Yulia Stark on Trust: The One Thing Women Have Unlearned (and Need to Reclaim)

Yulia Stark on Trust: The One Thing Women Have Unlearned (and Need to Reclaim)

When I sat down with Yulia Stark, I expected a conversation about impact.

After all, she’s the founder of the European Women’s Association, working across Europe and the GCC on economic empowerment for women.

But very quickly, the conversation shifted.

Not to strategy.
Not to career.

To something much deeper.

Trust.

Not in others. In yourself.

The Identity Question We Never Fully Answer

One of the first things I asked Yulia was simple:

Who are you beyond your job title? Her answer wasn’t polished. It wasn’t “PR-ready.” And that’s exactly what made it powerful.

She spoke about being adventurous. About loving different cultures. About dancing as a way to reconnect to her body. About being a mother. And something that stood out to me:

She’s still searching. For her roots. For where “home” really is.

Born in Siberia, raised in Belgium, building her life between Dubai and Europe… she’s still figuring it out.

And honestly, that was refreshing. Because there’s this idea that by a certain age, especially as a successful woman, you’re supposed to have everything figured out. But what if you don’t?

Yulia made it clear: that’s not a flaw. That’s part of being human.

“You’re Born for Greatness”

At the core of Yulia’s confidence is something very simple.

Her mother. From a very young age, she was told:

“You’re born for greatness.”

And she believed it. Fully.

That belief stayed with her. Even after her mother passed away.

It still guides her decisions. Still anchors her when doubt creeps in.

And it made me think…

How many women grow up with that same message?

Because most of us don’t.

We grow up questioning ourselves.
Comparing.
Holding back.

Yulia didn’t say this directly, but it’s obvious:

Confidence isn’t something you suddenly build later in life.
It’s something that gets installed early… or not at all.

The Real Meaning of Power (It’s Not What You Think)

When I asked Yulia what it means to be a powerful woman, her answer surprised me.

It wasn’t about status.
Or success.
Or visibility.

It was that power is trusting yourself.

She believes that somewhere along the way, women have unlearned that.

We’ve been taught to rely on external validation. Data. Opinions. Approval.

Instead of something much more natural: Our intuition.

She even described it as a kind of “superpower” rooted in women’s DNA. And whether you believe that literally or not, the idea is clear. We already know more than we think we do. We just don’t trust it.

Why Financial Freedom Became Her Focus

This is where the conversation shifted into something very tangible.

Yulia is currently building a financial literacy platform for women and girls.

Not because it’s trendy. But because it’s necessary. She said something that stuck with me:

"Money plays a bigger role in our lives than we like to admit."

And yet, many women avoid it. Don’t fully understand it. Don’t invest time into it. Which means:

Less freedom.
Less choice.
Less control.

For Yulia, financial literacy isn’t about money. It’s about independence. It’s about creating a life where you’re not trading time for survival, but building something scalable and sustainable.

And that shift? That’s massive.

Why Pink Ladies Games Actually Matters

When we spoke about Pink Ladies Games, Yulia didn’t talk about the games.

She talked about what happens around them.

For a few hours, you’re not your title.

Not the CEO.
Not the manager.
Not the “busy one.”

You’re just… you.

And that’s rare. Because if we’re being honest:

Women don’t always make time to build friendships anymore.

Between work, family, responsibilities… it's not a priority anymore.

But events like Pink Ladies Games create a shortcut.

You connect.
You move.
You laugh.

And suddenly, you’ve built something real. Something you can come back to when life gets hard.

The One Word Women Need More Of

At the end of the conversation, I asked Yulia a simple question:

What do women need more of?

She didn’t think twice and said:

"Trust."

Trust in themselves.

And honestly, if you strip everything else away… that’s the core of it. Not more skills. Not more experience. Just more trust in what’s already there.

What I Took From This Conversation

If I had to summarize Yulia Stark in one sentence, it would be this:

She’s building impact in the world, but her real work is helping women come back to themselves.

Because somewhere along the way, we’ve outsourced our confidence.

To validation.
To structure.
To expectations.

And maybe the real shift is simpler than we think: "Less looking outside. More listening inside."

So… What Now?

Next time you feel stuck. Or unsure. Or like you need one more opinion before deciding…

Pause. And ask yourself:

Do I already know the answer?

Because chances are… You actually do.