Maria Zhartovska

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.