To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.
For our third #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Kateryna Havrylova, Co-Owner and CEO, Best Solution Windows & Doors.
Helplessness, panic, worry, uncertainty, guilt, longing...Kateryna has probably felt all these emotions and more in the past two years. A routine family vacation for her husband's birthday turned into an extended stay in Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022.
Her city (Kharkiv) was among the first to be occupied by Russian forces. And so with her 3yo and husband in tow, Kateryna moved to Germany after some months in Poland, then Germany, then back to Poland, and then Canada.
Canada was supposed to be a 10-day visit to spend time with some familiar faces. However, the family made the spontaneous decision to stay because Canada felt welcoming and safe.
For the first time in a while, Kateryna wasn't afraid anymore.
In this conversation, Kateryna and I explore the impact of the war on her 3yo son and her relationship with her parents and grandmother. We also chat about:
Her unfounded fears of integration
Becoming antifragile
Why she feels safe in Canada
Losing her car import business and starting afresh
Tips for newcomers to Canada, and more good stuff.
Kateryna is a superhero!
Official Links
👋🏽 Follow Kateryna on LinkedIn
🫶🏽 Check out Kateryna’s new business, Best Solution Windows & Doors
FREE Immigration Webinar
In a time when Canada's immigration plan emphasizes skilled, bilingual newcomers with in-Canada experience, make sure you’re positioned for long-term success!
Join Veronica Sepehr of Westdale Immigration for a 30-minute power-packed session where she’ll answer any pressing immigration questions you might have and break down key updates that could impact your preferred immigration pathway.
Here’s what she’ll cover:
📌 New Prioritized Categories for Express Entry – Focusing on what they mean for Education & STEM professionals
📌 Why French Matters – Boosting your chances for temporary & permanent residence
📌 2025 Immigration Trends – Key updates (OWP, CEC, PNP, RCIP)
Sign up HERE | Only 18 seats left out of 30.
Share this post