In this episode of Expats Unpacked, we sit down with Ekaterina Korneeva, Enterprise Customer Success Manager at Wrike and a passionate advocate for using technology to drive global impact. Speaking from Digital Tree Studios in Nicosia, Kate opens up about her journey from St. Petersburg to Cyprus, the meaning of “home,” and how her work intersects with everything from AI to NGO strategy.

When Ekaterina first moved to Cyprus three years ago, she expected it to be temporary; a relocation tied to Wrike’s expanding presence on the island. But despite the summer heat, she fell in love with the quality of life, supportive community, and slower pace. Today, she calls Cyprus home and is even learning Greek, embracing local life from her scenic balcony in Nicosia. 

Ekaterina’s professional life bridges high-performance SaaS environments and grassroots development work. While managing major enterprise clients at Wrike, she also volunteers her skills with NGOs, including Health & Help in Latin America and the United Nations’ Youth4Climate initiative. For her, avoiding burnout is about alignment, using her professional capabilities to fuel purpose-driven projects and seeing real-world results, like increased patient outreach or successful grant applications.

“I believe you avoid burnout when there’s purpose behind your work,” she says. “And when your skills make a difference.”

Ekaterina didn’t come from a traditional tech background, but her career proves there’s room in the industry for those with people skills, strategic thinking, and a desire to learn. As a Customer Success Manager, she describes herself as part educator, part consultant, and part revenue guardian, helping clients navigate Wrike’s platform to drive renewals and growth.

Her message to young women eyeing careers in tech is clear: “You don’t need to code to thrive in IT. Communication, empathy, and structure are just as valuable.”

Tools like AI-based telemedicine in Latin America or Google’s use of satellite data for climate forecasting as examples of technology at its best. Ekaterina even uses AI to enhance her mentorship work, speeding up proposal reviews and helping NGOs fine-tune their budgets.

“AI can’t replace people, but it can amplify what we do — especially in places where resources are scarce,” she notes.

Whether mentoring young leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa or participating in Cyprus-based women-in-tech events, Ekaterina thrives at the intersection of local and global. She encourages expats to engage with the Cypriot community and sees Nicosia — often overlooked in favor of the coast — as a hub of possibility, especially for families and professionals looking for balance.

To young girls aspiring to leadership roles, Kate says the first step is expanding what you think is possible. “Some barriers only exist in your mind. If you’ve never heard of working with koalas in Australia, you won’t dream of it, but the moment it’s in your universe, it becomes real.”

Watch the full episode of Expats Unpacked on YouTube and get inspired by Ekaterina Korneeva’s journey.