Meet Maryna Chepenko

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maryna Chepenko and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maryna, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking a risk has always been a part of my life. There is this phrase in Ukrainian “Who does not risk, does not drink champagne.” Even though, it’s been over a year since I quit alcohol, this phrase still speaks to me. I believe that nothing really valuable and “delicious’ grows in comfort zone. It’s like choosing between a greenhouse grown strawberries and the ones that were grown in the farm and went through heat and rain, and bugs. Those will always taste sweet and real. Same thing with a person that takes risks. That person is able to feel all colors of life, able to understand the real value of life and all the accomplishments. Able to truly celebrate themselves and others. Able to see the world and create something really remarkable and valuable not just for themselves but for the humanity. When I was 21, I packed my bags and moved from Ukraine to the US because at that moment I felt like that’s where I belonged. I built a career in hospitality, worked with a Michelin Star Chef, and 13 years later, I became an entrepreneur. Packed my bags again, and decided to travel the world while I am building my company and helping others to transform their life and achieve their goals without any sacrifices.
Life is too beautiful! So play it like the director of your own movie and take that risk!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
To be honest, I do not think that anything sets me apart from others, as I believe that absolutely anyone is capable of living to their highest potential and everyone has a brave genius within themselves. I am extremely proud of the growth and courage of my clients and my students and excited to see how many more amazing women and men I get to work with and what we can accomplish together.

Spirituality, self belief, living life playfully, utilization of my soft skills and showing up in my feminine power has helped me to get to where I am today. Usually people say that entrepreneurship is hard but spirituality has taught me that things are the way we choose them to be. So if we put our mind towards thinking that it is easy, if we stop taking life as something serious, if we surrender to God, if we start trusting our inner voice instead of society, if we realize that the state of mind is more important than the amount of actions we take, our life will be joyful, blissful and easy. Easy is not about laying on the couch and do nothing but it is about our conscious moves and firstly choosing our well-being. That’s what I help my students and clients with. Women’s way of building business is very different from the way that men do it but unfortunately very few women are aware of it.
The most important lessons I’ve learned is “slowly-is the fastest way to get where you want to be” and “once you learn who you are you stop worrying.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve been traveling the world for the last year and at the moment of this interview I am located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is my 3rd time here and so far it is my favorite place to be. If anyone was to come here, firstly I would definitely show them the famous Petronas Towers that used to be the tallest building in the world until Burj Khalifa in Dubai was built. Next to the Towers, there is a beautiful park. For me, this is the most impressive thing about this city. It is very green with a wide variety of plants and trees, mixed in with the high rise futuristic looking buildings. For this, I would definitely recommend to visit a TRX rooftop park. Malaysia has a mix of 3 cultures: Indian, Chinese and Malay, so while you are here you get a chance to learn about all of them as well as to try their food. Malays are very kind and sweet, they are always ready to help.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shout out to my beloved parents who have never stopped me in my decisions and have been very supportive no matter what and my spiritual mentor who I met when I was lost in life and whose knowledge has helped me to transform my life, start my business and become a woman I am today. So now I can share this knowledge and experience with others.

Other: e-mail: dartobellc@gmail.com

Image Credits
Tatyana Ezhova