CONFIDENCE AT FULL SPEED: HOW SVITLANA TELIZHENKO CONQUERED THE “MALE” AUTO BUSINESS!
“I learned to be confident. Now, when a difficult customer comes in, I know: breathe in, breathe out, keep my back straight, and go talk to them with a smile. And it really helps!” — Svitlana Telizhenko, owner of a car service in Nova Vodolaha.
Svitlana Telizhenko is an example of a woman who was not afraid to enter an industry traditionally considered male-dominated and build a successful business. 
In Nova Vodolaha, she runs a car wash, a repair shop, and an auto parts store. This is a business that Svitlana knows inside out, as she has been driving since she was 17 and has always dreamed of being in the auto business.
BEHIND THE WHEEL IN A MALE-DOMINATED BUSINESS: CAR SERVICE IN NOVA VODOLAZA 
Svitlana runs her business with great passion: “I do this myself because it's my favorite thing to do.” 
Her love for cars has lasted for decades, and she has noticed that “mostly girls come” to her car service. 
Svitlana has even introduced a unique tradition: “I even planted roses at my service station... I always put a rose in the car or under the handle. It's very nice when a customer comes in and they smile like that.”

THE PATH TO CONFIDENCE: THE “STEEL SELF-ESTEEM” COURSE 
Svitlana enrolled in the “Steel Self-Esteem” course to gain more confidence in communicating with different people. During the course, she “gained confidence” and learned specific techniques for working with difficult clients: “You need to breathe in, breathe out, keep your back straight, and come to communicate with them, smiling.”
RESULTS AND DREAMS: FROM A NEW QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION TO A NETWORK OF CAR WASHES 
Thanks to the course, Svitlana not only improved her communication skills but also became a more confident businesswoman. Now her dream is to create a “network of car washes.”
In the “Steel Self-Esteem” course, Svitlana Telizhenko learned the following:
1. She gained confidence
This was her main request, and she got the desired result.
2. Learned to communicate effectively with “difficult” clients
Now Svetlana uses a clear algorithm: “Breathe in, breathe out, keep your back straight, and come to communicate with him, smile.” This technique, according to her, really helps.
ADVICE FROM SVITLANA 
Here is the advice Svitlana can give to others based on her experience:
1. Practice confidence in communication. Even in difficult situations, stay calm and positive.
2. Don't be afraid to venture into areas that are traditionally considered “foreign.” Svetlana's example shows that a woman can be successful in the auto business, which was previously considered a male domain.
3. Listen to yourself and your dreams. Svetlana was able to realize her long-held dream of an auto business and now aspires to expand into a chain of car washes.

4. Use your strengths and create a unique experience. Her idea with roses for clients is a simple but effective way to make your business memorable.
Svitlana Telizhenko's story is a vivid example of how the inner confidence gained in the “Steel Self-Esteem” course helps not only to successfully manage a business in a field that is atypical for women, but also to dream of new, ambitious horizons!
The “Steel Self-Esteem” course is part of the “Online Academy for Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders” project, implemented by the NGO Age of Opportunities with technical support from UN Women Ukraine and funding from the Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). WPHF is a flexible and fast funding tool that supports high-quality activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of local women to prevent conflicts, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.
This publication has been produced with the financial support of the United Nations Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), but this does not imply that the views and content expressed herein are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.
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