Editor’s note: One year ago, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, setting in motion a chaotic and traumatic period for Ukrainians, including members of ISACA’s Kyiv Chapter. While the defense of their country remains ongoing, life goes on for Ukrainians, including Anastasiia, a Kyiv Chapter leader. In this Q&A interview with the ISACA Now blog, Anastasiia discusses what the past year has been like for her, how it has impacted the Kyiv Chapter and the level of support she has experienced from the global ISACA community. To find out more about the resilience Anastasiia and her colleagues have demonstrated, watch the video, “ISACA. Community. Resilience.” Find out more about how to support Ukraine here.
ISACA Now: Tell us a little bit about the ISACA Kyiv Chapter and what your experience with it was like before the invasion last year.
The ISACA Kyiv Chapter was established in 2008 as non-profit entity focused on implementation and sharing of IT GRC best practices by a group of business and government professionals. The chapter historically has had strong government and academic relations, and organized open networking and educational events, including Ukrainian translations of best practices. Years of these activities created a reputation for the chapter as a center of expertise in Ukraine for IT GRC.
Personally, I joined ISACA in 2014, joined the chapter board in 2015, became chapter president in 2018, and remain involved as a chapter board member. The COVID lockdown of 2020 changed chapter operations, pushing more activities online (and bringing more attention to the importance of IT GRC). As of the beginning of 2022, our focus remained the same – planning events with partners and conducting additional translations.
ISACA Now: What has the ISACA Kyiv Chapter network meant to you over this difficult past year, and what are things you still have been able to do as well as what you might have had to pause given the circumstances?
The network required more attention from me than before. I got support from the global ISACA network, which helped to support our local chapter. Especially in the first days of this invasion, beginning 24 February 2022, it was much more about human support than professional. I decided to pause our translation project and most of the events, planned with partners, were canceled. We were able to continue online activities during the year and had much more collaboration with the global community than before.
ISACA Now: In the recent ISACA video, you say “Keep Calm and Carry On works perfectly,” but I’m sure that’s not easy to do in such a stressful environment. How have you been able to stay true to that mindset?
This was not the first, nor the worst stress in my life. I’ve already known how to deal with stressful situations. Any kind of mindfulness practice helps with that. Years of practicing the objectivity principle of professional ethics helps as well, especially the ability to distinguish the facts from your feelings to make better decisions in any circumstances. Specifically, breathing exercises, gardening and cooking help to keep me grounded.
ISACA Now: What did it mean to you to hear from ISACA chapter leaders from other countries who reached out to you to provide support?
In the beginning of the invasion, there was a high density of events, hour by hour and minute by minute. Communication within the ISACA community was an integral part of dealing with the circumstances. Without those communications, the situation might have gone another way.
ISACA Now: What is your area of professional expertise, and how has the invasion impacted your career?
I have done assurance and consulting in risk management, technology and cybersecurity for banks and enterprises since 2005 (including business continuity). I’m the owner of a company that had operated continuously since 1999. During that time, there have been three economic crises, two pandemics, two revolutions in Ukraine, the start of war in 2014, the invasion of 2022 and endless changes in regulations. The invasion for the first time invoked force majeure wording in a few contracts with customers in Ukraine. The invasion also has validated some business continuity solutions and tested others. The business continues.
ISACA Now: The Ukrainian people have shown such resilience despite all of the terror and destruction. As we approach the one-year mark since the invasion, what has surprised you most about how you and your fellow Ukrainians are persevering?
Ukrainian society has shown unprecedented consensus, more than was reasonable to expect from previous history. It can be felt everywhere, from relationships with neighbors all the way to the national government. In recent months, there have been almost biweekly rocket attacks and daily air raid alerts. That constantly means people can’t make it to an appointment or orders cannot be filled as planned, but everyone shares the context of their circumstances, we adjust our plans, and keep moving forward.
ISACA Now: What are you most looking forward to once peace returns to Ukraine?
I would like to unpack my emergency case but don’t really expect to do so. Nobody knows when, how and for how long peace will return. For that reason, looking forward amid such uncertainty is counterproductive – reality will almost certainly differ from expectations. That is the reason not to wait for a change in the environment but to instead act now in pursuit of my goals.