We’re looking forward to introducing you to Oksana Gruzdyn. Check out our conversation below.
Oksana, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
While working with hundreds of clients globally in our practice at Viktoriya and Oksana LLC, one thing I learn is that most people are quietly battling people-pleasing—and it’s far more common than you realize.
On the surface, someone might seem confident or in control, but underneath, they’re bending themselves to fit what others expect.
They’re seeking approval, adjusting their decisions to avoid judgment, or second-guessing themselves constantly.
Few will admit it, even to themselves, because it feels “normal” to care what others think.
I see it all the time with high-achievers who aren’t yet in that .01% of ultra-successful individuals.
For instance, I worked with a talented founder who had already achieved multiple successful exits.
Outwardly, he seemed unstoppable, but he was struggling with fatigue and low energy, and his health was quietly holding him back from taking the next big step in his business.
Once he recognized that his own wellbeing needed to come first—and that leaning on his internal compass rather than pushing through exhaustion was essential—he prioritized his health, made a bold, high-stakes move, and it paid off.
The lesson is clear: neglecting your own body and energy quietly limits what you can achieve, and the people who thrive are those who align their health, mindset, and decisions with clarity and purpose.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My twin sister Viktoriya and I grew up in Ukraine in a very small apartment.
When our family moved to the U.S., our father arrived with only $300.
There was no master plan—just a lot of work, uncertainty, and adaptation.
That background shaped how we think. We’re practical. We don’t romanticize struggle.
We just learned early that progress comes from consistency and problem-solving.
I went into science because I wanted to understand how the human body actually works.
By my mid-twenties, I was running a research lab, and since 2010 I’ve co-authorized more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific journals.
The work was meaningful—but I became frustrated by how disconnected academic research can be from real people’s lives.
So Viktoriya and I built a model that applies science directly to humans in front of us. Not protocols. Not trends. Real feedback, daily guidance, and long-term thinking about cellular health and longevity. That’s when we started our health practice at Viktoriya and Oksana LLC.
We’ve worked with people around the world and have seen what happens when the body is supported correctly—clients who were once bedridden regain function. Not through hype. Through structure, biology, and persistence.
We’re now focusing more locally in South Florida.
Our goal is simple: help people understand that longevity isn’t cosmetic and it isn’t mystical. It’s built.
Outside of work, Viktoriya spends time in the ocean filming sharks. I dance salsa.
We care about movement, energy, and staying curious.
We’re scientists. We’re twins.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
In my experience, bonds between people often break when expectations aren’t clear or aligned.
High performers are chasing big goals, and sometimes they assume the people around them “just get it.”
But when those assumptions aren’t met, frustration and resentment build.
Another big factor is poor communication.
Avoiding hard conversations might feel easier in the moment, but over time it erodes trust.
People also let stress, career pressures, or outside noise—like social media and cultural messages—interfere with the relationship.
Emotional disconnection sneaks in, and suddenly the bond feels weaker.
On the flip side, bonds are restored when people invest intentionally in each other.
That means truly supporting and caring for each other’s goals and making space for the relationship, even when life gets hectic.
Honest, direct communication is crucial—it’s not always comfortable, but it’s what builds real understanding.
And showing up consistently, even in small ways, goes a long way.
Relationships thrive when both people are present, aligned, and intentional about keeping the connection alive.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering teaches you something that success simply can’t: it shows you what really matters—and who you really are—when everything is stripped away.
Success feels good, it brings recognition, rewards, even power, but it doesn’t test your resilience, your patience, or your ability to stay grounded when things fall apart.
Take one of my clients, a 7-figure entrepreneur, for example.
She was diagnosed with arthritis, and the pain and limitations could have easily discouraged her.
But instead of letting it stop her, she leaned on the same qualities that had made her a 1% high performer: discipline, focus, and an unshakable mindset.
She approached her health like she approaches her business challenges—strategically, intentionally, and with relentless determination.
Through our program and working with us 1 on 1, she applied her mindset to her healing, and remarkably, she recovered faster than most would have expected, using the experience as fuel rather than frustration.
Through suffering, you learn humility, empathy, and the importance of presence.
You realize that achievements are fleeting, but how you respond to challenges—how you show up for yourself and others in moments of pain—is what defines you.
Success can shine a spotlight on talent or skill but suffering shines a light on character.
In short, success teaches you what you can do, suffering teaches you who you are. And that knowledge is far more lasting.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that showing emotions as a leader was a weakness—that if I wanted to be respected, I had to keep my feelings under tight control and appear “unstoppable” at all times.
I thought intensity, vulnerability, or fatigue were liabilities that would undermine credibility.
Working with high-performing clients has completely changed my view.
Not many of us are truly brave enough to let people see who we are and how we feel.
Most people put on a show, hiding behind a persona of someone doing fine—even when they are quietly suffering.
Women, in particular, often carry work, family, and household responsibilities while making it seem effortless, all while feeling exhausted and depleted.
One of my clients, a mother of two running a 7-figure business, perfectly illustrates this.
She was used to doing everything herself and believed that showing fatigue, brain fog, or difficulty losing weight was a sign of weakness.
On the outside, she smiled, handled everything, and seemed unstoppable.
On the inside, she was anxious, exhausted, and unsupported. “Each day I came home from work, I would cry in my car because I didn’t want my family to see me in so much pain,” she told me.
When we started working together, she realized she didn’t have to be titanium.
She began letting others see her struggles, asking for help when she needed it, and owning her emotions instead of hiding them.
Her health, energy, and focus improved dramatically, and she became a more inspiring and magnetic leader.
What could have been discouragement became fuel—because she already had the mindset, resilience, and discipline of a 1% high performer.
Now I see clearly that emotions aren’t the problem—unmanaged emotions are.
When channeled intentionally, vulnerability, intensity, and emotional honesty become superpowers—they strengthen leadership, deepen relationships, and fuel real performance.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I think most people underestimate how much our inner mindset drives outcomes—more than skill, talent, or even effort.
Many assume that working harder or being “better” is enough, but the truth is, the stories we tell ourselves, the assumptions we carry, and the emotional patterns we repeat have a huge impact on results.
For example, I worked with a client—who was technically brilliant and hardworking, but he kept hitting invisible ceilings in his career.
Every time an opportunity came up, he would unconsciously doubt himself, over-apologize, or shrink back in meetings.
Once we uncovered those patterns and he learned to consciously reframe his mindset and show up with confidence, doors he’d been waiting for suddenly opened. He hadn’t changed his skills—he changed how he allowed himself to show them.
That’s what most people miss: it’s not always what you do, it’s how you show up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://viktoriyaandoksana.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/viktoriyaandoksana
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktoriyaandoksana/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viktoriyaandoksana
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Viktoriyaandoksana
Image Credits
Irvin Rivera
