“Purple Whisper” (29), based in London, originally from Ukraine

"Even difficult journeys can lead to hope: support makes the impossible feel possible.”

I am a mother of two remarkable boys and a doctor from Ukraine. My life began with challenges: when I was born, my mother left to pursue an eight-year medical degree, and I was raised in a small Ukrainian village by my grandmother. School was not easy. I was bullied for my glasses, my shyness, and my stutter. But these early hardships taught me resilience and empathy, lessons that would shape who I am today.

When war erupted in my country, I faced a choice no parent should ever have to make. Escaping not only violence but also domestic abuse, I fled to Warsaw with my children. I arrived broken, exhausted, and unwell, yet determined to survive. Slowly, I healed, learned Polish, and began the painstaking process of having my medical qualifications recognised.

Poland was only the beginning. Many feared the conflict would spread, so I continued to the UK with nothing but a suitcase and a promise: to create a safe, joyful life for my children. The first months in London were some of the hardest of my life. I worked as a waitress, waking at 4:50 a.m. daily, caring for strangers while managing exhaustion, arthritis, a positive cancer test, and blood transfusions. Every day, I reminded myself: I am still here. I am still me.

English became my fifth language, after Ukrainian, French, Russian, and Polish. From doctor to waitress and back to medicine, I refused to let circumstances define me.

I found Smart Works online, unsure of myself. From the moment I walked in, I was treated not as a refugee, but as a woman of value. The coaching, styling, and encouragement were transformative. My coach helped me identify my strengths, practise presenting them in an interview, and choose clothes that reflected confidence and professionalism.

“For the first time, someone asked me how I really felt. I felt seen. I never forgot that. Smart Works didn’t just give me clothes. It gave me confidence, preparation, and a fresh start.”

It wasn’t just about clothes; it was about practical preparation, mindset, and walking into an interview knowing I could succeed. I left my session ready and equipped – and I got the job.

Since then, I have been rebuilding my life in the UK, step by step – studying, volunteering, and pursuing medicine while raising my children from afar. My motivation is clear: my children. My strength is theirs, and my success will shape their future.