Nataliya

NATALIYA RUINA
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE
Strategy | Operations | Organisational Development | Transformation & Scaling
Institutional Development | International Investment Analysis | Cross-Sector Development Initiatives
R&D • Business Architecture • Strategic Analysis • International Partnerships • Financial Sustainability

Venice Metropolitan Area, Italy | Lviv, Ukraine | International mobility | Authorised to Work in Italy
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EXECUTIVE PROFILE
International strategy and operations executive with over 20 years’ experience across education, technology, international
business and multi-industry ventures. Combines R&D, systems thinking, investment and market analysis, business architecture
and hands-on executive leadership to develop viable solutions, strengthen institutions and build scalable operations.
Experience spans institutional development, international investment analysis and cross-sector development initiatives,
including education, infrastructure and complex industrial concepts. Has led cross-functional teams and built multi-country
operating systems, while independently developing feasibility studies, financial models and investment cases to support
strategic decision-making. Brings analytical rigour and adaptability to new sectors and changing environments, with a
leadership approach grounded in trust, fairness and professional growth.

SELECTED RESULTS
• Turned an early-stage EdTech concept into an operational university in 5 months; achieved operational break-even within
11 months; launched 28 educational products across 60+ cohorts, reaching 1,000+ active students and 3,700+ registered users.
• Built customer operations spanning 3 countries, leading a team of 60+ and reducing unit operating costs by 60%.
• Simultaneously led the launch of 4 businesses across 4 distinct industries within 6 months; personally secured 2 EBRD grants
in a separate role.
• Coordinated 100+ international cooperation projects and business missions, including delegations of up to 120 participants.

EXECUTIVE CAPABILITIES
Strategic Planning & Business Architecture • Organisational Development & Change • Operations & Scaling • Research &
Development • International Investment & Feasibility Analysis • Cross-Functional Leadership • Financial Sustainability &
Resource Mobilisation • Strategic Partnerships • Governance & Compliance • Crisis Leadership & Business Continuity •
Risk Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CEO / VICE PRESIDENT | Jan 2024 – May 2026
International University of Nutrition & Dietetics (IUND®) | Ukraine | EdTech and professional education
• Developed the institutional strategy and led IUND from an initial investor concept to a functioning EdTech university, building
its operating model, governance, organisational structure and commercial systems.
• Led academic product development, launch and growth: 28 certification programmes, including a 12-month Diploma; 60+
cohorts; 1,000+ active students and 3,700+ registered users. Reached a Top-3 position in Ukraine’s professional nutrition
education market in its 2nd year.
• Built the digital learning ecosystem and cross-functional delivery systems; expanded from 3 core staff to 20+ specialists and
a network of 20+ lecturers and experts.
• Led the comprehensive licensing and regulatory approval process, securing a Ministry of Education and Science licence and
Ministry of Health-recognised CPD provider status; developed the international accreditation roadmap.

INVESTMENT & STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT ANALYST | Jan – Dec 2023
BERGS & MORE S.r.l. | Italy / UAE | International business and investment advisory
• Independently developed investment cases, feasibility studies, financial models and business plans for cross-sector economic
development projects in Africa, combining market and geopolitical research to support European and Middle Eastern investors
across industry, infrastructure, agriculture and education.
• Developed economic and infrastructure planning inputs for a large-scale capital city master plan in East Africa in collaboration
with an Italian architectural firm; designed a hybrid earned-income and grant-funding model for an educational initiative in the
same region.
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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER / BOARD MEMBER | Jan – Jun 2022
The British International School Ukraine | Ukraine | Member of COBIS, National Curriculum for England, Cambridge IGCSE,
A Levels and IB programmes
• Led HR, IT, marketing and administrative operations across 3 campuses, strengthening operational efficiency and readiness
for expansion through HR restructuring into 2 specialised units, improved performance management and optimisation of the
Firefly platform to enhance student–school–parent communication and service quality.
• Helped preserve continuity of education and a sense of normality for children during the 2022 full-scale invasion, working
with the executive team to transition learning online while personally leading staff relocation and supporting their safety and
welfare.

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER / BOARD MEMBER | Jun 2019 – Jan 2022
ASPECT Group of Companies | Ukraine | Diversified business group
• Developed commercial, marketing and growth strategies for 3 new business lines; strengthened positioning, partnerships
and organisational responses to changing market conditions.
• Personally secured 2 EBRD grants for digital development and HACCP implementation; managed the digital initiative through
implementation. Integrated Corporate Social Responsibility and UN Sustainable Development Goals into group policies.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER / R&D DIRECTOR / BOARD MEMBER | Jun 2019 – Jan 2022
ASPECT-AQUA | Ukraine | Aquaculture R&D and international technology transfer (concurrent appointment)
• Led research and designed an integrated 3-facility, closed-loop aquaculture production concept linking fish cultivation,
processing and by-product recycling into feed.
• Integrated biological production cycles, including lakes, ponds and recirculating systems for rare fish species and life stages,
with lean operating processes and circular-economy principles; developed feasibility studies, economic models and investment
documentation.
• Established the technology-transfer centre and coordinated international research, scientific and technical partnerships.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS / BOARD MEMBER | Jun 2018 – May 2019
Ex Im Ukraine Group | Ukraine | Multi-business venture launches
• Simultaneously led the launch and market entry of 4 businesses in 4 distinct industries—construction chemicals, HR
outsourcing, occupational safety and cybersecurity—within 6 months, coordinating strategy, budgets, brand positioning and
operational rollout in parallel.

STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISOR / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT | Feb 2016 – May 2019
Independent Consulting | Ukraine | Cross-sector strategic and business advisory
• Assessed market opportunities and business viability; developed launch concepts, growth plans, business models and process
architectures for business owners.
• Designed practical cross-functional workflows and implementation guidance, supporting manager handovers and employee
coaching where required.

SALES MANAGER | Mar 2015 – Feb 2016
Leopolis Luxury Hotel 5★ | Ukraine | Luxury hospitality
• Developed corporate and institutional accounts, negotiated B2B/B2G agreements and exceeded individual sales plans by
15–20% in reported periods.

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER CARE, CIS | Mar 2013 – Mar 2015
Foodpanda / Hellofood (Rocket Internet AG) | Ukraine / Germany | International food-delivery platform (41-country footprint
in 2014), incubated by a leading Berlin-based venture builder
• Built regional customer care operations for 3 countries from the ground up, establishing teams, service procedures, training
manuals, KPIs, reporting and quality assurance.
• Reduced unit operating costs by 60%; led 60+ employees and maintained 0% employee turnover during the reported tenure.
Recruited 120 agents within 1 month to support operational relocation.
• Collaborated with Berlin-based Product, Technology and BI teams to improve platform functionality and customer care
workflows; locally developed operational practices were subsequently adopted in other markets.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Jun 2009 – Mar 2013
Inguz Advertising Company | Ukraine | Full-service advertising, creative production, in-house printing and publishing
• Progressed from sponsorship development for the international Lviv Fashion Week and agency business development into
creative leadership and then executive management.
• Directed business development, creative, print and publishing operations; expanded brand recognition across Western
Ukraine, grew the client base by 50% and increased monthly orders by 25–50% in reported periods.

HOSPITALITY SALES CONSULTANT | Oct 2011 – Jul 2012
UEFA Events SA / UEFA EURO 2012 | Ukraine / Switzerland | Premium corporate hospitality (parallel engagement)
• Developed relationships with international corporate decision-makers and VIP clients, personally selling high-value UEFA
EURO 2012 hospitality packages through tailored presentations, B2B negotiations and client support.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Sep 2007 – May 2009
New Standard of Business Travel | Ukraine | MICE and business travel; representative of Messe Berlin
• Conceived and launched 30+ original, exclusive event formats, scripts and scenography, delivering high-quality experiences.
• Coordinated multidisciplinary teams and specialist contractors (up to approx. 120 people) across technical production,
catering, hospitality, logistics and creative services, delivering exclusive special events with up to approx. 400 guests.
• Doubled sales against original business-plan projections through exclusive event formats, direct sales, client relationships
and consistently high delivery quality, reducing the payback period on the company’s initial investment by 50%.

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR | Jan 2004 – Aug 2007
RESALE International Trade Fair – Lviv Representative Office | Ukraine / Germany | Parallel with Chamber role
• Established and operated the representative office of the German international trade fair, building commercial outreach,
partner relationships, business delegations and international visitor participation.
• Recognised by RESALE’s German organisers as the No. 1 representative office in Ukraine for visitor participation and among
the strongest performers for the quality of its delegations.

FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS OFFICER | Jan 2001 – Aug 2007
Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry | Ukraine / Europe | International trade and institutional cooperation
• Coordinated 100+ international cooperation projects, business missions and trade events with enterprises, chambers,
diplomatic missions and institutional partners; led business delegations of up to 120 participants.
• Reviewed international commercial contracts and documentation, advised SMEs on international trade requirements and
compliance, and supported force majeure certification procedures.
• Served as the exclusive regional partner in Lviv for Germany’s Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM).

EDUCATION
Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine
Master’s Degree — Economics and Management of International Business
Bachelor’s Degree — English Philology and Applied Linguistics

LANGUAGES
Ukrainian — Native | English — C1 | Italian — B1 (conversational) | German — Basic | Russian — Fluent

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