Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Clara Kaluderovic. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Clara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Mitzi Perdue and I co-founded a nonprofit with the mission of building an AI model to provide therapy, interconnect care systems, and analyze regional data to improve mental health outcomes. Mitzi and I met at a speaking event. She was already deeply engaged in supporting Ukraine—famously auctioning her engagement ring for $1.2 million to donate to the Ukrainian police—and writing with sharp precision as a journalist about the toll of war. I mentioned, almost in passing, that I was Ukrainian. It was one of those moments that felt both incidental and inevitable.

We met for coffee a month or so later. She leaned in and told me something that stopped me cold: the mental health crisis in Ukraine was worse than most people outside the country could comprehend. I should have known. I thought I knew. But I didn’t.

Mitzi talked about the numbers—numbers so staggering they start to lose meaning if you let them. Over half the population affected. She described a nation not just fighting a war, but quietly fracturing under the weight of trauma. There weren’t enough therapists. The infrastructure wasn’t built for this kind of sustained catastrophe. And worst of all, the need wasn’t being met—not even close.


The weight of her words settled somewhere deep. I realized I had something to offer. A different lens, maybe. A private-sector pragmatism. A team who understood how to build things that could scale. I shared an idea, and it began to take shape between us: an AI model, focused on therapy assistance, iterated in Ukrainian.


It wasn’t just about AI or innovation. It was about making the numbers mean something again. It was about taking what seemed impossible—reaching millions of people in crisis—and saying, maybe we can. Maybe we must.


This is how it began: a conversation between two women who both understood, in their own ways, that ignoring the weight of things was no longer an option.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I come from a background rooted in technology, where I’ve worked to build innovative and sustainable solutions to different problems. Over time, I’ve shifted my focus to leveraging this expertise for social impact, particularly in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Currently, a large portion of my work centers around Mental Help Global (MHG), a nonprofit initiative I co-founded to tackle the mental health crisis in Ukraine.


MHG aims to provide AI-driven therapy, interconnect fragmented mental health services, and use anonymized data to generate insights that lead to better care outcomes. What sets MHG apart is our commitment to accessibility and ethics—we’re building a platform that delivers 24/7 multilingual mental health support while prioritizing user privacy and cultural sensitivity. Our mission is to complement, not replace, traditional mental health services and empower individuals in crisis zones with the care they deserve.


What makes this work especially meaningful is the opportunity to combine advanced technology with a human-centered approach. I’m proud of our ability to use AI not just as a tool for innovation but as a bridge to equitable, life-changing care in underserved regions.


Above all, I want people to know that MHG represents a new chapter in how we approach mental health. It’s about creating scalable solutions that address massive unmet needs while keeping the human experience at the forefront.

 As we continue to refine our AI models and build partnerships, our goal remains clear: to bring better mental health outcomes to those who need them most.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was that perfection is the goal. Early in my career, especially in tech and entrepreneurship, I believed that every product, every initiative, had to be flawless before it could be shared with the world. Success, I thought, hinged on presenting something airtight, fully polished, and free from any imperfection. The backstory? It’s the mindset you develop in high-stakes environments, where anything less than perfection feels like failure. But to the outside world, that looks like indecision—and indecision is a decision.

When we started Mental Help Global (MHG), I quickly realized that, much like the startup space, this approach wasn’t just unsustainable—it was a roadblock. The mental health crisis in Ukraine and beyond doesn’t wait for perfection. People are struggling now, and they need solutions now. Building an AI platform for therapy isn’t about creating the perfect model; it’s about creating something that works, listening to feedback, and iterating relentlessly to improve.

The unlearning comes through action—releasing early prototypes, embracing mistakes, and understanding that progress often outweighs perfection. It’s not about flawless execution but about having the courage to take meaningful steps forward, even if they’re imperfect, to make a real difference where it’s needed most.

This shift has made me a better leader and collaborator. It’s a lesson I carry with me every day, shaping how I approach both challenges and opportunities.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale starts with connection—both to the work and to each other. At Mental Help Global, our shared mission to address the mental health crisis gives the team a sense of purpose, a reason to push through challenges. Purpose fuels resilience, but trust sustains it. I’ve learned to be transparent, sharing not just successes but also the uncertainties, so everyone feels like a true part of the story.

Celebrating progress, no matter how small, is key. Those moments of acknowledgment remind people why their work matters and energize them for the road ahead. Above all, morale comes from valuing your team as people first—listening, adapting, and supporting their growth. Leadership is about setting the tone, showing up with clarity and purpose, and cultivating an environment where people feel heard, appreciated, and motivated to give their best. Morale isn’t demanded; it’s earned through trust and connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mentalhelpglobal.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarakalud?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name