Contact information

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Work experience

CEO / Vice President

from 01.2024 to 05.2026 (2 years 5 months)
International University of Nutrition & Dietetics (IUND®) iund.com.ua, Львів (Освіта, наука)

Built and scaled a multi-product EdTech university from concept to operational break-even within 11 months, transforming a greenfield startup into a Top-3 provider of professional nutrition education in Ukraine.

Key Impact
- Designed and implemented the organizational, academic, regulatory, technological, and governance architecture enabling sustainable growth and international expansion.
- Launched the fully operational platform within 5 months and achieved operational break-even within 11 months, outperforming the 18–24 month EdTech benchmark
- Designed and launched 28 certification educational products, including a flagship 12-month Diploma program, and 60+ student cohorts
- Scaled the platform to 3,700+ active students, incl. 1,000+ in the flagship comprehensive nutrition course
- Built and scaled a multidisciplinary team from 3 core employees to 20+ specialists and 20+ lecturers/experts
- Secured Ministry of Education licensing and Ministry of Health Continuous Professional Development (CPD/BPR) provider status
- Integrated the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the university’s architecture, establishing a foundation for global accreditation and ESG-compliant scaling
- Developed the international expansion and accreditation roadmap to support the next stage of organizational growth.

Strategic & Operational Leadership
- Developed and executed business, academic, and growth strategy aligned with market demand and global EdTech trends
- Designed and implemented the organizational structure, governance model, operating framework, internal policies, and reporting systems from the ground up
- Led full-cycle educational product development, Learning Management System (LMS) implementation, and digital learning ecosystem scaling
- Oversaw cross-functional performance across academic, marketing, sales, finance, legal, technology, and student success functions
- Built talent acquisition, onboarding, capability development, and performance management systems to support organizational growth
- Directed marketing strategy, customer journey design, commercial funnels, budgeting, and business performance optimization
- Led licensing, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with governmental and professional bodies
- Managed organizational scaling and business continuity throughout wartime disruption and periods of market volatility

Investment & Strategic Development Analyst | Dubai, UAE | Padua, Italy

from 01.2023 to 12.2023 (1 year)
Bergs & More s.r.l. www.bergsmore.com, Інші країни (Юриспруденція)

International legal and business advisory firm specializing in cross-border investment and development initiatives across EMEA.

Delivered strategic market intelligence, investment analysis, business planning, and development frameworks for complex international projects across the Middle East, Africa, and EU, informing investment decision-making, market entry strategies, and large-scale development initiatives.

Key Impact:
- Developed investment and strategic planning frameworks for complex international projects through rigorous market intelligence, economic analysis, and feasibility assessment across emerging and high-risk markets
- Contributed to investment, infrastructure, urban development, and business expansion initiatives across East Africa and the Middle East

Strategic Scope:
- Conducted market, macroeconomic, and investment environment analysis across multiple African countries, assessing business opportunities, geopolitical risks, and investment feasibility for international investors and development initiatives
- Developed strategic business plans, feasibility studies, investment presentations, and economic models for large-scale industrial, infrastructure, hospitality, education, manufacturing, and urban development projects
- Performed sector-specific and cross-regional research using international analytical sources and economic intelligence frameworks, including EY, Moody’s, United Nations (UN) agencies, and regional development reports
- Developed infrastructure and ecosystem concepts for government-related urban planning and regional investment initiatives
- Translated complex economic, strategic, and investment data into structured business cases and executive-level decision-making materials for international stakeholders

Chief Operating Officer, Board member

from 01.2022 to 07.2022 (7 months)
The British International School Ukraine www.britishschool.ua, Київ (Освіта, наука)

Premium international K–12 school network delivering the National Curriculum for England, Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications, and International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. Member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS).

Appointed to lead operational scaling and organizational development across a network of British international schools in Ukraine during a period of planned expansion. Following the outbreak of war in February 2022, served on the executive leadership team responsible for business continuity, rapid organizational adaptation, and the transition to virtual education delivery under extreme uncertainty.

Key Impact
- Contributed to the uninterrupted completion of the academic year despite large-scale operational disruption caused by wartime conditions
- Supported organizational continuity and coordination across distributed international teams, faculty, students, and families during rapid organizational transition
- Helped stabilize core school operations and sustain educational delivery throughout the initial phase of the war

Strategic & Operational Leadership
- Oversaw operational and administrative functions across three campuses, including Human Resources (HR), Marketing, Information Technology (IT), Front Desk, and support operations, managing a team of 26 employees
- Designed and implemented operational strategies, policies, workflows, and performance management processes to support organizational scalability
- Reorganized the Human Resources (HR) function into specialized divisions, improving cross-functional efficiency and organizational effectiveness
- Implemented customer satisfaction and assessment frameworks that reduced complaints and supported student retention
- Supervised implementation of goal-setting, performance tracking, and operational coordination systems (Bitrix24, FireFly) across academic and operational teams
- Participated in executive-level crisis coordination, business continuity planning, staff relocation support, and the transition from on-site to fully virtual learning operations

Chief Marketing Officer, Board Member

from 06.2019 to 01.2022 (2 years 8 months)
ASPECT Group / www.aspect.com.ua, Львів (Будівництво, архітектура, дизайн інтер'єру)

Led strategic marketing, business development, and brand positioning initiatives for a diversified business group, supporting growth, market expansion, and operational resilience during the COVID-19 crisis.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Drove the launch and market positioning of three new business lines, supporting business diversification and revenue growth
- Developed and implemented integrated marketing strategies, commercial positioning, and go-to-market approaches for multiple products and business directions
- Led market research, customer analysis, and strategic planning initiatives aligned with business development and revenue objectives
- Oversaw brand communications, digital presence, corporate messaging, and promotional strategy across multiple channels
- Strengthened international partnerships and customer engagement through strategic reputation management and stakeholder communication
- Integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles into the business model, enhancing brand credibility and long-term market positioning
- Contributed to maintaining market stability and business continuity during the COVID-19 disruption through adaptive marketing and communication strategies

Key Impact:
- Supported business growth and diversification through strategic market positioning and expansion initiatives
- Strengthened brand reputation and international stakeholder engagement during a period of significant market uncertainty
- Contributed to organizational adaptability and market resilience during the COVID-19 crisis

СOO | Research & Development Director, Board member

from 06.2019 to 01.2022 (2 years 8 months)
ASPECT-AQUA, International Center for Transfer of Aquaculture Technologies / www.aspect-aqua.com, Львів (Сільське господарство, агробізнес)

Led the strategic development, operational architecture, and research coordination of an innovative aquaculture initiative focused on reducing national import dependency and introducing sustainable full-cycle aquaculture technologies to the Ukrainian market.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Designed a full-cycle aquaculture infrastructure concept consisting of three integrated operational facilities: fish cultivation, fish processing, and recycling/feed production
- Developed operational models, production workflows, and lean process architecture for industrial-scale aquaculture and food production systems
- Conducted extensive cross-functional research across aquaculture technologies, fish life-cycle management, processing operations, circular economy models, and production optimization approaches
- Developed strategic business plans, feasibility studies, operational concepts, and economic models for large-scale aquaculture and food sustainability initiatives
- Coordinated research and knowledge integration with international academic institutions, industry experts, manufacturers, and sector organizations across Europe and international markets
- Led product concept development, operational planning, and quality management frameworks within the proposed aquaculture ecosystem
- Contributed to the creation of technology transfer and innovation frameworks aimed at modernizing Ukraine’s aquaculture sector and supporting long-term food sustainability initiatives

Key Impact:
- Developed a scalable full-cycle aquaculture ecosystem concept designed to address critical gaps in domestic fish production and feed supply
Integrated lean operational principles and circular production approaches into the design of a three-facility aquaculture infrastructure model
- Prepared strategic and investment documentation supporting discussions with international investors and development stakeholders
- Navigated highly specialized technical and production environment challenges through rapid cross-industry expertise acquisition and systems thinking

Director of Marketing & Communications, Board Member

from 06.2018 to 05.2019 (1 year)
Ex Im Ukraine Group, Львів (Хімічна промисловість, фармацевтика)

Led the launch, restructuring, and strategic market positioning of 4 businesses across different industries within a 6-month period — a personal execution record in multi-industry business scaling and operational coordination.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Established and developed the marketing function from scratch, including strategic planning, branding, budgeting, communication frameworks, and go-to-market execution
- Developed and implemented integrated marketing, positioning, and customer communication strategies aligned with business growth objectives
- Directed multi-channel communications, digital presence, content architecture, and promotional initiatives across multiple business lines
- Supported business restructuring and operational alignment initiatives within rapidly evolving startup and growth environments
- Participated in strategic planning and business development discussions as a Board Member
- Coordinated stakeholder communication, internal alignment, and launch preparation processes across multiple simultaneously developing business units

Key Impact:
- Successfully launched and repositioned four businesses operating in construction chemicals retail, HR leasing & outstaffing, labor safety consulting, and cybersecurity/business continuity management
- Accelerated launch and restructuring timelines across multiple parallel business directions within a high-intensity operational environment
- Leveraged high adaptability and rapid execution to successfully coordinate cross-industry operations under compressed timelines

Strategic planning advisor | Project Manager

from 02.2016 to 05.2019 (3 years 4 months)
Independent Consulting. Featured expert. Private practice, Львів (Консалтинг, бухгалтерія, аудит)

Provided strategic consulting, business development, and project management support for companies across multiple industries, focusing on business scaling, operational structuring, and market expansion initiatives.

Strategic Scope & Impact:
- Advised clients on strategic positioning, market entry approaches, partnership development, and business process optimization
- Conducted strategic analysis, business planning, and operational assessments to identify growth opportunities and scalable development models
- Managed project launches and coordinated cross-functional implementation processes in dynamic business environments
- Supported the development and evaluation of cross-border business and investment initiatives across emerging and developing markets
- Built and strengthened stakeholder relationships, strategic partnerships, and client development initiatives
- Operated in high-stakes business environments requiring analytical precision, systems thinking, strategic planning, and cross-cultural communication
- Recognized for the ability to rapidly synthesize complex information and structure scalable business and operational concepts under tight timelines

Core Focus Areas:
Strategic Planning • Business Development • Operational Structuring • Project Management • Market Expansion • Stakeholder Management • Systems Thinking • Cross-functional Coordination

Sales Manager

from 03.2015 to 02.2016 (1 year)
Leopolis Luxury Hotel 5* / https://leopolishotel.com/, Львів (Готельно-ресторанний бізнес)

Managed B2B and B2G sales activities for a five-star hospitality brand, focusing on corporate client acquisition, relationship management, and revenue target achievement within a highly competitive market environment.

Key Responsibilities & Impact:
- Developed and maintained relationships with corporate, governmental, and institutional clients
- Conducted market analysis and identified new business opportunities within the hospitality sector
- Managed account planning, sales forecasting, and execution of monthly revenue targets
- Negotiated commercial terms and tailored hospitality solutions based on client needs and business requirements
- Implemented sales strategies in response to changing market conditions, competition, and customer demand
- Consistently exceeded sales targets by 15–20% during multiple reporting periods through market analysis and relationship-driven sales approaches

Director of Customer Care CIS at Foodpanda | Delivery Hero SE / www.foodpanda.com

from 03.2013 to 03.2015 (2 years)
Rocket Internet SE, Berlin / www.rocket-internet.com, Інші країни (IT)

Built and scaled customer operations for Foodpanda (now Delivery Hero) across CIS markets during the hypergrowth phase of one of Europe’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Established and managed a multi-country customer operations center from scratch, supporting rapid market expansion across three CIS countries simultaneously
- Recruited, trained, and led a 60+ person cross-functional customer operations team under high-growth and high-pressure startup conditions, achieving 0% staff turnover
- Developed operational workflows, customer service standards, KPI systems, reporting processes, and performance management frameworks
- Collaborated closely with Product, IT, BI, Sales, and Operations teams to improve platform UX, operational efficiency, and customer experience
- Managed operational planning, budgeting, analytics, escalation handling, and process optimization across customer and vendor support functions
- Supported operational troubleshooting and coordination across internal systems, communication tools, and vendor interaction processes

Key Impact:
- Contributed to the rapid scaling of Foodpanda during its expansion across 41 countries within one year
- Reduced operational unit costs by 60% through operational structuring and process optimization initiatives
- Recognized as one of the strongest regional operational leaders, with implemented practices later adopted across other markets
- Gained extensive experience in hypergrowth startup operations, rapid scaling, cross-functional coordination, and international operational management

Hospitality Sales Consultant

from 10.2011 to 07.2012 (10 months)
UEFA Events SA | UEFA EURO 2012 https://www.uefa.com/, Київ (Консалтинг, бухгалтерія, аудит)

Delivered premium corporate hospitality sales and client relationship activities for UEFA EURO 2012, supporting high-value international clients and executive-level stakeholder engagement within a large-scale global sporting event environment.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Executed corporate hospitality sales processes for premium UEFA EURO 2012 packages targeting business and executive audiences.
- Developed and maintained relationships with high-value corporate clients and international stakeholders.Identified commercial opportunities, generated leads, and supported strategic client portfolio development.
- Coordinated client communication, contract follow-up, payment processes, and after-sales relationship management.
- Supported on-site hospitality operations and premium client servicing during UEFA EURO 2012 events.
- Participated in international marketing, networking, and sales activities associated with UEFA corporate hospitality programs.

Key Impact:
- Successfully navigated luxury client servicing and executive stakeholder communication within large-scale international event operations.
- Applied high-level commercial negotiation, relationship management, and customer experience capabilities within a high-pressure multinational environment.
- Contributed to the seamless execution of premium corporate programs, ensuring high retention and satisfaction among global VIP clients.

Executive Director

from 06.2009 to 03.2013 (3 years 10 months)
“Inguz”, Advertising Company http://www.inguz.com.ua/, Львів (Маркетинг, реклама, PR)

Full-service marketing, branding, advertising, and creative production agency serving regional and national clients.
Rapidly progressed from business development and client acquisition into executive operational leadership within a full-service advertising and brand communications agency specializing in strategic marketing, creative production, branding, media relations, publishing, and integrated promotional campaigns.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Led cross-functional coordination across business development, creative production, branding, media, client communications, and operational processes
- Managed development and execution of integrated marketing and brand communication projects across print, digital, outdoor, video, publishing, radio, and television formats
- Oversaw budgeting, commercial proposals, media planning, project delivery timelines, and operational resource coordination
- Participated in concept development, creative strategy, communication architecture, and adaptation of brand strategies for local markets
- Coordinated internal teams, external contractors, outsourcing models, and production workflows to improve operational flexibility and delivery efficiency
- Managed client relationships, negotiations, customer experience, and long-term account development initiatives
- Supported business development and agency growth through strategic positioning, market analysis, and expansion of the client portfolio

Key Impact:
- Rapidly advanced into executive leadership roles through high-performance execution, initiative, and cross-functional operational contribution
- Contributed to significant agency growth despite the post-2008 economic downturn, achieving 25–50% order growth during multiple reporting periods
- Increased profitability through operational optimization, targeted budgeting strategies, and market positioning adjustments
- Expanded regional brand recognition and strengthened the company’s market presence across Western Ukraine
- Improved operational scalability through implementation of flexible outsourcing and production coordination models

Creative Director

from 09.2007 to 05.2009 (1 year 9 months)
New Standard of Business Travel LTD | Representative of Messe Berlin, Львів (Маркетинг, реклама, PR)

Led the development, launch, and operational coordination of business travel, MICE, and event management initiatives, combining creative concept development with large-scale event production and multi-stakeholder coordination.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Developed and launched 30+ new event and business travel formats for the local market, including conferences, corporate events, workshops, festivals, and business networking initiatives.
- Designed event concepts, communication scenarios, staging formats, scenography, and customer experience architecture for business and public events.
- Coordinated large cross-functional production teams and external contractor networks, including catering, technical production, HoReCa, and logistics (up to 120+ participants simultaneously).
- Managed operational planning, vendor coordination, budgeting, timelines, and delivery processes across multiple event formats.
- Supported market positioning, promotion, and commercial development of MICE and business travel services in the regional market.
- Developed internal standards and training for sales, customer service, protocol & etiquette, business communication, and event operations.
- Built partnerships with service providers, artists, consultants, agents, and hospitality stakeholders to support scalable event execution and quality.

Key Impact:
- Reduced product payback periods by 50% through effective launch planning, operational coordination, and market positioning strategies.
- Pioneered innovative event formats and customer engagement approaches, driving the company's competitive edge in the regional MICE market.
- Successfully orchestrated large-scale live productions and multi-vendor networks under tight deadlines and high-pressure execution environments.
- Established robust internal frameworks for protocol, design, and operations, significantly elevating the brand's service delivery and customer experience standards.

Founder / Director

from 01.2004 to 08.2007 (3 years 8 months)
Lviv Representative Office of international trade fair «RESALE» (Karlsruhe, Germany), Львів (Маркетинг, реклама, PR)

Founded and developed the regional representative office of the international trade fair RESALE (Karlsruhe, Germany), focused on expanding international business participation, trade relations, and market engagement between Ukrainian enterprises and European industrial platforms.

Strategic & Operational Scope:
- Built the representative office from scratch, establishing operational processes, regional promotion, business outreach, and partnership development initiatives.
- Organized international business participation, trade fair delegations, and cross-border travel coordination for Ukrainian companies.
- Developed regional market awareness campaigns and business engagement strategies, successfully navigating complex administrative and bureaucratic constraints.
- Managed stakeholder communication with international organizers, regional business communities, and participating enterprises.
- Coordinated commercial, operational, and logistical aspects of international trade fair participation and business networking activities.

Key Impact:
- Achieved participation metrics up to 9.8 times higher than regional averages, recognized as a top-performing office by the international headquarters.
- Established one of the leading RESALE representative offices in Ukraine, maximizing visitor engagement, profitability, and delegate quality.
- Drove international business development and cross-border operations, establishing a strong commercial bridge between local enterprises and European platforms.

Foreign economic relations officer

from 01.2001 to 08.2007 (6 years 8 months)
Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Lviv CCI), Львів (Юриспруденція)

Managed international economic cooperation initiatives and cross-border business relations aimed at expanding international partnerships and market access opportunities for regional enterprises.

Key Scope & Impact:
- Coordinated and implemented 100+ international cooperation projects involving business, diplomatic, and institutional stakeholders across Central and Eastern Europe
- Served as the exclusive regional partner of the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM - Frankfurt am Main, Germany) in Lviv
- Organized and led international business missions to trade exhibitions and conferences involving up to 120 high-level participants
- Built and maintained strategic partnerships with chambers of commerce, diplomatic representations, and international business communities
- Managed corporate compliance, drafted and reviewed international commercial contracts, and validated force majeure claims
- Facilitated cross-border communication within multicultural, complex international environments
- Elevated the organization’s regional leadership by successfully bridging local enterprises with European industrial and institutional platforms

Education

Volkshochschule Aachen, Germany

Linguistics, Aachen, Germany
Specialized secondary, from 2002 to 2003 (1 year)

The course of German language, level B1, excellent performance

Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine

Bachelor's degree, English philology. Applied Linguistics, Львов
Higher, from 1997 to 2001 (4 years)

Excellent performance

Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine

Master's degree, Economics and Management of International Business ·, Львов
Higher, from 1996 to 2001 (5 years)

Excellent performance

Additional education and certificates

Volkshochschule Aachen, Germany, Linguistics: The course of German language, level B1, excellent performance

2002-2003 (1 рік)

Knowledge and skills

• MS Excel
• MS Word
• MS Office
• 1C
• MS PowerPoint
• MS Outlook
• Bitrix24
• Google Analytics
• Google Chrome
• Trello
• WordPress
• Jira
• Skype
• ERP
• Oracle Database
• Canva
• Google
• Figma
• Mailchimp
• Asana
• Gmail
• Zoom
• Slack
• MS Teams
• Salesforce
• SharePoint
• OneDrive
• Dropbox
• Zendesk
• User ChatGPT
• Geminy
• LMS
• QuickBooks
• BAF
• PeopleHR
• Oracle Opera
• Adobe firefly
• ISAMs
• Microsoft 365

Language proficiencies

• English — fluent
• German — beginner
• Italian — above average
• Polish — beginner
• Ukrainian — fluent

References

www.linkedin.com/in/nataliya-ruina-71099719 and upon request

www.linkedin.com/in/nataliya-ruina-71099719 and upon request

Additional information

Strategy ➔ Operations ➔ Transformation ➔ Scaling

Executive Systems Builder with strong strategic vision, investment intelligence, and deep cross-industry acumen.

25 years of international experience leading organizational scaling, operational design, and corporate restructuring across high-growth sectors, including EdTech, international education (K–12), hypergrowth tech startups (Foodpanda/Delivery Hero SE), legal advisory, and diversified business groups.

Specialized in building resilient business architectures from scratch, designing sustainable corporate frameworks, and leading cross-functional turnarounds within complex, high-pressure environments—ranging from greenfield startups and international expansion initiatives (EMEA market) to crisis-driven operations.

Highly adept at navigating extreme market volatility, driving business continuity during wartime disruption, and aligning organizational frameworks with global standards, including the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recognized for establishing robust corporate governance models, pioneering innovative product lines, and orchestrating agile, multicultural teams to deliver sustainable global growth.