Ep 114: Resilience and People-First Leadership with Oksana Lukash
In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Oksana Lukash, Chief People Officer, business owner, and leadership advisor with more than 20 years of experience helping teams scale, navigate chaos, and build cultures where people can thrive.
Oksana shares her powerful journey as an immigrant who grew up during the fall of the Soviet Union, spent formative years separated from her mother, and later rebuilt her life in the United States. She also speaks candidly about becoming a teen mom, navigating divorce and blended family life, and how those lived experiences shaped her approach to leadership.
Together, Lola and Oksana explore what it means to lead with humanity, build cultures that last, and grow your career through value — not just time in role.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- Oksana’s immigration story and how resilience shaped her leadership style
- Becoming a teen mom and navigating career growth simultaneously
- The pivotal manager who gave her a chance — and why mentorship matters
- Why career growth is about impact and value, not tenure
- How to build your voice beyond your employer’s brand
- Treating people the way they need to be treated
- Why culture is difficult to replicate — and why it matters more than ever
- Practical advice for professionals looking to advance in today’s workplace
About Our Guest
Oksana Lukash is a Chief People Officer, business owner, and leadership advisor who’s spent 20+ years helping teams scale, survive chaos, and actually enjoy working together. She blends strategy with psychology, candor with compassion, and believes culture is the only real competitive advantage.
When she’s not building high-performing teams, she’s challenging leaders to think bigger, speak up, and stop settling for mediocrity.
Connect with Oksana
Website: https://oksanalukash.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksusha45/
Business: People, Culture, You, LLC
Connect with Lola
Dr. Lola Adeyemo is the CEO of EQI Mindset and founder of Immigrants in Corporate. She partners with organizations to build cultures of belonging through ERGs, strategy, and storytelling.
Website: https://www.drlola-adeyemo.com
Community: https://www.immigrantsincorporate.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlolaadeyemo/
🎧 Want to take a deeper dive and engage?
Listen now and reflect via Substack.
What lessons from your journey are shaping how you lead today?