My Career Journey: Liubov Tykholoz, Vice CEO

Introduction

Q: Liubov, what does being Vice CEO look like in action?

Being Vice CEO feels a bit like standing at the crossroads of a hundred moving stories. Ideas, plans, decisions seem to make a brief stop by my desk to be discussed, refined, and aligned before they move forward. Sometimes it means refining a decision with Daria, our CEO and Managing Partner, other times it means helping teams align when priorities overlap.

I think of my role more as a connector, keeping teams aligned, and involving CEO when alignment depends on her direction. Each day comes with something new and that’s exactly what keeps it exciting.

Let’s Reflect

Q: Speaking of a journey, you’ve been with the company for 9 years. How did your story begin here?

It’s quite a story to tell! When I was a university student, I taught English at a small language school where people management and timely pay were… let’s say not top priorities. And I kept wondering if work could feel different.

Then one day, my university friend shared a photo from her office and started telling our group about the company she’d joined, how cool it was, the people (there were only around 60 or 70 back then) and the atmosphere there. I vividly remember the yellow logo, a small sticker on her laptop. Something about it caught my attention.

I applied for a Customer Support Consultant role, and everything changed when I stepped into the office for the interview. The energy. The way HR treated me. The feeling that people here genuinely cared. I remember thinking, “I want to be a part of this”. And deep down, I knew I would.

Q: And how did you find your time working as a Customer Support Consultant?

I was still studying at the time and working 24/7 shifts, which sometimes meant going a full day without sleep. But it gave me the chance to combine my studies with full-time work. 

I started out working on three projects: a photo editing app, a fintech service, and an email marketing platform. They were all completely different, and the experience I gained during that time was immense. You know, the kind of start that shapes you for years to come. Many of the people I work with now joined around that time. The atmosphere was incredibly warm and supportive. We were all learning together 💛

Q: Wow, 24/7 shifts while studying, that’s dedication! And then there was HR, right? That was your next major pivot.

I still remember when an internal HR vacancy opened up. I decided to give it a try. I applied twice: the first time I didn’t get it, but the second time I did.

HR turned out to be my thing. It was also a time of rapid growth. We were hiring non-stop, building our first HR processes and policies, exploring new hiring platforms and sourcing tools. The department was evolving fast, and soon we needed two HR Directors. That’s when our CEO suggested I take on the role and lead a team of my own.

Q: And the journey didn’t stop there, we’ve heard there were Marketing and Security pitstops. Tell us more!

After a few leadership changes in Marketing, I stepped in to ensure alignment and people support during the transition. The same thing happened later in the Security team in 2022, when we parted ways with our CISO. I took on the coordination role again to help the team stay focused and keep things moving forward. For me, it was never about changing roles, but about helping wherever the company needed me most. I’m genuinely grateful for the trust that’s allowed me to explore new challenges, push my limits, and grow through every experience. This journey has been one of constant learning, and I truly love it.

Q: That’s an impressive journey. It feels like every step prepared you for becoming Vice CEO. How did that transition happen?

There was an internal competition for the role. Daria, our CEO and Managing Partner, sent out an announcement asking anyone interested to submit a motivation letter within a week. The responsibility felt enormous and I wanted to be sure I was ready for it. I wrote the letter early on, but I only dared to send it one minute before the deadline. Sometimes courage looks like hitting “send” at 11:59 p.m. And here I am!

Q: Wow, a last-minute leap of faith! After all these years and roles, what keeps you here? What motivates you?

People often say, “You’ve been with the same company for nine years, you must know everything by now.” But the truth is, I don’t. Every year, this place changes: new projects, new challenges, new ways of thinking. It’s exciting, isn’t it?

SupportYourApp has also given me the freedom to grow at my own pace: to make mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward, both professionally and personally. That kind of trust is rare, and it means a lot to me.

Awareness in Action: Career Insights

Q: Thinking specifically about the Vice CEO role, what skills do you think are most important?

Skills? Easy to list, just ask ChatGPT. But knowing which ones to use, when, and how that’s the real art. That’s awareness. And honestly, I’m still learning that every day.

Q: Moving to your department, can you tell us more about the Executive team and how it functions?

We’re a small Executive team of four: the CEO, myself as Vice CEO, our Executive Assistant, and our Executive Coordinator. The CEO focuses on high-level strategic topics, while I handle operational priorities, especially the ones that cross functions or need CEO attention. The Executive Assistant manages our meetings, supports C-level coordination, and handles other administrative responsibilities. The Executive Coordinator works closely with me to keep cross-departmental projects on track and also leads two workstreams.

Outside the Office

Q: Now it’s time for a round of personal questions. In an alternative universe, what career would you have pursued and why?

In a parallel universe, I might’ve become a doctor. My biology teacher was convinced I was born for it, she even promised me a better grade if I applied to med school. I was seriously considering it by 15. But I couldn’t stand chemistry and was already in love with languages… so let’s just say that version of me probably found the nearest exit.

Q: How do you manage the stress that must come with a Vice CEO role?

I don’t think stress is something to manage as much as something to understand. It usually shows up when clarity goes missing or when I start ignoring my own signals. So I try to pay attention to those early signs. I also trust the team we have and know we can handle whatever comes our way. Sometimes we need to slow down, sometimes we need to hit the gas, but in the end, we get through it. And when something really needs a reset or perspective shift, I know I can always talk it through with our CEO. That support matters.

Q: And our last, and probably most fun, question: can you share an interesting fact about yourself that most people don’t know?

Over eight years ago, I tried learning Chinese for a month or two and to this day, I can still count to ten (with the correct tones, by the way).

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