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

Hi Mariya, thanks for joining us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?

When we started working with this client, her goal was to change her relationship with money. She is multi-passionate and wanted to grow her business.

In 10 months together (11 sessions total)

🟨 we worked on helping her develop focus and make one area the main priority when it comes to her business

🟥 we worked on her self-worth issues and helped her open up to receiving – making it safe to receive (money, help, projects)

🟪 helped her accept her path in this life – that is of a leader. She oscillated between wanting to be a leader and wanting to be told what to do. When she accepted her purpose, internally – she finally accepted her power and stepped into being a CEO of her company.

🟦 healed her relationship with money. She went on to secure one project after another for her company, which resulted in over 1.5 million $$$ revenue (and growing).

🟩 worked on her embracing to receive help, delegate, and hire a team, so that she doesn’t do everything alone, which often leads to overwork and overwhelm

🟨 released perfectionism. Because, let’s face it, life isn’t linear and perfect.

🟧 embraced self-gentleness. She was harsh on herself, and we worked on helping her be gentle internally – on a day-to-day basis.

In less than a year, this powerful woman was able to move tremendously forward on her dreams and her life: financially, professionally, and personally.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Sure! So, I had a major crisis back in 2009. At the time, I had just finished my doctorate degree and landed what I thought was my dream job at a research center. I was earning good money, living in a nice downtown apartment, married to a successful guy… and yet, I was absolutely miserable. I was dealing with chronic migraines, felt deeply lonely and isolated, and was battling depression — even having suicidal thoughts.

That period forced me to start questioning everything. I remember thinking, “What’s the point of it all? Why am I here? Why do I feel so unhappy?” I was feeling very ashamed of what I was feeling and rather alone – it was hard to talk to people about my experiences. So I turned to meditation and yoga — my first tools for self-help and healing. From that starting point, gradually, I started learning how to take responsibility for my life, and shift from the worldview of “Life is happening TO me” TO “Life is happening FOR me.” In the process, I studied everything from quantum physics and metaphysics to trauma healing, energy work, and ancestral healing.

That journey eventually led me to the work that I do now.

Today, I support purpose-driven entrepreneurs, leaders, and individuals in helping them get out of their way and become who they are meant to be – live their purpose and full potential, in business and life. A lot of the work is internal – releasing anything that stands in the way (like self-doubt, unworthiness, fear of success, fear of failure, and deep self-acceptance). When internal things shift, the actions and external reality and experiences follow. I have a very gentle approach to mentorship, as I think we all need self-compassion and self-kindness on this journey.

What sets my work apart is that I don’t just focus on surface-level strategy — though we do that too! I go deep into the energetic and emotional layers because I know (based on data, client work, and personal experiences) that when you’re aligned internally, your external results naturally follow. I’m also highly intuitive and use the gifts to guide the process in a very personalized way. This allows my clients to get faster results while making deep internal changes.

I’m most proud of the transformations my clients experience — not just in their businesses (e.g., revenue), but in their confidence, relationships, their ability to lead from the heart, and feel more connected to themselves and their path in this life.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about me and my work, it’s this: I’m here to help you remember who you truly are — beyond the conditioning, the expectations, the fear — and build a life and business from that place.

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 biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that money is bad. I’ve come to understand that money is energy — it amplifies who we already are at our core. If we’re connected to our hearts, values, and integrity, then we’ll do beautiful, impactful things with money in the world.

I never expected to end up where I am today in my business and work. For a long time, I believed that spirituality and money were on opposite ends of the spectrum — one being pure, the other… not so much. I carried that belief for years.

In 2018, I made a huge pivot from being a full-time tenured university professor to becoming a business owner. It was a bumpy transition — and one I didn’t feel prepared for. Running a business is not the same as running a charity. It requires sustainability. It means earning money to support yourself and your mission.

That shift forced me to confront my long-held beliefs about money. Growing up in communist Russia, I internalized the idea that money was inherently bad, or that wanting it made you greedy. I had to actively unravel that conditioning and start seeing money as a vehicle — a tool for creativity, expression, connection, and service.

I worked with different coaches, learned to manage my finances, and even began thinking about investing — not just earning — so that the flow and circulation of money could expand and continue.

Unlearning that money is bad has been one of the most liberating shifts in my life. It allowed me to build a business that’s both purpose-driven and financially sustainable — and to help others do the same.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

There are several strategies I’d recommend when it comes to managing a team and keeping morale high. I’m especially inspired by the work of Brené Brown — she speaks so practically and powerfully to the idea that we’re all imperfect human beings doing our best, and that leadership is deeply human work.

Here are some of the key approaches I’ve found effective:

1. Have the uncomfortable conversations.
If you want to avoid things like employee turnover, toxic culture, gossip, low motivation, and poor productivity, you have to slow down and create space for honest dialogue. That includes talking about the emotional undercurrents — fear, uncertainty, lack of clarity, or frustration. When emotions are acknowledged, it becomes much easier to move forward together.

2. Inner work for leaders is non-negotiable.
Most work-related challenges are, at their root, personal. Without inner work, leadership becomes a mirror of unresolved insecurities, inner child wounds, relationship patterns, and self-trust issues. This work applies to team members as well. Our work relationships are never random — they’re part of our growth.

3. Let go of the old-school, authoritarian mindset.
A win-lose, fear-based, competitive culture kills creativity, growth, and personal accountability. It creates people-pleasing dynamics instead of true ownership. Shifting toward collaboration and mutual respect fosters innovation and trust.

4. Celebrate small wins and personal strengths.
Great leaders recognize and reflect their team’s strengths back to them. Uplifting others and consistently acknowledging their progress builds confidence and motivation. It’s not just about outcomes — it’s about the human behind the work.

5. Model healthy work-life balance.
We need to let go of the idea that self-worth comes from overworking or constant stress. As a leader, model boundaries: take time off, unplug from email, and respect non-working hours. Praise your team when they take care of themselves — it’s a sign of sustainability, not laziness.

6. Stay open and continue growing.
Leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers. Admitting when you don’t know something, asking for help, and leaning on your team’s strengths create a culture of resilience and shared ownership. Transparency — especially during tough times — builds trust. People can handle the truth, as long as it’s shared with calm and clarity.

Thank you for the opportunity to share with you today.
I’d love to gift the readers two opportunities:
1. If you want to assess your abundance mindset, head over here for a personal questionnaire https://www.mariyashiyko.love/AbundanceMindsetQuestionnaire
2. To release fear of success, consistently listen to this meditation practice https://www.mariyashiyko.love/release-fear-of-success

Enjoy,
Mariya

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mariyashiyko.love/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariyashiyko/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariyashiykophd/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariya-shiyko-phd/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/track/0FYP1fVPxnfXiWNGW7AWt6

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Image Credits

Alexandre Bwye
Marina Baklanova