A personal story about integration, work, independence, and building a business in Switzerland as a Ukrainian with protection status S.
By Angelina Khudiakova
Founder of Upliftus Marketing Agency | Marketing partner Lighthouse Legal Media | Board Member & Head of Marketing at Free Ukraine Global
From Uncertainty to Independence
When I arrived in Switzerland at the end of March 2022, I had no idea what my future would look like.
I had a really good income back then in Ukraine, I worked at Spotify and a big coaching school. I did not know where I would work, whether I would integrate successfully, or whether I would ever feel “stable” again after leaving Ukraine because of the war.
But one thing I knew for sure:
Switzerland would become my next level.
And I decided very early that I would do everything possible to build a future here — actively, not passively.
I started integrating immediately:
- meeting people,
- learning how the system works,
- building connections,
- and studying German even before I was officially sent to language courses.
For eight months, I treated integration like a full-time job.
I never repeated courses.
I never paused.
I never wanted to stay dependent longer than necessary.
My goal was simple:
Leave social assistance as fast as possible and become financially independent.
And that is exactly what happened.
From Language School to Full-Time Employment in Less Than One Year
After eight months of intensive German studies, I passed my B2 German exam.
I still remember the date:
- 31 January 2023 — I passed the exam
- 1 February 2023 — I started my first full-time job in Switzerland
I spent less than one year on social assistance, and honestly — I am very proud of that.
My first role was:
- 50% CEO Assistant
- 50% Marketing Specialist
It became the beginning of a completely new chapter.
Three Swiss Startups. Three Different Lessons.
Over the next two years, I worked in three different Swiss startups:
- a telemedicine company,
- the American electric vehicle startup Fisker,
- and the Swiss social platform naoo.
Each company taught me something different.
But most importantly:
I always tried to become an irreplaceable employee.
I learned fast.
I adapted fast.
I took responsibility fast.
And it paid off.
At my first company, I received a salary increase after only three months.
At another company, the team went through two rounds of layoffs. We started with around 20 employees, and I remained among the final core team because I understood multiple operational roles and could cover different responsibilities. I sold 8 no name cars without any experience in automotive.
At another stage, I stepped completely outside my comfort zone and tried cold sales in Zürich — walking into cafés, stores, and locations to pitch products directly.
Honestly? It terrified me.
Even now, remembering it feels uncomfortable.
But those experiences forced me to grow faster.
The “Third Sign” That Changed Everything
Unfortunately, none of those startups became long-term stable opportunities.
Two went bankrupt.
Another went through restructuring.
And after the third situation, I started thinking:
Maybe this is not bad luck.
Maybe this is a sign.
A sign that I was supposed to build something of my own.
Because deep inside, I always felt that my full potential was not being realised in employment alone.
Already during my second job, I had the idea of creating my own agency.
Why?
Because I saw something very clearly:
Switzerland has enormous business potential — but marketing here still significantly lags behind Ukraine.
At the same time, I understood that the Swiss market operates differently:
- trust matters more,
- recommendations matter more,
- relationships matter more,
- and reputation is everything.
During my first career break, I joined Free Ukraine Global — an international organisation focused on humanitarian aid, education, events, and social impact initiatives connected to Ukraine and the international community.
Over time, I became:
- Head of Marketing and Board Member
This experience became incredibly valuable for my professional growth.
For the first time, I was not only executing marketing tasks — I was building systems, coordinating people, managing communication strategies, and helping shape the public voice of an international organisation.
Today, I effectively manage two teams simultaneously:
- my own marketing agency team
- and the marketing direction within Free Ukraine Global
And honestly, I deeply value both experiences.
One teaches entrepreneurship, business strategy, and commercial growth.
The other teaches leadership, responsibility, social impact, and mission-driven work.
Opening My Self-Employment in Switzerland
In September 2025, I officially registered as self-employed in Switzerland.
I received my registration number, started invoicing clients legally, paying taxes, managing contracts, and building my own business structure.
Today:
- my agency has a team of 4 people (soon 5),
- we work with both Ukrainian and Swiss projects,
- and we currently manage 4 active client projects.
What makes me especially proud is that we are now working with Swiss businesses as well.
That was my goal from the beginning.
And it took around 1.5 years to build trust and enter the local market.
Nobody Did It for Me
I opened my self-employment entirely on my own.
I submitted all the documents myself.
I wrote all the motivational letters myself.
I learned the procedures myself.
Actually, ChatGPT helped me structure:
- business plans,
- applications,
- and formal letters.
I contacted the Amt für Arbeit in Zürich directly, received the procedure, followed the steps, and completed everything independently.
Many people think opening self-employment in Switzerland is impossible or extremely complicated.
It is not impossible.
But it does require:
- initiative,
- discipline,
- patience,
- and willingness to understand the system.
Why Employment First Helped Me
I often hear stories about people trying to move directly from social assistance into self-employment — and facing serious difficulties.
My path was different.
I first spent two years working officially in Switzerland.
That changed everything.
I became financially independent, understood the market, built experience, and no longer depended on social structures.
That freedom gave me the ability to build something sustainably.
And honestly, this is why I always encourage people:
think long-term.
The faster you become independent, the more freedom you create for yourself.
A New Chapter for Ukrainians in Switzerland
Today, the process for Ukrainians with Status S who want to become self-employed is significantly easier than when I applied.
I previously wrote a detailed practical guide explaining:
- how to open self-employment in Switzerland,
- what changed in 2026,
- and how the simplified procedure works for Status S holders.
📖 Read the full guide here:
https://lighthouse-legal.eu/how-ukrainians-with-s-status-can-legally-start-self-employment-in-switzerland-in-2026/
Final Thought
Coming to Switzerland with uncertainty did not stop me from building a future here.
Integration is not only about documents.
It is about mindset.
You can stay stuck in survival mode forever.
Or you can slowly start building independence.
For me, entrepreneurship became exactly that:
freedom, responsibility, and growth.
And honestly — this is only the beginning.
