The Forbes 30/50 Summit – Abu Dhabi

Olena Zelenska

First Lady of Ukraine

Mrs Olena Zelenska was born on 6 February 1978 in Kryvyi Rih.

She studied at Kryvyi Rih Gymnasium № 95, where she met her future husband, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In 2000, she graduated from Kryvyi Rih Technical University, majoring in “Urban and Construction Management”, receiving a specialist diploma. She also graduated from a music school with a piano class.

In 2003, she and Volodymyr Zelenskyy got married. After the marriage, the family moved to Kyiv.

Olena and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are raising two children: daughter Oleksandra (born in 2004) and son Kyrylo (born in 2013).

The family loves animals, they have two dogs, a cat, a parrot and a guinea pig. The First Lady of Ukraine actively goes in for sports, likes to read and is a fan of cinematography.

Professional activity

Olena Zelenska has been a member of the Kvartal 95 studio team since its foundation. The studio is engaged in the production of show projects, entertainment programs, movies, series and is the most famous and the most rated in Ukraine.

Mrs. Olena is a member of the author group and participates in writing texts for all projects of the Kvartal 95 studio, worked on the concept of “Make the Comedian Laugh” program and was one of the screenwriters of “Like the Cossacks…” comedy. She is also one of the producers of “Women’s Kvartal” project.

Social initiatives before the war

The social activities of the First Lady of Ukraine before the war had three main directions: the health of future generations, equal opportunities and cultural diplomacy.

Olena Zelenska initiated such projects as the improvement of the school food system and the development of the National Strategy for a safe school environment, the fight against domestic and gender-based violence, the barrier-free environment, and the introduction of audio guides in Ukrainian in museums around the world.

On December 3, 2020, the President signed the Decree “On ensuring the creation of a barrier-free space in Ukraine.” At the initiative of the First Lady, the National Barrier-Free Strategy – standards of equal opportunities for all population groups – was adopted, as well as the Action Plan for overcoming barriers – a road map for each department – was developed.

On January 13, 2020, she became a member of the Development Council of the Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art and Culture Museum Complex.

On September 11, 2020, at the initiative of the President’s wife, Ukraine joined the Biarritz Partnership, undertaking commitments in the areas of gender equality and the development of barrier-free public space.

In 2021, a large-scale reform of school meals took place. A new full-fledged 4-week menu was presented, the modernization of food storage facilities began, and the behavioral communication campaign of UNICEF in Ukraine on healthy nutrition for children and parents was launched.

As part of the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine, more than 40 audio guides in the Ukrainian language have already been launched in the best cultural institutions in more than 30 countries. The project started in 2020.

On August 23, 2021, the First Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen took place in Kyiv at the initiative of Olena Zelenska. Eleven first ladies from different countries joined the event. The main topic of discussion was the post-COVID reality. At the end of the event, the participants approved a joint declaration.

The purpose of the summits is to unite the first ladies and gentlemen for the purpose of creating an international platform to share experience and implement joint projects for the well-being of people in the world; to discuss the current problems and activities of the first ladies and gentlemen to solve them; to make the voice of every first lady and gentleman more influential.

Activities since the beginning of the Russian invasion

At the initiative of the First Lady, projects in the field of medicine are being developed: evacuation of children with severe cancer diseases abroad with further treatment there, the search for equipment for children’s hospitals, in particular, incubators for newborns.

In the humanitarian sphere, Olena Zelenska takes care of sending orphans for a long-term stay abroad. The First Lady also oversees humanitarian aid to family-type orphanages, large families, and elderly people who have remained and live in the liberated territories

To reinforce the connection with the Homeland for forcibly displaced people, the First Lady initiated the project “Books without borders”. 260,000 books in Ukrainian were printed for children who left their homes due to Russian aggression and found shelter in 20 countries.

The project “Ukrainian bookshelf” is being carried out under the patronage of the First Lady. It provides for the distribution of Ukrainian literature and its translations in the world’s leading libraries. More than 20 countries have already joined the initiative.

In the “Barrier-Free Handbook” launched by the First Lady, a new section has been created with wartime tips and instructions for families with disabilities, the elderly and their loved ones, people with disabilities.

In May 2022, Olena Zelenska initiated the creation of the National Program of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. The program is designed to help Ukrainians overcome the consequences of the traumatic events of the war.

In June 2022, together with the First Lady of Latvia, she opened a joint summer camp for Ukrainian and Latvian schoolchildren on the basis of the Riga Ukrainian Secondary School. And together with the First Lady of Lithuania, she opened the first Ukrainian center in the European Union in Vilnius for citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine. It will become a place of training, career counseling, psychological help, recreation for children, youth and adults. It is also a platform for cultural diplomacy between countries.

On July 23, Ukraine will host the second Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen dedicated to the post-war reconstruction of our country. The event is planned to be held in the format of a telebridge between different countries of the world. Within the Summit, fundraising for C-type ambulance vehicles was announced. USD 6.4 million was raised in total, allowing to purchase 84 ambulance vehicles for the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

These ambulance vehicles are equipped with everything necessary to quickly and safely transport the seriously injured to the hospitals.

Olena Zelenska Foundation

On September 22, Olena Zelenska presented her Foundation during a charity evening in New York during the 77th UN General Assembly.

The Foundation’s primary goal is to restore Ukraine’s human capital so that every Ukrainian feels physically and mentally healthy, protected, and able to exercise their right to education, work, and build a future in Ukraine.

The Foundation has three key directions: medicine, education and humanitarian aid. Within these areas, it will provide targeted assistance, invest in reconstructing preschool and school education institutions, polyclinics and outpatient clinics, and provide grants for training and scientific developments.

The Foundation sees foreign business and other international foundations as its key partners and donors.