Before the full-scale invasion, Anna Bodsberg managed marketing for a large automotive holding and was building her own business. The war caught her on maternity leave with three young children, and her hometown of Kupiansk found itself at the epicenter of the tragedy. However, instead of feeling helpless, Anna chose a different path —transforming her extensive business experience into a humanitarian mission.
Today, her track record includes 800 tons of aid and funding for approximately 200 anti-drone defense systems. Exclusively for the Business Woman International Magazine, this is an honest and inspiring conversation about the new formula of female leadership, motherhood against the backdrop of war, the fight against fear, and the ability to remain a light in the darkest of times.
— Before the war, you were building a successful career in business. What was your professional history?
— My life has always been connected with development, systemization, and high responsibility.
Before the full-scale invasion, I worked as the Director of Marketing and Advertising for a major automotive holding. My responsibilities included the strategic development of 12 dealerships, a manufacturing enterprise, and several service companies.
It was an environment of high speed, complex decisions, and constant transformations. Business taught me to think big, work through crises, and see perspectives where most see only risks.
Later, I founded my own company. And that was when I finally realized: true leadership is not about power or control.
It is about the ability to shape meanings, unite people, and lead forward even when no one has any guarantees.
“War leaves a person no time for a gradual transformation. It changes you instantly.”
— What was the morning of February 24th like for you?
— It was the moment after which life was divided into “before” and “after.”
At that time, I was on maternity leave. My youngest son was two years old. I have three young children — ages 2, 3, and 6.
It would seem that during this period of life, a woman should be fully focused on her family, motherhood, and the domestic world.
But war destroys the very illusion of a normal life.
Especially when your hometown is Kupiansk.
For me, it is not just a place on the map of Ukraine. It is a part of my memory, my childhood, my inner anchor.
And the pain for it stays with me every single day.
At a certain point, I realized very clearly: I cannot be on the front line with a weapon. But I can be useful where I have experience, knowledge, and strength.
That was exactly when the main decision emerged — not to wait, but to act.
“Everyone has their own front line.”
— How did your business experience help in your humanitarian work?
— In fact, the war very quickly showed that humanitarian activity is also about management, strategy, and crisis management.
In business, I learned to work under conditions of uncertainty, build systems, conduct complex negotiations, and take responsibility for the results.
And these exact skills became critically important during the war.
At first, it was targeted, point-to-point assistance. But very quickly it became clear: chaotic decisions do not work. What is needed is systemization, international communication, partnerships, and long-term processes.
That is how humanitarian shipments, cooperation with international partners, a charitable foundation, support for Ukrainian defenders, and the launch of a sector related to anti-drone defense systems came to be.
Today, I often think that my entire professional path was a preparation for this specific period of my life.
“Behind dry numbers, there are always human stories.”
— What have you managed to achieve during this time?
— Together with the team, volunteers, and international partners, we managed to deliver about 800 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
A separate focus was the support of military technologies and anti-drone defense systems. We managed to secure funding for approximately 200 systems.
But for me, numbers are not the most important thing.
The most precious asset is the people who, despite fatigue, fear, and losses, have not lost the capacity to support one another.
This inner resilience is what defines the true strength of Ukraine today.
“A woman’s strength is not in the absence of pain. Strength is the ability to keep going despite it.”
— Were you scared?
— Yes. And, most likely, the honest answer will always be exactly that.
It seems to me that true leadership is not about the absence of fear. It is about the ability to act even when you are afraid.
When you are a mother of three young children. When you are far from home. When you read the news about your city every day. And at the same time, you have to stay strong for others.
There were moments of complete exhaustion. There were sleepless nights. There were moments when I just wanted to stop.
But I could not allow myself to remain inactive.
“The war revealed the phenomenon of the Ukrainian woman to the world.”
— How has your understanding of female leadership changed?
— The war stripped bare the true nature of strength.
Today, for me, leadership is not a status, a position, or publicity.
It is the ability to take responsibility in the most difficult moments.
Ukrainian women are now demonstrating to the world an absolutely unique example of endurance, inner power, and resilience.
And this strength is not always loud.
Sometimes it looks like a mother of three coordinating international humanitarian shipments. Sometimes — like a woman launching a new direction of aid. And sometimes — like a person who simply refuses to give up.
I am convinced that after this war, the world will discover so much more about Ukrainian women.
“True strength is the ability to create opportunities even amidst chaos.”
— What motivates you today?
— The realization that even in the darkest times, you can remain a light for others.
I couldn’t stop the war. But I was able to use my experience, knowledge, and inner strength to help people and my country.
And I continue to do so.
Because true leadership is not born in comfort.
It is born at the moment when you, despite the fear and fatigue, still keep moving forward.
Author: Inessa Kryvenko
Photo: from the heroine’s archive