S2E8 - Oksana Tkachenko (Ukranian Roots and a Family in Peril)

Reaching for the Middle

With many of her family still in the Ukraine, and at the time of this writing, some trapped in a cellar in the Mariupol war-zone, Oksana Tkachenko is juggling her successful career, and family life in Australia, with the constant worry of the horrors that are happening in her birth country.
In part one of a two part conversation with Oksana, we discuss her childhood in the Soviet Union and the volatile conditions in the Ukraine after it gained independence in the 90's, and how she's a testament to the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
She shares how she ended up moving to South Australia in 1999 after being separated from her husband for almost two years; and how speaking 4 languages, and being educated, was still not enough to secure her a job in male dominated industries.
Through her company, Brisbane based, Lean Finance (link in description) Oksana discusses an initiative to create a socially responsible foundation, Solar Flower, to attract charitable donations and investment which would provide aid to those in, and those who escaped, war torn Ukraine.
(Note: The interview occurred 8 April 2022. All information regarding the events in the Ukraine should be reflective of that date, unless specified)
Guest Links
Lean Finance https://www.leanfinance.net/
LinkedIn (company) https://www.linkedin.com/company/lean-finance-net/?originalSubdomain=au
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksana-tkachenko-a588a657/

Buy the Host/Producer/Editor/Marketer a Coffee (donate to fuel the production of the RFTM podcast): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reachingpoS?ref=widget-1919953
Credits
Ancient Ukrainian folk instrument - bandura, Бандура - Artem Kuzmik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7cSIy-opeE

Battle for Mariupol: Civilians holed up in Azovstal steel plant - Al Jazeera 24 Apr 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjsOtCekJaU
Music
Absolutes, My Life
Cody Martin, Lifted High
Social Media
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Reaching For The Middle podc

Reaching For The Middle podcast is edited and produced by JimJamPro Creative Services ( based on the beautiful Gold Coast, Australia)