Moving to another country often begins with uncertainty, but it can also become the starting point for a new life. For some, it is a chance to turn the page; for others, an opportunity to finally pursue long-held dreams that had remained plans for years. The heroine of our interview proves that true growth begins when a person stops being afraid of change. Olena Ziukova has combined entrepreneurship, motherhood, and a passion for a healthy lifestyle, opened her own studio, moved to the USA, and continues to help people become stronger not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
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You have repeatedly said that the greatest opportunities are often found precisely where we are afraid to go. Why do you think people so often put their dreams on hold because of fear?
I think fear is completely natural, especially when it comes to truly important decisions. We are afraid of losing stability, making a mistake, being judged, investing time or money and not getting the desired result. There was never a moment in my life when I said to myself, “That’s it, from today on, I’m no longer afraid of anything.” I still feel afraid when I do something new, but with experience I have realized that fear does not always mean that you should stop. Sometimes it simply shows that something important is ahead. I have learned to ask myself a different question: what will happen if I try and it doesn’t work out, and what will happen if I don’t try at all? For me, the second option is usually much more frightening.
Olena, one of the boldest steps in your life was moving to the USA. What was the greatest challenge for you during this period, and what, on the contrary, pleasantly surprised you?
The most interesting thing is that I had never dreamed of America and had never planned to live here at all. Before moving, my husband and I already had experience living abroad as a professional dance couple: we worked in different countries and lived in China and Taiwan for some time, so I was not afraid of adapting to a new environment. But back then there were only two of us, whereas moving to the USA with three children was a completely different story, because we had to think about their education, health, adaptation, new surroundings, and the language barrier. The main reason for the move was our children: after the full-scale war began, we realized that we wanted to give them a safe environment in which to live and develop, even though we were leaving behind our own business, clients, friends, and a life in Ukraine that we deeply loved. The most difficult part was essentially rebuilding my professional identity, because back home I knew exactly who I was as a specialist, while here I became a beginner again. At the same time, America pleasantly surprised me with the number of opportunities available to people who are willing to work, learn, and adapt. It was here that I realized that we did not start from zero — we simply started again, bringing a tremendous amount of experience with us.
Before moving, you already had successful experience developing your own business in Ukraine. How different is entrepreneurship in the USA from what you were used to before?
It is very different, and I am still learning. In Ukraine, I already knew my client well, understood how advertising worked, how to build a team, and how people made decisions. In the USA, I had to learn not only the legal and organizational aspects all over again, but also the mentality of the client. There are different expectations regarding service, communication, rules, and accountability, while reputation, reviews, and clear agreements are particularly important. At the same time, I like the fact that small businesses are such a visible part of everyday life here, and people are willing to support local businesses when they see quality and professionalism. I am not trying simply to transfer the Ukrainian business model to America. My task is to take the best from my previous experience and adapt it to the new country.
You and your husband opened your first studio just a month and a half after the birth of your eldest son. Where did you find the strength, faith in yourself, and confidence that everything would work out?
In fact, opening our first studio was not a long-held dream or a business project we had planned in advance — the idea emerged because of difficult circumstances. My husband and I worked at a large sports complex, and I continued training even during my pregnancy. But when I was eight months pregnant, the complex unexpectedly closed, and we were also not paid our salaries for several months. I was left without work and felt very strongly how much I missed being around people, communicating, and doing something I loved. That was when my husband suggested opening our own studio close to home, so that I could return to work after giving birth while still being close to our son. We started looking for a space and developing the concept, and a month and a half after our son was born, I gradually returned to work. What began as a necessity eventually became the work of our lives for many years.
Society often imposes the idea on women that they have to choose between family and professional fulfillment. How do you manage to combine these roles?
I would not want to create the illusion that I manage to balance everything perfectly, because that is not the case. There are periods when the business requires more attention, and there are moments when the children have to be the absolute priority, in which case work plans have to be postponed or I have to work in the evenings. For me, balance is not about giving every area of life the same amount of time every day, but about making sure that, over the long term, no important part of your life is forgotten. My partnership with my husband is incredibly important: we have worked together for many years, raised three children, and created projects together. It is also important to me that my children see me not only as their mother, but as a person who works, has goals, makes mistakes, learns, and is not afraid to start over. I think this is the example they will carry with them into adulthood.
Your projects are about much more than dancing or training; they are based on a certain philosophy of life. What values do you bring into your work?
For me, the main value is the person. I never wanted to create a place where someone simply spends an hour and goes home. That is why it is important to me that people feel supported through our projects, become more confident, find their community, and feel like part of something bigger. This is especially true for women, who often put themselves last for years, so I want to remind them that taking care of yourself is not selfish. About a year ago, I created a women’s dance team made up of girls who had never been professional dancers but dreamed of performing on stage, and today they already perform at various events. Another important part of the work my husband and I do is the Ukrainian dance ensemble “Chervona Kalyna,” which we created for Ukrainian children after moving to the USA. Today, the ensemble performs at multicultural events and festivals in the states of Washington and Oregon. For me, it is an opportunity not only to preserve Ukrainian culture for our children, but also to share it with others.
Olena, many women reading this interview are currently facing important decisions: some are afraid to move, some dream of starting their own business, and others postpone change because they lack confidence in themselves. What would you like to say specifically to them?
First of all, I would say: do not wait for the perfect moment, because most likely it will never come. A simple phrase has always helped me in life: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” You do not need to wait until you have more money, more time, more confidence, or better circumstances — you can take the first step today. When I look back, I see that practically every important project in my life began in the same way: first there was an idea, followed by fear and the thought, “What if it doesn’t work out?” That was how it was with my first studio in Ukraine, with new projects, with moving to the USA, and with the decision to open my own studio here. So you do not need to wait for the fear to disappear or for you to feel completely ready — start with a small step, take the next one, and that is how life gradually changes.
