The Dalai Lama once said, 'The world will be saved by the Western woman', and this vision is best illustrated by the strong female leaders of Ukraine. Women have taken the initiative to lead with unmatched strength and vision as the country faces difficulties from the war to reconstruction.

Among these trailblazers, Olena Shtohryn, Founder and Managing Partner of Dictio, combines the knowledge of international law, real estate, and construction to navigate intricate legal situations while offering advice on energy and infrastructure projects. Olena's efforts during the war, which ranged from renewable energy projects to the reconstruction of border checkpoints, epitomize the resilience and inventiveness of Ukrainian women.

Embarking on a distinctive exchange with The Global Women Leader magazine, Olena divulges the intricate facets of her journey as a prominent leader from Ukraine. Let's explore further.

Introduce us to Dictio and its offerings.

Dictio is a Ukrainian boutique law firm founded in 2019. It focuses on investments, real estate, construction, and conflict resolution. We offer our clients comprehensive legal services suited to their particular needs, particularly during these trying times in Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the full-scale conflict, we have broadened our focus to include legal concerns about foreign investments, Ukraine's reconstruction, and reducing political and military risks. Our partnership with Miller Canfield in 2022 enhanced our capabilities by establishing an international framework for assisting clients in Ukrainian-Polish-USA projects.

Describe your primary roles and responsibilities at the firm. How do you drive Dictio's growth amidst Ukraine's current challenges?

I am in charge of the firm's strategic vision, making sure we adjust to changing institutional and legal environments. I oversee high-profile cases, facilitate international cooperation, and lead regulatory change consultations.

Our primary goal is to offer complete legal support to foreign businesses entering the Ukrainian market. We enable our clients to make well-informed decisions by providing them with in-depth knowledge of Ukrainian and international laws. We also assist local companies that have moved to Europe and the United States or are still active in Ukraine, especially those in the real estate and construction sectors. With my dual attorney licenses in Ukraine and Poland, I assist Ukrainian businesses in overcoming their particular obstacles as they grow globally.

"I help ukrainian companies and foreign investors navigate the complicated legal system as ukraine recovers from the conflict"

What major challenges do you face in your role, and how do you address them?

One of my biggest challenges has been dealing with the difficulties of working in a war-torn environment. We investigate every legal facet of our clients' operations in-depth to make sure they feel comfortable investing or conducting business in Ukraine. Our services are cus­tomized to their particular industries by conducting thor­ough due diligence to determine licensing requirements, possible risks, and opportunities.

Breaking the myths about the dangers in Ukraine is another obstacle. We help clients deal with this by giving them comprehensive information about the business environment, along with choices like risk insurance that are backed by organizations like the MIGA (Word Bank Group), DFC, and KUKE.

We also resolve conflicts by using a wide range of legal resources, such as court proceedings, consulting with ministries, and business ombudsmen to provide our clients with efficient, individualized solutions.

What do you consider your biggest professional achievements?

In my opinion, my greatest professional accomplishment has been the ability to pursue my passion in spite of the difficulties posed by war. My amazing team and I have contributed to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts, helped foreign companies enter the market, and helped our clients every day. We have all won both minor and major successes together whether in court, negotiations, or forming alliances.

How do you envision Ukraine's legal advisory landscape evolving by 2025, and what trends do you anticipate?

I see a huge change in Ukraine's legal advisory environment by 2025 to satisfy the requirements of reconstruction and EU integration. New initiatives, foreign investments, and the requirement to bring Ukrainian laws into compliance with EU standards will all contribute to the growth of the legal market. I have spent the last two years researching topics like EU law, procurement practices, and anti-corruption initiatives to better understand these changes.

Ukraine is experiencing changes in the fields of digitalization, IT, real estate, construction, and agriculture. Foreign businesses view Ukraine as a promising market and this opens up possibilities for collaborations.

As a member of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine, I am helping both domestic and international clients get through this transition, helping to rebuild Ukraine, and making sure the legal industry is prepared for expansion in the future.

A business leader you admire and why: I admire Ruth Bader Ginsburg for showing how women can make a significant impact by pursuing what they love. I find inspiration in Dr Ferdinand Porsche's journey of creating a unique product and building a strong, enduring family business and brand. Books and art have always inspired me, with works like Ginsburg’s biography, Start With Why by Simon Sinek, and the painting The Alliance of Justice and Peace by Theodor van Thulden, which became in my business, an idea of combining instruments of mediation and advocacy .

Advice for Aspiring Women Leaders: Never give up, trust your strong intuition as your secret weapon, and embrace change fearlessly, as loss and victory are both conditional.

Olena Shtohryn, Founder & Managing Partner, Dictio

Olena Shtohryn is a skilled lawyer, mediator, and legal advisor with 17 years of expertise in investment, construction, and real estate law. As one of the top real estate and construction specialists in Ukraine, she has won multiple awards, such as the Lexology Client Choice Award, the IBUILD Legal Company of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023. She actively supports sustainable development and international cooperation by helping to rebuild Ukraine's infrastructure and energy sectors.