From Silence to Spotlight: How Owning My Story Changed My Life and Career

For a long time, I was silent.

Silent about my childhood in the Soviet Union, growing up in a home overshadowed by fear and control. Silent about my family’s struggles with domestic violence. Silent about the heartbreak of leaving my country behind. Silent about arriving in Australia as a single mother, barely speaking English, and starting life again from scratch.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to share. I just didn’t think anyone would understand. And deep down, I didn’t see my story as inspiring - I was just trying to survive.

So, I played the role. I smiled, I worked hard, and I kept the past neatly packed away.

Feeling “too different” in my new home. When I arrived in Australia, I wanted to belong so badly that I sanded down my edges. I spoke less, laughed quieter, and suppressed the expressive gestures that had been second nature to me. My goal was simple: fit in.

But the more I tried to blend in, the more invisible I felt. I was building a life, but I wasn’t building connections. And the truth was, I was exhausted from carrying a story I refused to tell.

The first time I spoke my truth

That changed the day I was invited to speak at a community event about my business journey. I had prepared the usual safe speech - the facts, the timeline, the achievements. But something in me knew it wasn’t enough.

So, I scrapped the script and spoke from the heart. I told them about the Soviet girl who dreamed of the stage. About the marriage that broke apart. About the move to a foreign land with no clear plan, only determination to make it work.

It was terrifying. My voice shook. My hands trembled. But I didn’t stop.

When I finished, the room was silent for a moment - then people stood and clapped. Afterwards, several women came up to me with tears in their eyes and said, “You told my story. I thought I was the only one.”

The opportunities, healing, and impact

From that day on, I made a decision: no more silence.

Owning my story didn’t just change the way people saw me - it changed the way I saw myself. I was no longer just the CEO of a manufacturing company. I was a woman who had overcome adversity, rebuilt her life, and could inspire others to do the same.

Since then, sharing my story has opened doors I never imagined:

Speaking on stages around the world

Publishing two books, Leadership Sh!t Show and The 3-3-3 Water Wisdom Protocol

Connecting deeply with audiences, customers, and my own team

Supporting causes like Dancing CEOs to help prevent domestic and family violence

But more than the opportunities, the biggest gift has been the healing. Speaking my truth turned my pain into purpose.

When you own your story, it stops owning you

Silence can be a prison. And sometimes, the only key is your own voice.

When you share your story, you reclaim it. You transform it from a weight you carry into a bridge that connects you to others. And you show the world - not just who you are - but what’s possible.

I used to think my story wasn’t worth telling. Now I know it’s my most valuable asset.

And here’s the truth: so is yours.