From Kyiv to Hanover

A Story of Hope and Resilience

Viktoriia Roh was born and raised in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. There, she earned a degree in economics and management and worked at various companies. She gained extensive experience in analysis and planning, as well as in leading a team at a manufacturing company. Her true passion, however, lies in accounting. Since 2009, she had been working as a senior accountant at a Ukrainian company.

With the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Viktoriia was forced to leave her homeland and start a new life in Germany with her children.

Setting Out for a New Future

In March 2022, she arrived in Germany with her two children—her 20-year-old son and her 15-year-old daughter—while the rest of her family remained in Ukraine. Back home, Viktoriia Roh had already held a management position. The desire to ensure her children’s safety and offer them new opportunities was the decisive motivation for her decision to flee.

Once she arrived in Germany, Viktoriia knew she had to seize every opportunity to integrate. She attended integration courses and earned a B2 certificate in German. She also completed a continuing education program on “Financial Accounting with DATEV” at WBS TRAINING AG. From the very beginning, she was highly motivated to find work in Germany and, above all, to continue leveraging her previous professional experience. When Viktoriia learned during her training that German and Ukrainian accounting practices aren’t all that different, she was relieved. This realization strengthened her confidence that she could gain a foothold in the German job market.

In 2024, she attended an event organized by the Ukrainian Association in Hanover, where she learned about the “Women and Careers” Coordination Office for the Hanover Region. This office offers comprehensive counseling and information services, a diverse seminar program, and targeted networking opportunities, and serves as a central hub connecting companies, business leaders, and relevant institutions in the Hanover region. In addition, a Ukrainian friend who also lives in Hanover recommended that Viktoriia seek counseling from Mila Marinova at “Women and Careers.”

SME Consortium Working Together for Work-Life Balance

© Andreas Seifert

The Überbetriebliche Verbund Hannover Region e. V. (ÜBV e. V.) is an association of small and medium-sized enterprises dedicated to forward-looking human resources planning with a focus on work-life balance.

A few weeks after Viktoriia Roh’s consultation, a networking breakfast organized by ÜBV e. V. took place. Dirk Moch, one of the managing directors of Ludwig Bertram GmbH, was also in attendance. The company has been a member of ÜBV since 2004. Mr. Moch mentioned that his company is currently urgently seeking someone for the accounting department. For him, it was important that the person be good with numbers and that there be a good personal fit—German language skills were secondary.

Following the meeting, Mila Marinova forwarded him several résumés of women who were clients of her counseling service, including Viktoriia’s. She was invited to an interview and impressed the hiring team with her open and communicative manner.

“The human factor was crucial for us when filling this position. From the very beginning, Viktoriia asked questions whenever she didn’t understand something. That was the deciding factor for us and laid a solid foundation for our day-to-day collaboration.”

Dirk Moch, Managing Director, Ludwig Bertram GmbH

Viktoriia Roh has been part of the Ludwig Bertram GmbH team since 2025. From the very beginning, she experienced an open and supportive work environment that helped her settle in quickly. There are other Ukrainian employees on the team as well, which made her transition easier and fostered professional exchange. Despite initial language uncertainties, Viktoriia was able to continuously improve her German skills through her daily work. Her successful integration demonstrates how mutually beneficial intercultural openness is for both sides: on the one hand, highly qualified women with valuable expertise; on the other, companies urgently seeking skilled workers. When understanding, trust, and openness come together, sustainable working relationships are formed that benefit both employees and companies in the long term.

“Mutual support within the team gives me a sense of belonging, both within the company and in Germany. I feel very comfortable at Ludwig Bertram GmbH and am satisfied with my job.”

Viktoriia Roh, Accountant, Ludwig Bertram GmbH

Future Plans and Dreams

© Andreas Seifert

Viktoriia Roh is not only satisfied with her current situation; she’s also looking ahead. At Ludwig Bertram GmbH, she’ll have the opportunity to further her career and, among other things, assist with the year-end financial statements in the accounting department. She’s particularly proud this year of her son, who has made his dream come true: He speaks German fluently and is now studying economics at Leibniz University Hannover.

This story is marked by courage, determination, and a strong desire for a better future. The Coordination Office for Women and Careers supported her in this new chapter of her professional life with personalized guidance and a strong network.

The network of the “Women and Work” Coordination Office, in collaboration with ÜBV e. V., is particularly important. It offers women in challenging life situations a reliable point of contact. There, they receive individualized, life-stage-oriented, and respectful support that helps them recognize their potential and continue to grow.