valeriya hjertenaes - Biography

Valeriya Hjertenæs is an acclaimed PhD researcher, international speaker, podcast host, and passionate advocate for diversity, sustainability, and human rights. Originally from Kherson, Ukraine, and now residing in Norway, Valeriya's compelling journey exemplifies resilience, intellectual vigor, and compassionate leadership.

A recognized figure on global stages, Valeriya was awarded Mrs. World Congeniality in 2022-2023, a testament to her deep-rooted values of empathy and inclusivity. Her academic journey, marked by 2 Master's degrees in Finance, Knowledge Management (Copenhagen Business School, University of Green Bay/Wisconsin), and Diversity Management, has culminated in her ongoing Industrial PhD research at NTNU. Her groundbreaking empirically focused research centers around how Diversity Management enhances sustainability performance and contributes positively to the triple bottom line (social, environmental, and economic outcomes).

Valeriya explores the integration of sustainability and diversity, with particular emphasis on gender, cultural, and neurodiversity. Her extensive research, involving interviews with hundreds of international leaders in business and academia, highlights multiple strategies organizations can adopt—from basic diversity presence to comprehensive, integrated, and optimized diversity management. Valeriya has developed innovative maturity assessments and practical frameworks enabling organizations to enhance their diversity management practices and significantly boost their overall sustainability performance.

Professionally, Valeriya has over 15 years of experience in cross-cultural management, collaborating with global entities, non-profits, and academic institutions across Europe, Asia, and North America. She holds key roles including International Partner for the World Business Angels Investment Forum and leadership positions at the Royal Norwegian Honorary Consulate in Ukraine. Her strategic collaborations extend into sustainable fashion, highlighted by numerous high-profile partnerships with sustainability committed profiles in Fashion and ART Industry, promoting ethical and sustainable practices on an international stage.



A committed humanitarian, Valeriya actively engages in charitable initiatives focused on refugees, displaced persons, and vulnerable populations. She founded the Winds of Hope Charitable Foundation in Ukraine, dedicated to supporting vulnerable groups and fostering community resilience. Additionally, Valeriya has personally adopted two children from Ukraine, highlighting her dedication to humanitarian efforts and family values. Balancing her multifaceted professional life, Valeriya is also a certified yoga and mindfulness instructor, integrating wellness into her advocacy.

As a speaker, Valeriya Hjertenæs inspires audiences worldwide with her profound insights on diversity, ethical innovation, sustainability, neurodiversity, and human empowerment, driven by her core belief: "Our great significance lies in our differences.