Hello, I am Ilona
My journey into coaching and mentoring began many years ago, when I first became a manager. I have over 20+ years of experience in leadership and management across different industries and roles – from leading teams and departments to serving as a CEO. I have worked both in start-ups and global international organisations. Over the years, I have had to learn for myself how to navigate complex business situations, crises and difficult decisions. I have also had the opportunity to support hundreds of people in their professional and personal growth, and this has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I have always valued genuine conversations without hierarchy or status. These conversations tend to be open, honest and human – and I have often found that the best results come with more ease, trust and collaboration.
More than 150 clients have chosen to work with me as their leadership coach. I understand many of the challenges they face because I have faced them myself throughout my career and have had to find different ways of working through them. I also work with organisations that want to support the development of their people by offering access to an external coach – someone who can provide a different perspective and a space to look at challenges with fresh eyes.
I am currently studying Existential Therapy at the Institute of Humanistic and Existential Psychotherapy (HEPI), where I am also developing my therapy practice. Existential therapy has become a natural continuation of my journey. In my work with people, I increasingly encountered questions that cannot always be addressed through strategy or another action plan: How do we live with uncertainty, loss, loneliness or major life transitions? What do we do when we can no longer control our circumstances? How do we choose to live?
What I value about the existential approach is that it does not look only for quick answers or ways to “fix” a person. Instead, it invites us to pause and look honestly at our lives – our choices, responsibility, relationships, freedom, limitations, values and sense of meaning. Sometimes a crisis can become a moment when we are given the opportunity to ask ourselves, perhaps for the first time, how we really want to live.
I have also completed a course in Psychological Crisis Management at HEPI, where I learned how to provide emotional support and help stabilise people in difficult situations involving crisis, trauma and loss. I deliver training on psychological crises in the mountains for climbing, mountaineering and outdoor communities. I believe that being psychologically prepared and resilient in a crisis can be just as important as knowing how to provide first aid.
My education and experience
Humanistic and Existential Psychotherapy Institute, Lithuania
From 2024 Existential therapy
Humanistic and Existential Psychotherapy Institute, Lithuania
2023 -2025 Psychological crisis management
Lund University, Sweden
Human Resource, Change and People Management
Trondheim University, Norway
International Business
Vilnius Tech, Lietuva
Business Administration and Management, Marketing
All of my professional experience can be found on LinkedIn
Education
Studies and certificates
Seminars
2026 - Crisis management and crisis debriefing, London School of Business and administration
2025 - Political intelligence and influencing skills, Piers Cumberledge, BMI institute
2021 Flow coaching, Baltic Coaching Centre, ID KC LT-34 21-12/14, Vilnius
2021 - Flow coaching supervision, Baltic Coaching Centre, Vilnius
2019 - Leading leaders, TMM, Copenhagen
2017 - 7 habbits of effective leaders signature course (Franklin-Covey), Vilnius
ITIL® Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management, Vilnius
2026 – Psychological Resilience in the Context of War and Migration: Trauma, Support and Empowerment, Vilnius
2026 – Trauma Psychology Conference, Vilnius University, Vilnius
2024 – Open Conversations About Mental Health: What Do We Still Not Know? Vilnius
