Prior to the full-scale invasion of Russia to Ukraine, Victoria had a diverse career, ranging from being a bank analyst to owning multiple successful businesses and even working as a stuntwoman in Ukrainian cinema. However, the war forced her to flee to Denmark with her family, where she found herself starting from scratch. Despite the challenges, Victoria's family embarked on a new venture, founding Molliam, a sewing services company specializing in furniture upholstery, car seat repairs, and more. Throughout our interview, Victoria shares insights into her entrepreneurial journey, her role in the family business, and her experience learning at the Hub.
TEUH: Good day, Victoria! We appreciate you sharing your story with us. Let's start with you telling us about yourself as of the beginning of 2022.
Victoria: Glad to be here. I'm Victoria Sapronova, and before the war, I worked as an analyst at a bank and owned several businesses, including the children's theater "Fairy World," the children's animation studio "Fairytale," the cleaning company "CleanFairy," and the high-altitude works company "PromTechAlp." I was also a stuntwoman for the Ukrainian XGST team and appeared in the films "Dovbush" and "Tom Garrett."
TEUH: Impressive resume! How did your life change after the war, and how did you start Molliam?
Victoria: After the war, I lost everything and had to flee with my family to Denmark to save our children. We were with no money or resources. And I have four children, one of whom has a disability. It's very challenging to balance the roles of a mother of many children and a businesswoman.
"Molliam" is a new sewing services company specializing in furniture upholstery, car seat repairs, tent repairs, and the production of frameless tent structures. It is founded by my husband Oleksandr Kostiushko, and I am responsible for client service, documentation, SoMe promotion, and so on. We are happy to have a family business.
TEUH: Very interesting! How did you come up with the idea for such a project?
Victoria: My husband worked in furniture for over 10 years, and the idea came from his experience. Additionally, he had experience working on orders for high-profile individuals, which gave us additional motivation.
TEUH: What stage of development is your company at, and what are your plans for the future?
Victoria: Our company has been operating for 1.5 years, and every month we attract over 30 new clients. We are constantly expanding our capabilities and improving our service.
TEUH: Now let's move on to the section about your learning experience at the Hub. How did you find out about the program at the European-Ukrainian Hub, and which course did you take?
Victoria: I learned about the program from friends and took the "Targeting Ad" course in February 2024. The course was interesting, effective, useful, and conducted at a very professional level. After the course, I developed a new website, optimized content, launched a Facebook advertising campaign, and worked on many other marketing aspects.
TEUH: What advice would you give to those considering taking a similar course at the Hub or elsewhere?
Victoria: My advice is to participate and learn. Use this unique opportunity to gain knowledge and implement it in practice.
TEUH: Thank you for your time, Victoria! We wish you success in your project and studies. May your story inspire others to leave the past behind and start new projects.
