CEO, Founder, Skyworker, Kyiv, Ukraine

Despite the bad rap political woes have given it, Ukraine’s economy is growing thanks in part to a well-developed and strong technology culture. Noted Ukrainians are WhatsApp’s founder, PayPal co-founder, co-inventor of Wi-Fi and most famously, Apple’s co-founder Steve Wozniak who has a proud Ukrainian heritage. With a booming tech ecosystem, large talent pool, and highly educated IT experts, Ukraine is readying to boast, if not already secured, a title ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’. According to Financial Times, the value of Ukraine’s IT service industry is growing with 2017 exports worth $3.6 billion and expected to reach $10 billion by 2020. The country ranks fourth in the world by the number of tech workers after the US, India, and Russia. International businesses choose to enter Ukrainian IT market through M&As, joint R&D projects or outsourcing and tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Apple, Boeing, Siemens, Oracle and others have solid presence in the country.

Global market leaders are recognizing the benefits of acquiring Ukrainian talent and expertise. Google purchased Viewdle – a facial recognition company, Snapchat acquired Looksery – a real-time facial modification app, and Oracle bought Maxymiser – a Ukrainian provider of cloud-based software for marketers. Grammarly was founded in Kyiv highlighting Ukrainian ambition and talent on an international scale.

I met Ms. Lidiya Terpel at a tech/start-up happy hour in Kiev. I was curious to understand what Kiev’s entrepreneurial scene was like in a country where software developers and coders with three to five years experience earn $1,500 to $2,000/month in the provinces and up to $3,000 in Kiev (according to Financial Times). Additionally most specialists are freelancers, paying minimal taxes; this is in an economy where the average monthly wage is closer to $300.

In this highly specialized and competitive IT field Ms. Terpel is flourishing. She belongs to the new generation of Ukrainians holding a global focus, confidently raising capital that matches her company’s perceived worth, partnering with big tech giants in the US and Europe, blossoming and at the same time helping expand Ukrainian economy. In her own words Ukrainian entrepreneurs are tough, savvy and direct, because “nobody likes ‘porcelain people’. That frankness and international partnerships and business acumen are developed by women like Lidiya and her contemporaries all over Ukraine.

We also celebrate the fact that her confidence, drive and natural ambition stand out in this mostly male-dominated field. Lidiya is unphased and is in fact propelled forward.

1. Name

Lidiya Terpel.

2. Where is your hometown?

Vinnytsia (Ві́нниця), Ukraine.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation?

CEO & founder Skyworker. We give companies ability to find specialists in IT field the moment vacancy opens. Through its proprietary algorithm, Skyworker gathers relevant specialists in pools providing our client the analytics about specialists’ relevance, skills and motivation. As technology companies face long periods for filling specialized staff vacancy, we have a solution for them.

We are also carry advantages for our IT specialists. Through our exclusive partnering with the companies, our roster of IT specialists has the advantage of first-look at the job opening, ability to see crucial information about the opportunity such as hiring stage, tech lead, and the team. Bottom line, they can be matched to the most promising job option for them making it a win-win situation for everyone.

4. What did you study in school?

I studied management in school, but I’m convinced that it didn’t help me at all. There are three things which back me up in boosting knowledge: practice, ambition and mentorship with experienced professionals.

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? What are some accomplishments you’re most proud of, and what was the turning point to set you on a current path in life?

The big turning point was my moving to the Kyiv right after graduation in 2015. All the achievements that I’m proud of now were reached after that move:

The first one is my Skyworker team! The core management of my company consists of myself and two women. We’ve been working together the last three years and understand each other at a glance. I have an incredible development team which I can rely on.

Second is our business idea! I’ve always dreamed about creating a business that can really solve an existing problem. We’ve been working for two years in IT sphere to really find out and understand the problems from the inside. Today it’s obvious to me today - all the recruiting systems are so complex, costly and unwieldy. Each recruitment process needs to be rebuilt on a specialized, turn-key basis. Now we lead business that procures relevant specialists before the client’s vacancy opens. In turn specialists have access to the latest opportunities as well as an ability to see 2-6 months out. Everyone can create their plan and implement it effectively.

The last but not least is the community that I built! It’s very important for me to gather intelligent and capable people around, people I can look up to. That was one of the reasons I developed Silicon Drinkabout Kyiv - networking events for specialists in IT, “startupers” and investors. During any one of our evenings you can reach dozens of talented people, share your expertise and get the new friends.

8. Advice for other women?

Don’t be afraid to take risk and leave your comfort zone. But there is one important condition - prepare the “air bag” for the complex situations before you take that step. Create a community that can support you in rough situations: with contacts, with expertise, with finance, with advice. There is no way to avoid failures and no chance you can’t overcome them with the right community.

9. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?

I see interest, feel support and ask for and receive advice. I meet no harassment and no undervaluation because of my gender. Hopefully, the equity of rights will be achieved in the IT sphere in my country.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

I've travelled through many countries, nevertheless, only in 2019 I discovered how breathtaking Ukraine is. The emotions I feel in fabulous places in my country are much stronger than those I ever felt abroad. 

11. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

Today my motivation is my health. Unfortunately, I neglected it in the previous year. That was a period when I usually came home exhausted and felt like “if I make one more move I’ll die”. But I was mistaken. When I realised that such life rhythm causes problems with health, I returned to physical training.

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

My goal is to grow into a global company that changes the old-school career approach and transforms chaos in recruiting into predictable process that you can control. With Skyworker, specialists can fulfill their professional ambitions through choosing the company that fits their demands. As a result, level of stress and displeasure in our society should reduce. No one should have to hesitate about their career, worry about unachieved goals and live unfulfilled life. 

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

I have a strong phobia from my childhood that affects the quality of my life and the comfort of my close surrounding. I have fear of microbes and illnesses. I’ve made giant steps in overcoming that since I was six, but there is still more to work on. As a matter of fact, I am currently planning my trip to the mountains with tent, with insects and without comfortable environment. I am figuring it out.

14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

I’d ask my parents for forgiveness for every situation when I was wrong and made them worry for me.

15. What inspires you?

It’s all about successful people. Even one short talk with an inspiring professional forces me to grow faster and faster. My networks inspire me to move forward.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life?

A good sleep. Any problem is not so scary if you get enough sleep and avoid negative news, films, music, etc. It  literally changes your attitude toward life situations on the molecular/nervous system level.

18. What is a quality you most love about yourself and why?

After going through experience of starting my own business I realize that the quality I am proud of is frankness. Nobody likes “porcelain people” and there is no chance to develop deep trusting relations without frankness. I’m also not afraid to speak sincerely about my failures or problems. If you’ll open your real world a little bit, you’ll establish real connections.

19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

I’d tell myself - don’t try to be perfect at middle and high school and get the perfect marks at all your classes. Better spend more time doing activities you really love - painting, for example. I realize that I put too much effort and stressed immensely about something that would never come in handy.

20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

I’m a book addict. Mostly, I read books from the business field. The two I’m reading right now are ‘Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion’ by Robert Chaldini and book that is available only in Russian “Write and Shorten’ by Maxim Lyakhov. The last one is about how to touch people's feelings through texts.

21. Who is a WOW Woman in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, why you admire them?

1. Michelle Obama - for her qualities for inspiring and supporting other people.

2. Oprah Winfrey - she is frank and is phenomenal at asking the right questions. She is also a great listener.

3. Elisabeth Holmes - she was the youngest billionaire in the world and founded Theranos in Silicon Valley. Not the usual happy story, because obviously she is a criminal. But I’m inspired by her talent in sales.

All those women have qualities I want to learn from.

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

Facebook - @lidiya.terpel

Company website: skyworker.ai