Alla Iutkina: Ukrainian Hotelier and Financial Expert Joins Global Jury Defining Women's Leadership in 2025

SAN FRANCISCO – When ISOUL Global Women’s Association assembled its jury for the 2025 Women Leadership Award ceremony on October 25, the panel included several well-known Silicon Valley professionals. Among them was Alla Iutkina – a business leader with over two decades of executive experience in banking and hospitality.

As Founder and CEO of the Ambassador Plaza Hotel in Kyiv, Alla Iutkina joined the international jury with credentials covering top banking positions and hands-on entrepreneurship. Based in San Francisco, she operates her Kyiv-based hotel business remotely and advises companies, banks, and insurance institutions in Ukraine. Her dual presence across the U.S. and Eastern Europe positions her as a bridge between two business ecosystems – bringing Silicon Valley efficiency to emerging markets and channeling Ukrainian resilience into global entrepreneurship. Her participation reflects the broader trend: evaluating women’s leadership by measurable impact and financial durability rather than fundraising alone.

Professional Background in Banking and Management

 

Alla Iutkina’s professional foundation was built in Ukraine’s banking sector, where she served as Deputy Chair and Acting Chair of the Board at leading financial institutions. These positions meant evaluating enterprises across financial sustainability, investment potential, management quality, and strategic effectiveness. Beyond her executive roles, Iutkina provides strategic consulting for enterprises, banks, and insurance companies, focusing on financial analysis, business planning, and investment readiness. Her expertise helps institutions design sustainable financial products and guides entrepreneurs in building resilient business models that can withstand economic turbulence.

“In any evaluation process, I focus on long-term stability and adaptability,” she says. “Leadership that endures economic shifts often tells more than short-term success metrics.”

That lens informed her work at the ISOUL Women’s Leadership Awards, which featured seven categories: Global Visionary Leader, Innovator of the Year, Impact Creator, Rising Star (Under 35), Investor in Women, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Impact in Women’s Lives. Iutkina served as a jury member for Entrepreneur of the Year.

 

From Finance to Hospitality Leadership

 

After banking, Alla Iutkina founded the Ambassador Plaza Hotel in the capital-intensive world of boutique hospitality. The hotel operates as an independent hospitality enterprise in Kyiv, known for its consistent service standards. In 2021 she earned recognition as Entrepreneur of the Year.

“Hospitality taught me what banking couldn’t – that every decision affects real people, every day,” Iutkina shares. “You see the results of your management immediately. There’s no quarterly report to hide behind.”

Entrepreneur of the Year required judges who understand both financial metrics and human systems – a rare combination. Iutkina’s own path, bridging Eastern European resilience and a Silicon Valley mindset, shaped how she evaluated modern entrepreneurship.

Multi-Dimensional Evaluation Experience

 

 

Alla Iutkina previously served on the jury for Ukraine’s National “Quality Mark” Award, assessing companies across innovation, service excellence, reputation, compliance, and social responsibility.

“When I evaluate a business, I look beyond the pitch deck,” Alla Iutkina explains. “Can they manage cash flow during a crisis? Do they build teams that stay? These questions matter more than growth projections.”

The ISOUL ceremony unfolded against a hard reality: female founders continue receiving less than 2% of venture capital funding nationally. ISOUL has built what founder Jane Milovanova calls “parallel infrastructure”- connecting 4,000+ women entrepreneurs across 28 countries. The October 25 ceremony brought together over 100 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators with combined global reach exceeding 20 million followers.

The finalists came from many continents and fields, from health tech and finance to education, design, and social innovation, each with their own story of resilience and vision. Among them was Kateryna Latysheva, founder of SenSpace, represented both Ukraine and the United States with her new approach to sensory integration for children with autism. She created a system that connects modern science with everyday caregiving. This system helps families turn research into real progress. What started as her personal project has grown into an international method known for its clear results and emotional impact. Her nomination showed ISOUL’s forward-thinking spirit, honoring women whose skills change industries and whose ideas shape the future of inclusive entrepreneurship.

Scholar, Educator, Strategic Advisor

Beyond executive and entrepreneurial roles, Iutkina created “The Art of Boutique Hospitality” – a comprehensive educational program and upcoming online course designed for aspiring hoteliers and entrepreneurs. Alla Iutkina also brings academic experience, having taught university-level courses for future entrepreneurs and developed educational programs in finance, management, and hospitality. She also holds three Master’s degrees: International Economic Relations, Law, and Special Education.

“Education in Special Education changed how I lead,” says Alla Iutkina. “You learn that one approach doesn’t work for everyone. The same principle applies in business – you can’t manage a hotel like a bank, or evaluate a healthcare startup like a fintech company.”

For a jury evaluating 4,000 women across 28 countries – many operating where formal business education is limited – that perspective mattered.

Cross-Sector Expertise for Complex Challenges

Alla Iutkina’s expertise spans financial institutions, hospitality operations, educational program development, and investment strategy advisory. She understands capital as banker evaluating risk, entrepreneur raising it, advisor helping others secure it, and educator teaching the next generation.

The 2025 jury also included serial entrepreneurs Aliia Roza, Marina Mogilko, and Daria Shapovala. Together, they reviewed applications from ISOUL Ambassadors, Contributors, Partners, Speakers, and Residents throughout September and October.

Evaluating What Actually Lasts

“We asked ourselves: who creates value that survives market changes?” Alla Iutkina notes about the jury process. “That meant looking at profit margins, team retention, customer satisfaction – not just user growth or funding rounds.”

ISOUL operates with its own governance structure including five regional presidents and over 200 resident members. The organization has hosted over 220 annual events at venues including Google headquarters. Recent NY Weekly coverage highlighted ISOUL’s focus on “fostering both personal and professional growth” for entrepreneurs creating “meaningful change on a global scale.”

Winners received international media recognition and opportunities for speaking engagements and mentorship on global stages. The ceremony included structured networking sessions and direct jury access.

 

About ISOUL Global Women’s Association

Founded to redefine women’s leadership metrics beyond visibility and fundraising, ISOUL celebrates measurable impact – growth sustained through innovation, collaboration, and purpose.

ISOUL connects 4,000+ women entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders across 28 countries. Founded in Silicon Valley, the organization hosts 220+ annual events. For more information, visit https://isoul.space/en/

 

About Alla Iutkina

Alla Iutkina is the Founder and CEO of the Ambassador Plaza Hotel in Kyiv. Based in San Francisco, she operates her Ukrainian business remotely while advising companies, banks, and insurance institutions.

She has over two decades of executive experience in banking and finance, having served as Deputy Chair and Acting Chair of the Board at leading Ukrainian financial institutions. For more than 20 years, Iutkina has provided financial consulting to enterprises – analyzing business plans, evaluating investment strategies, and helping design sustainable financial products.

In recent years, Iutkina has focused on attracting U.S. investments into Ukrainian businesses, helping connect American capital with credible enterprises in need of growth funding. Her work strengthens cross-border collaboration and builds financial bridges that support Ukraine’s long-term economic recovery.

Iutkina is the creator of The Art of Boutique Hospitality – an educational program and upcoming online course for aspiring hoteliers and entrepreneurs. She has also taught university-level courses, authored academic publications, and served as a reviewer for educational and scientific works in finance and hospitality.

She holds three Master’s degrees in International Economic Relations, Law, and Special Education, and has served as a jury member for Ukraine’s National Quality Mark Award.

About the author

Maya Ellington is a business and leadership correspondent who writes about global entrepreneurship, women-led innovation, and the evolving dynamics of cross-border markets. With a focus on emerging ecosystems, strategic leadership, and impact-driven enterprise growth, she covers stories that highlight resilience, financial sustainability, and the future of international business.