There are people for whom a profession is just a job. And then there are those for whom it becomes a mission. For Oksana Slovik, education was never merely a career choice; it was a calling born in childhood. From the quiet observations at the back of her mother’s classroom, she first witnessed how a teacher’s word could transform a child’s world.
Exclusively for Business Woman magazine, as part of the Portuguese representative office’s project “The Power of a Dream,” Oksana shared the story of her journey—a path marked by internal crises, transformation, and the creation of a new Ukrainian educational reality.
“To build something truly great, you must first dismantle the old stereotypes within yourself,” she says.
Her path was not linear. There was a period Oksana describes as her “dark night of the soul”—a prolonged absence from pedagogy, a time of reimagining her roles and purpose. It was a period when she had to literally rebuild herself—not just as a teacher, but as a person capable of shaping the future.
Her return to education was not a retreat to the past but the birth of a new vision. For Oksana, being an educator means more than just teaching; it means creating a space where “Ukrainianness” remains vibrant, modern, and resilient, regardless of borders.
Starting her own business during a full-scale war was a decision that required immense internal courage. Yet, it is often in the darkest times that the greatest meanings are born. This resolve led to the creation of an entire ecosystem: the licensed private school “TVOYA SHKOLA” (Your School), the NGO “TVOI KROKY” (Your Steps), and the online platform “TVIY PROSTIR” (Your Space).
This is no longer just about education. It is about providing a foundation.
Today, “TVOYA SHKOLA” serves as an online home for Ukrainian children in over 30 countries. Here, every lesson is about more than knowledge; it is about connection, support, and a sense of belonging. Oksana aptly describes it as “a heart-to-heart hug via Zoom.”
The NGO “TVOI KROKY” supports those who have endured loss and difficult life circumstances, while “TVIY PROSTIR” prepares a new generation of professionals—individuals who can not only work but also withstand the challenges of our time, deal with trauma, grow internally, and create new meaning.
Behind this scale lie years of continuous learning and daily self-improvement. Four higher education degrees, a PhD, ICF coach certification, psychotherapy, training, and facilitation—these are not just titles, but markers of a profound journey.
Oksana has developed her own transformational tools, including the psychological coaching game “Limitless,” the “About You” metaphorical cards, and the “Psychology as a Path to Self” program. Each of these projects was born from personal experience.
“To lead others, you must defeat your former self every single day,” she notes.
Today, Oksana Slovik is a two-time semi-finalist for the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine and a laureate of the “Cultural Diplomacy” award. However, the most precious recognition for her is not the awards.
It is the light returning to the eyes of thousands of children. It is the children who, despite being far from home, do not lose touch with their roots. It is Ukrainians across the globe who continue to feel that Ukraine lives within them.
Oksana Slovik’s story is a cornerstone of “The Power of a Dream”—an initiative highlighting women who do not wait for the perfect moment but create a new reality with their own hands.
This project is about those who refuse to let circumstances dictate their future. About women who, even in times of global crisis, continue to build, support, teach, and inspire.
Because the power of a dream is not about beautiful words.
The power of a dream is the courage to create light where it is needed most.
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Photo: from the archive of Oksana Slovik