Bringing a taste of Ukraine to Minnesota

November 18, 2025 | When neighboring Russia invaded Ukraine, Yana’s life was uprooted as she was forced to flee her home in Kyiv. Moving to a foreign country across the world, while not speaking the language would be daunting for anyone, yet, Yana brought an entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and a master’s degree in marketing with her to the North Star State.

Like most New Americans, she took a circuitous route to her current home in the Twin Cities, with stops in Uzbekistan, Washington, D.C., and Florida, where her infant son was born.

Discovering the International Institute of Minnesota

Once in Minnesota, Yana learned about the International Institute through the Ukrainian American Community Center in Minneapolis. Despite having her master’s degree in marketing and years of management experience in Ukraine and Uzbekistan, Yana needed assistance in how to navigate the American workplace.

“I wanted to learn the American business system because it is different from what I know,” she said.

Throughout her time growing up and living in Europe and Asia, Yana was well acquainted with the Middle Eastern meat-based dish of shawarma. Ukraine adapted their own style of shawarma that is often sold as a street food in a grilled wrap. With a growing Ukrainian diaspora in Minnesota, she wanted to bring this taste of home to the states.

The Institute’s eight-week Entrepreneurship class seemed like a great place to start for an aspiring business owner like Yana.

After first coming to the Institute, Yana recalled being grateful and thinking, “Oh my goodness, someone or something cares about me and my education?”

Although she found the Entrepreneurship class helpful, she still had more to learn about the culture of work and running a business in the U.S.

Luckily, the Institute offers a twelve-week Professional Leadership Training. The Professional Leadership class was invaluable for Yana. She praised her instructor, Kate for, “caring about [her students] and helping us. If someone doesn’t understand, she will explain until they do.”

She also credits the training for helping her understand the different channels of communication, culture, emotional intelligence, and mentalities of customers from Europe to America.  

For instance, both Yana and her husband noted a cultural difference that stood out to them was how much Americans smile. They asked themselves, “why are people laughing and smiling so much here?”

They now see this as positive and find communications with Americans easier because of the friendly smiling.

The Shawarma Co. is born

After graduating from both trainings, Yana was ready to start her shawarma business, but she still needed some assistance getting her enterprise off the ground. Once again, she turned to the International Institute.

“Carrie [Institute Business Pathway career specialist] is very helpful to our business. She recommended organizations who give grants to businesses,” Yana said.

With her husband as the chef, Yana started The Shawarma Co. food truck. A childhood friend from Ukraine helped convert a vehicle into a mobile kitchen and maintains the mechanics of the truck.

Despite only being open since mid-October, The Shawarma Co. has already built a following in the cities.

After just one visit at the St. Paul brewery Dual Citizen, customers would not stop asking when The Shawarma Co. would return. They have since signed a contract to serve food at the brewery all winter.

“People tell us, ‘This is real shawarma.’ It’s a flavor from their childhood in Ukraine,” Yana proudly shared.

On a recommendation from Institute staff, Yana brought The Shawarma Co. to the current Entrepreneurship class to not only share her delicious food, but also show the future business owners a former graduate’s success story.  

Life in the U.S. and hope for the future

Adjusting to life in America has taken some time, but the young family continues to acclimate to their new home.

To this day, Yana is still striving to increase her English skills by utilizing the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT.

“If I don’t speak cleverly, it doesn’t mean I’m not clever. This is just not my native language,” Yana shared.

Yana’s husband said he appreciates living in America because “people here are so proud of your country and legacy.” He said this has inspired him to express his patriotism and love for his home country of Ukraine more openly and confidently.

She and her husband dream of obtaining their green cards and eventually joining their one-year-old son as U.S. citizens. Yana hopes to one day bring her mother, who is living in France, to be with her family in the states.

The couple both see expansion in the future for The Shawarma Co. First, a brick-and-mortar restaurant, then multiple locations around the Twin Cities, and eventually the opportunity to franchise out to other restaurateurs.

“My dream is for a place for good food and good drink,” Yana said.

Yana is appreciative of everything she learned and has benefited from the International Institute of Minnesota and recommends it to others. “I tell Ukrainians I know about an opportunity for us.”