My journey

My journey

Born and raised in rural Ukraine, I grew up surrounded by cherry trees and a tight-knit community. Today, I’m based in Helsinki, pursuing a master’s degree in marketing at Aalto University. My path from a small village to one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs has been filled with diverse experiences: from volunteering in kindergartens and organising events to designing user interfaces and pitching at international competitions.

Along the way I’ve learned to bridge cultures and disciplines. I taught English and robotics to preschoolers in Estonia, built human-friendly cybersecurity tools, gamified elevator rides for KONE, and helped improve hearing health through storytelling. These experiences taught me empathy, adaptability and the power of simple narratives.

As a vegan and member of the LGBTQ+ community, I care deeply about inclusion and sustainability. I’m currently applying for Finnish citizenship and learning Finnish (slowly but surely). When I’m not studying, you’ll find me exploring Helsinki’s museums, hosting community events, or networking at events like Slush or Junction. I’m also learning to play the piano!

Photo of Yevhenii Kalashnyk Photo of Yevhenii Kalashnyk

Experience

Feb 2024 - Aug 2024
People & Community Manager
Junction, Espoo
  • Managed recruitment, onboarding, and volunteer experience of volunteer team leads
  • Planned and executed community events and managed internal brand for volunteers
Nov 2019 — May 2023
UX Designer, co-founder
Tassu Passu Oy, Helsinki
  • Co-developed a child-friendly authentication app that won €10,000 at Junction 2019 for innovation in digital security
  • Led branding, visual identity, and product storytelling
  • Secured an additional €1,500 in a separate competition
Nov 2018 - Dec 2022
Product Manager, co-founder
Floor 21 Oy, Helsinki
  • Developed a KONE-branded video game with a three-person team, managing the project using Scrum methodology
  • Pitched the game to KONE top management; project acquired for €18,600
  • Stakeholder communication and presenting complex ideas
Mar 2018 — Mar 2019
Teacher Assistant
Tallinna Liikuri Lasteaed, Tallinn
  • Assisted lead teacher in developing and implementing curriculum for preschool students
  • Taught English, robotics, and programming
  • Led training sessions on integrating robotics in early education for international delegations of teachers

Skills

Marketing strategy Branding UX Design Service Design Content Creation Data Analysis

Tools

PowerBI Tableau SQL Excel Figma PowerPoint Miro Notion Scrum

Let’s grab a coffee?

Email me, connect on LinkedIn or GitHub.