodied it through flexibility. I chose the Global Online MBA because it allowed me to integrate growth into my life rather than pausing my life for growth. By nature, I am a systematic person, and this program allowed me to build a lifestyle system where high-level learning was woven into my daily reality without compromising my responsibilities to my family or my career.

Why did you choose ESMT?

“ESMT Berlin taught me how to transform from a problem-solver into someone who builds the systems to prevent them”

I was looking for a school that prioritized innovation and the future of technology. ESMT Berlin taught me how to transform from a problem-solver into someone who builds the systems to prevent them. That shift in mindset was the exact ROI I was looking for.

How did you find out about the BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship and what was involved in the application process?

I was proactively monitoring the market and had set up specialized alerts and content aggregators to track global online opportunities. This is how I came across the BMW Group grant.  

I spent two days on the application, and the hardest part was the video. I had a script, but the pain of my situation made it hard to stick to it. In the end, I stopped reading and just spoke from the heart. I think that authenticity is what made me stand out among hundreds of applicants. 

How did you feel when you knew you had been awarded the fellowship?

“It was a moment of true self-actualization. It shifted my narrative from “refugee” back to “leader.” ”

It was a moment of true self-actualization. It shifted my narrative from “refugee” back to “leader.” Knowing that I was selected from hundreds of applicants wasn’t just a compliment – it was a strategic investment in my potential. I felt a profound responsibility to maximize that opportunity. That sense of purpose is what fueled my 5:00 AM study sessions, ensuring I delivered my best before my kids woke up and my workday even began.

What has been your favorite moment from your MBA studies?

“Working with professionals from such diverse industries to deconstruct complex cases was a true masterclass in perspective.”

The collective intelligence of the group assignments was incredible. Working with professionals from such diverse industries to deconstruct complex cases was a true masterclass in perspective. But if I have to pick one moment, it was the graduation ceremony. Everything about that day was so perfect that I still get goosebumps thinking about it.  

How has your MBA helped your career?

The career impact of the program was immediate. As soon as I added “MBA Candidate at ESMT Berlin” to my profile, I received a wave of inquiries from headhunters in the fashion retail sector. Ultimately, I accepted an offer that brought us to Düsseldorf. I chose this city because it is a serious international business hub, but also because of the incredible opportunities it offers for my children’s development. 

The MBA sharpened my ability to identify complex cause-and-effect relationships in a global context. Before, I had extensive practical experience, but now I have the academic literacy and frameworks to analyze how global events directly impact business pace and direction.

I’ve learned to decode the speed of the market – understanding how shifts in world stability or technology require an immediate, structured response from a business. It’s no longer just about growth; it’s about resilience and strategic impact. I now focus on how a company can remain sustainable and purposeful in a rapidly changing world, ensuring that every decision is backed by data and a deep understanding of the global landscape.

How have you been able to leverage your studies in other areas of your life?

I have always been a disciplined person, but for a long time, I relied almost entirely on my character to get things done. In many areas of my life, I would simply push through on pure willpower, often at my own expense. The MBA helped me shift that dynamic. It gave me the structural tools to move from acting on grit to acting on strategy.

Now, instead of forcing a result through sheer effort, I look at the systems behind it. I’ve learned to step back and ask: “Is this approach sustainable? Is there a more efficient way to reach the goal while preserving my personal resources?”. 

In my personal life, this has created much-needed mental space. Whether I’m managing my family’s life or my own professional growth, I no longer rely on “bursts of will”. I rely on the architecture of the processes I’ve built. It’s a shift from micro-managing every crisis to macro-thinking, ensuring that my daily actions are aligned with long-term success.

Your path is truly inspiring. What advice would you give to prospective students who may be navigating their own challenges?

“My main advice is to look at a crisis as a catalyst for opportunity.”

My main advice is to look at a crisis as a catalyst for opportunity. You have to change the internal dialogue: stop asking, “why is this happening to me?” and start asking, “for what purpose is this happening? What can I learn from this?”. In a world that changes so rapidly, flexibility is everything. You have to be adaptable, but at the same time, you must know when to stop. There are moments when you need to take a step back to see the horizon again and ensure you are still moving in the right direction.

This ability to prioritize humanity when it matters most is exactly what separates us from machines. During my studies, I suddenly lost my father. I had to take an academic leave to support my mother, who was left alone in Ukraine. That period of pause allowed me to re-evaluate everything. I returned with a deeper conviction that we must make the absolute most of the “now”. 

While you should always Think Big, your focus must remain on giving your best today with the resources you have. True leadership is knowing when to push through – and when to pause, reflect, and return even stronger.

Do you have any encouraging words for prospective students considering applying for an ESMT scholarship or fellowship?

“Believe that the global market needs your unique experience and talent. You have every right to operate on a large scale and reach the highest levels of leadership.”

Don’t wait for the perfect moment – it doesn't exist. Success is built on concentration, discipline, and what I call the “ecology of intent”. If your goals are purely personal, they rarely find the momentum to grow. But when you realize that your professional growth can create a positive “butterfly effect” and bring value to others, you truly become a Change Maker.

My advice is simple: Think Big. I see many talented people who hesitate to act because they doubt their readiness. Believe that the global market needs your unique experience and talent. You have every right to operate on a large scale and reach the highest levels of leadership. ESMT will provide the tools and the network, but your own clear “why” is what will provide the energy. When you have a global vision, the long hours of study will motivate you rather than exhaust you. Just take that first step. 

Thank you, Maryna

Inspired by Maryna's story? You can read more from her in an interview she gave with Forbes magazine. 

Want even more inspiration? You can connect with Maryna on LinkedIn.