My Career Journey: Kseniia Savchenko, Chief People Officer

Introduction

Q: Kseniya, can you give us a peek behind the scenes of what do you do as Chief People Officer?

I do magic ✨

Well, besides the magic, everything connected to our people and staff ends up on my desk one way or another. 

Day to day, it’s a combination of people management and being the go-to person when no one knows what to do or whom to contact. Back when we were called Internal Operations, the name was so broad that people reached to us with every kind of request: from standard HR cases to the most unique situations. And it still stays the same in a certain way.

Since our merger with Learning & Development and Talent Recruitment, the department became bigger and more complex. I’ve passed most of the routine and daily management to the Heads of verticals, which lets me focus more on the bigger picture: planning improvements, making sure Human Capital stays aligned with business goals, and keeping an eye on industry trends so we’re not just keeping up with them, but staying a step ahead.

Q: Why Human Capital? What keeps you in this role?

For me, this role feels very natural. I’ve always found it easy to connect with people, understand their motives and even predict their actions. I love seeing someone’s passions or talents and helping them apply those at work. I love non-standard cases where empathy, brainstorming and critical thinking all come together. I love spotting patterns, dynamics, and analyzing how things evolve…

They say if you keep knocking on a door for years, and it never opens, maybe it’s simply the wrong door. Nearly 9 years ago, I was lucky enough to knock on the right one, and that’s how I ended up here. Work shouldn’t feel like banging your head against the wall with no return, it should give something back. For me, Human Capital is exactly that.

Let’s Reflect

Q: Can you give us some insights into how it all started for you?

Before joining SupportYourApp, I worked as an English teacher for adults and corporate clients. It was mentally draining, so one day I felt it was time for a change. Customer Support roles caught my attention as most of them required a good level of English, and I guess mine was sufficient enough, so I decided to give it a try.

I still remember the day I came in for my interview here. It went really well: I liked the HR, I liked the vibe, and when I walked out of the office, I honestly wanted to cancel all my other interviews because it just felt right. I still went to one more, just to be sure, but shortly after I got a call from SupportYourApp HR inviting me to the final stage. That’s when my SupportYourApp journey started. 

Q: Such a “meant to be” vibe! And how was your Onboarding experience? 

Oh, that’s a nice story! I don’t remember every detail of my Onboarding, but I clearly remember the feeling. Back then, I thought to myself “This is really interesting, I’d love to try this role one day. And I bet I’d be good at it” Maybe it sounds bold but I did feel that I could do it. And then I moved on with my Customer Support position and didn’t think much of it.

Fast forward half a year, and I was offered the chance to actually become an Onboarding Specialist! It felt like a full-circle moment.

Q: Wow, what a story! And how did this transition from Onboarding Specialist to Chief People Officer happen?

I was the only Onboarding Specialist for about a year, and sometimes that meant working from 9 am to 9 pm, especially since many students went through Onboarding right after their classes. After some time, I was promoted to Head of Onboarding, and just a couple of months later, our CEO suggested I take on the role of Director of Operations.

Honestly, I was terrified (in a good way). It felt like such a huge responsibility, and I didn’t really know what to expect. I agreed, and over the next few years, we were shaping what that role actually meant. The company was growing really fast, and we had to constantly adapt our internal operations to keep up. A lot of the processes and procedures we rely on today were developed during that time, and I was right in the middle of it all.

Q: And then, your role expanded to Chief People Officer?

Yes, exactly. After some time, I became Chief Internal Operations Officer. And in 2024, we had a big shift: Internal Operations merged with Learning & Development. At that point, the department was no longer just about operations, it was about people, growth, and development too. That’s when Human Capital was created and my role evolved into Chief People Officer. 

Q: After nearly 9 years of growth and memorable stories, what is it about SupportYourApp that keeps you here?

For me, the most inspiring thing is that here, you can be anyone you want as long as you have motivation. There’s no ceiling like in many corporate companies, where managers and directors hold positions for decades and young talent can’t move up. Here, improvements, innovation, initiative and even crazy ideas are welcomed and supported by top management. There’s plenty of room to grow and develop professionally.

And another thing is that the people here are flexible and ready to change a process if it’s not effective. We’re open to making a full 180° pivot if it brings the results we need. We don’t stick to something just because it’s always been done that way, and this mindset is a perfect match for me.

Finding the Grain of Truth: Career Insights

Q: What’s one misconception about Human Capital or HR that you’d like to clarify?

A lot of people think HR is just about loving people. While some roles do involve constant communication and a lot of meetings, the most important skills are actually critical thinking and common sense. Human Capital is really about finding the grain of truth in every situation. If you have critical thinking and common sense, that grain becomes much easier to spot.

Q: Besides critical thinking and common sense, what other skills are essential in Human Capital?

Human Capital is also about analysis, decision-making, taking responsibility and emotional intelligence. At the same time, we’re often the face of the company, so strong communication skills are essential. Sometimes that means making tough calls, mitigating conflicts, managing incidents, giving constructive feedback that might not always be easy to hear, or having termination conversations. Every situation is different, so being able to communicate clearly, empathetically and confidently is a must. 

There’s also something that’s not exactly a skill, but has really helped me over the years: the pursuit of beauty. By that, I mean seeing a process or workflow and making sure it feels natural, logical, and effective, not forced or unnecessary. It’s about creating work that “flows” and achieves its goals in an elegant, organic way. It’s not about design in the usual sense, but about the beauty of the work itself — making sure it’s functional, intuitive and just feels right.

Q: Thank you for these insights! What advice would you give to someone aspiring to join Human Capital?

Before considering HR as a field, I think it’s worth asking yourself a few questions: Are you ready to take responsibility for your decisions? Can you work independently and stay accountable? Are you comfortable handling conflicts or telling people the truth they might not be ready to hear?

And one last thing: if your main goal is to be liked by everyone and make everyone happy, this might not be the perfect fit. Human Capital is about doing the right thing, even when it’s tough.

Outside the Office

Q: Now it’s time for a round of personal questions. If you weren’t in this profession, what career would you have pursued and why?

In an alternative universe, I could have been a professional dancer. I actually spent 15 years in professional dance, it was all rehearsals, rehearsals, and more rehearsals. I was barely ever at home, and I think I didn’t even do any school homework after the 8th grade!

Q: What are your hobbies or favorite ways to unwind?

100% yoga! There’s a common misconception that yoga is all about spirituality and calmness. In reality, it can be very different: the classes I go to are functional and focus on strength training.

I also love music — all kinds, from different genres and eras. I even make my own playlists to match my mood or activity, whether it’s a workout, a chill evening or just getting through the day.

Q: To wrap things up on a fun note, is there an interesting fact about yourself that might surprise most people?

I have a love for all old-school things. I know tons of 90s hip hop tracks by heart: Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan… And even named my dog Biggie after Notorious B.I.G. I enjoy capturing moments on my Polaroid, spinning vinyl records, and just soaking in that nostalgic, fun vibe that comes with it all.

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