The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) has launched a new campaign – called I’M IIBA – uplifting what we know to be the true character and positive contributions of immigrants in the Bay Area.
This week we’re featuring Leska, an immigrant from Ukraine whose journey of resiliency has led to a career helping others fulfill their dreams.
I’M LESKA
I was born and raised in Eastern Europe in a loving family and wonderful community. At 14, my life changed when I was in a car crash that took the lives of my parents and younger brother and left me with substantial injuries. This unexpected change forced me to relocate to the United States—a move that marked the beginning of a transformative journey.
I’M AN IMMIGRANT
I was adopted by my brother and his wife, who were living in California at the time and filed for my permanent resident status. The challenges I faced living in a new environment became my opportunities, shaping me into who I am and instilling me with courage, authenticity and resiliency.
I returned to Ukraine as an adult, but missed the community I’d built in the Bay Area and decided to return and pursue U.S. citizenship. Becoming a citizen has been one of the most impactful things in my life because it enabled me to really feel like I was at home. Finding home gave me confidence and allowed me to set my roots and expand on the impact I could make.
I’M AN ENTREPRENEUR
My vision from a young age was to create a legacy of positive change in both local and global communities.My background is in personal and business development, and I’ve built my own business as a transformation coach, specializing in cross-cultural leadership and optimal performance.
I work with business owners, leaders, organizations and communities to actualize their human and business potential for greater impact. I recently completed world-class personal development and business growth programs that gave me the next-level skills to empower leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs with transformational solutions that connect and åenhance humans in leadership and drive organizational success at scale.
My mission is to raise conscious leadership and culture to thrive.
I’M AN AUTHOR
I recently had the opportunity to share my story in an inspirational anthology published in November 2024, “Permission to Flourish: Cultivating Courage, Embracing Change.” I wrote about my journey of personal and professional development and how living in both Eastern and Western cultures has provided me with a unique perspective.
Believe it or not, the book became a bestseller, ranking number one in five categories on Amazon! The other coauthors and I are from all over the world, and our names may not be known, but it’s incredible that each of us contributed in this significant way to the global consciousness and global empowerment of people.
I’M IIBA
I first connected with IIBA by attending a citizenship workshop, and my case was assigned to Becky Bogyo, a Senior DOJ Accredited Representative. From that instant, I felt like she was the right person for me. For the first time, as a foreigner, I felt heard and seen by a senior representative as an individual with unique qualities and experiences that go beyond a simple statistic. She took the time to listen to my story and affirm documented evidence to uphold my rights as a fellow U.S. citizen. My case was very complicated and took about three years, and I am grateful she was there for me every step of the way.
It brings me joy to support communities and organizations like IIBA that do incredible work, and the reason I share my story is to show people what’s possible. I want people to know that no matter what happens in your life, no matter the circumstances or your background, you can thrive amidst life’s storms and create the legacy that your heart desires. I am the living proof of what’s possible when aligned with values and virtues that are not defined by our past or present experiences. We are destined for more.
Read more about Leska’s inspirational story here.