She Changes the Norms

Date: Friday, 28 November 2025

Across Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, women are reshaping what leadership, innovation, and equality look like. The “She Changes the Norms” campaign spotlights the stories of four remarkable women who are breaking stereotypes and driving change in their fields - from business and technology to education and social inclusion. Their journeys show that real change is already happening, led by women in every corner of the region, proving that gender equality is not just a vision for the future, but a growing reality shaped every day.

The stories are produced in the framework of the “EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence” programme (phase 2), funded by the European Union, and implemented jointly by UN Women and UNFPA. This content was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of UN Women and UNFPA and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Stories of Women Leading Change

Georgia

How a social entrepreneur from Georgia turned her personal story into a national movement for equality

Keti Tsilosani is a rural activist and social entrepreneur from Guria, Georgia, and the founder of Ketostan Cafe — a youth-friendly cultural hub promoting gender equality, community engagement and creative learning. Drawing on her own lived experience of early marriage, she has become a leading advocate for women’s rights and youth empowerment in rural areas.

Armenia

Tatevik Stepanyan’s mission to build an inclusive Armenia: “My motivation is to make the world a better place”

Tatevik Stepanyan is the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia, where she leads national reforms on disability inclusion, child protection, care for the elderly, gender equality, and the prevention of violence against women. A dedicated policymaker and advocate for inclusive governance, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight as the mother of a child with disabilities.

Ukraine

Olha Zota on building robots, breaking stereotypes and inspiring a new generation of women in STEM: “Innovation comes from diversity”

Olha Zota is the co-founder and CEO of “UkraineRobotics,” a Ukrainian engineering start-up developing innovative hexapod robots that blend creativity with cutting-edge technology. Emerging from a 3D-printing experiment during the pandemic, her flagship model “KULYA” has become a symbol of resilience and ingenuity amid the challenges of war.

Moldova

Ludmila Iachim’s fight for equality in Moldova: “Change begins with us”

Ludmila Iachim is the Executive Director of the MOTIVAȚIE Association in Moldova and a leading advocate for the rights, dignity and inclusion of people with disabilities. Living with a disability since adolescence, she has transformed her personal experience into a lifelong mission to expand opportunities, strengthen leadership and challenge stigma, especially for women and girls with disabilities. Under her guidance, MOTIVAȚIE has grown into a national movement advancing accessibility, inclusive employment and community-based support.