Maria Zhartovska

CEO

I was born in Zaporizhzhia and later moved to Kyiv, where I spent about 15 years covering Ukrainian politics. I was a journalist at Focus, Novoe Vremya, Ukrainska Pravda, Forbes, and Babel and was a finalist in the Honour of the Profession and PRESSzvanie journalism awards.

For nearly a year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I stayed in Kyiv, continuing my work. Eventually, I found myself in Canada—a country I had never planned to move to but one I am endlessly grateful for.

I completed post-graduate studies in Project Management and Storytelling at the University of Toronto, and Content Marketing at York University. While searching for a job in Canada, I was approached by an investor from Ukraine who believed in me and my vision. I co-founded the Yellow Blue Business Platform, where I’ve built a team of incredibly talented Ukrainians who inspire me daily by achieving what may seem impossible.

My goal is to help the world better understand Ukrainians, support the growth of Ukrainian businesses abroad, and ensure we all keep moving forward together.

Publications of the author

All it takes is one ‘yes’, and it will find you. Ukrainian Dmytro Ilchuk beat over a thousand competitors to land a job in the Canadian government. Here’s his journey, principles, and advice on career and life
Dmytro Ilchuk, a Kyiv native, moved to Toronto in 2018. He began his career as an intern at the Canada Revenue Agency, where he helped fellow Ukrainians navigate the country’s...
Ukrainian company Filmotechnic worked on "Titanic" and received an Oscar ten years later for its technology. It all started in a small workshop in Kyiv — Interview
In 2006, the Ukrainian company Filmotechnic received an “Oscar” Academy Award for Technical Achievement. The Academy presented the award for developing the U-CRANE ,...
From living in a basement to chauffeuring Hollywood stars: Anton Nesterov from Zaporizhzhia on building a successful business in the U.S. Interview
Anton Nesterov is a near-perfect example of the famous “American Dream” come true. Back in 2004, he arrived in the U.S. on an exchange program from the industrial Ukrainian...
"What I love is that the brand is proudly rooted in Ukraine". Liki24 CEO Anton Avrinsky on business, investment, and mistakes to avoid
Liki24.com is a Ukrainian healthtech startup that connects users with thousands of pharmacies for medication search and delivery. Launched in 2017 by five Ukrainian founders,...
"A culture shaped by totalitarian trauma": what Canadians (and others) should understand about Ukrainians. An interview with Ukrainian Mentality Researcher Maryna Starodubska
In the fall of 2024, Maryna Starodubska published a book titled “ How to Understand Ukrainians: A Cross-Cultural Perspective ”. With a Master’s in People Management and...
How Bob Snail, a Ukrainian healthy snack brand, became a hit in Canadian stores: a conversation with the company’s CEO in Canada, Dmytro Shugaiev
At the end of June 2022, Dmytro Shugaiev, who had spent more than a decade working for global giants like Danone, Polpharma, Biocodex, and Biopharma Plasma, landed in Toronto....
"Ukrainian entrepreneurs tend to overestimate their abilities". Financial consultant Yevhen Demenok on the pros and cons of doing business in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is one of the top three countries in the European Union that has accepted the most Ukrainians fleeing the war. In the first three months of 2024,...
"Be careful what you say": Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine Natalka Cmoc on the strength of Ukrainian businesses, women’s leadership, and breaking stereotypes
Natalka Cmoc, Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine since 2023, has a deep connection to her Ukrainian heritage and a wealth of experience in public administration and diplomacy. ...

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