Learn everything about how not to flee a war, using humour to connect, and knowing your WHY ~ it makes the journey easier! When war upends everything you know, how do you redefine home, leadership, and purpose? What does it mean to step into leadership when your entire world is turned upside down? In today's episode of WECAN, Stephanie sits down with Maria Romanenko, a Ukrainian journalist and activist who fled Kyiv for the UK at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. From arriving as one of the very first displaced Ukrainians to establishing life in Manchester, Maria transformed her personal displacement into a mission of community service, launching free city walking tours that have helped over 3,000 Ukrainians feel at home. Through her public talk series, "How Not to Flee a War," Maria uses a uniquely Ukrainian blend of dark humour, authenticity, and heart to share her escape story, honour her lost journalist colleagues, and educate audiences across the UK. "Dark humour is all we have left as Ukrainians, or else we would cry the whole time, and humour connects. Many of my friends and colleagues are no longer here; it is my duty to tell their stories." Do not miss this uplifting, deeply human conversation about learning to be a leader in real time, holding onto freedom, and discovering that even in the darkest times, humour and purpose can carry us through. WECAN maintain an unshakeable connection to home and purpose. It's much easier to face the world's problems if you know your WHY. "I have learned to nurture that sense of home inside me. I can't be in Kyiv, but I can listen to Ukrainian music or read books. I can also look after myself. I have made a lot of healthy choices and changes. Your body is also your home. And if you don't look after your body, you can't feel at home."
00:00 Introduction 02:27 Fleeing Kyiv: Arriving in the UK as a Displaced Journalist 07:22 Creating Connection: Free Manchester Walking Tours for Ukrainians 09:50 Stepping into Unplanned Community Leadership 13:30 Adaptability and Planning in an Unstable World 15:35 "How Not to Flee a War": Using Storytelling and Humour 19:00 Honouring Fallen Colleagues & Keeping Their Stories Alive 21:10 Navigating International Career Transitions & Carving Your Path 23:57 Manchester as a Temporary Haven vs. The Longing for Kyiv 26:40 Redefining Success and Coping with Survivor's Guilt 31:18 The Importance of Storytelling in Facing Global Threats 33:18 Authenticity as a Greatest Strength 35:55 Where to Find the Show: Talks for Ukraine & Future Plans 37:45 Final Takeaways: Flexibility, Authenticity, and Knowing Your "Why"
#WECAN #MariaRomanenko #HowNotToFleeAWar #Leadership #Authenticity #Resilience #Ukraine #RoleModels #HumanDignity Connect with Maria: https://www.instagram.com/rommari/?hl=en
Join a "How Not To Flee A War" Talk: https://talksforukraine.com/talk-dates/ _______________________________________________________________________
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