history,


learning about the


Holocaust,


about


the


warnings that people didn’t – or couldn’t – act on. As a child, I remember feeling angry. “They saw it coming,” I thought. “Why didn’t they leave?” And then, in 2022, when war broke out, I finally understood. Because leaving is brutal. Because why should you leave your country, your home, your business, your life? My sister stayed. Many of my friends stayed. And I respect them for it. But for me, there was no other choice.” She and her immediate family left Moscow with no


clear destination. The only flight she could book was to Istanbul. From there, she planned to go to Israel, but eventually chose to settle in the UK, where Intermark already had a legal entity and operations. Through all of this, she was continuing to run the business, relocating and evacuating Intermark employees as well as clients. “We were moving staff out of Ukraine, out of Russia.


Our teams in both countries had to work together under impossible circumstances. We were running emergency webinars for clients, trying to help them understand the rapidly changing situation. We were chartering planes to evacuate people from Russia, organising transport to get people across the Polish border from Ukraine, booking housing for families who had nowhere to go. “Our own team needed support,


too. We told


them: if you need to leave, we’ll help you, just as we’re helping our clients. We had staff relocating to Armenia, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Bulgaria – wherever they could go. Today, we still have team members in Ukraine, but the war forced us to reinvent our business. Russia was our main market – it made up 65% of our operations. And then, overnight, it disappeared and we had to rebuild from scratch. We still had our expertise, our people and our infrastructure. So we pivoted to Eastern Europe – Serbia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria. We expanded into new markets and started new services.” At the same time, Irina and her business partner, Marina, had been running the company for 20 years, but they had external shareholders who didn’t share the vision for the future. “Negotiating with them was one of the hardest things


we’ve ever done, but at the end of last year, we bought them out. Now, we are a fully women-owned, women-run company, and looking forward to the future,” she says.


DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS & NEW MARKETS Irina worked for NGOs for many years before working in the Global Mobility industry, so she has lots of experience handling cross-cultural


conversations. Intermark


Relocation now provides a full range of immigration, relocation, moving, legal and outbound services to major international companies and individuals to and from locations across Eastern Europe and worldwide. It recently moved its company headquarters to Belgrade, Serbia, and expanded its footprint and local expertise throughout Eastern Europe. In response to the increasing demands of its clients Intermark Relocation has launched


and partners,


Intermark Homes, a corporate housing service. This service offers customised and thoroughly vetted global


living accommodations tailored to a client's needs and budget. Intermark Homes manages an extensive portfolio of properties worldwide, serving corporate relocations, expatriate families, and business travellers, and one of Intermark’s fastest-growing services is household goods relocation. “Poland used to be preferred destination for companies setting up operations in Eastern Europe, but costs are rising. Now, firms are looking at places like Romania and Serbia – markets that were once overlooked but are now attracting serious investment.” Rising mortgage costs mean even local residents are reducing availability. In less developed


renting more,


regions like Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, fewer housing options exist, although investment in these countries is increasing due to lower living and business costs, attracting companies that previously overlooked these markets.


THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP STYLE Irina’s journey into global mobility was shaped by her deep interest in different cultures. Studying Jewish culture and philosophy in Sweden introduced her to a diverse, interfaith environment that she longed to recreate when she returned to Moscow. Initially, she worked on organising international educational conferences, which eventually led her to an unexpected opportunity at Intermark. She says the field of global mobility is constantly


evolving, shaped by geopolitical shifts and technological advancements. It is a challenging industry because it revolves around people – often people under immense stress due to relocations. “People who work in this industry tend to be deeply


empathetic and resilient,” she says. “It attracts a certain kind of person – someone who can navigate emotional complexities while finding creative solutions. Once you’re in, it is hard to leave.”


ADVICE FOR WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL CAREERS For women looking to build a career in global mobility – or any international field – Irina’s advice is simple: don’t give up. This industry can be tough, but it is also incredibly rewarding. If you are passionate about something, pursue it, even when the path is not always clear. “For young women starting


their careers, my


biggest piece of advice is to invest in knowing yourself. Throughout my journey, I sought out training, coaching, and mentorship because I was eager to learn and grow. Finding clarity on your values and inner motivations is crucial, especially when external pressures try to steer you in different directions.” For her, relocation and global mobility are not just a


job, but a passion. It is role that requires resilience, self- compassion, and a deep understanding of the client’s needs and expectations. “You need to love what you do – even when it’s


hard,” she says. “It is okay if things aren’t perfect all the time. What matters is finding work that fulfils you and doing your best.”


15


THINK GLOBAL WOMEN


GLOBAL MOBILITY


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