At the 22nd Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business, held Nov. 10 at the Marriott Marquis in New York, Ukrainian entrepreneur Oksana Tsvigun received a Gold Stevie Award for Most Innovative Woman in Business Services. The award recognizes her work in helping international founders navigate the complexities of entering and scaling in the U.S. market through her consultancy, OT Growth Labs, based in Los Angeles.
The Stevie Awards, considered among the world’s leading business honors for women executives and entrepreneurs, drew more than 1,500 entries from 48 countries this year. Tsvigun’s award highlights the growing demand for specialized guidance in e-commerce, compliance, and product launches as global brands compete for visibility and trust in the United States.
A Career Built Across Continents
Tsvigun’s path to the award spans nearly two decades and four regions. Before founding OT Growth Labs, she held leadership roles in Europe and Latin America, including at L’Oréal, Global Fashion Group, and Pandora Jewelry. Her career took an unexpected turn in 2022 when the war in Ukraine began while she was abroad, forcing her to rebuild her professional life in Panama and later again in Los Angeles.
Her move to the United States pushed her into the entrepreneurial space. She worked in growth leadership for a European Amazon accelerator and later co-created Pawgress, a natural pet supplement brand manufactured in the U.S. The experience proved formative in understanding how difficult the American market can be for foreign founders, even those with strong product ideas and experience.
“Launching a brand here requires a different mindset,” Tsvigun said in an interview. “The products, the compliance, the messaging – everything must be adapted. What works in Europe or Latin America does not automatically work in the U.S.”
Building a Consultancy for Founders Navigating the U.S. Market
OT Growth Labs was established based on those lessons. Tsvigun now collaborates with international founders to help them penetrate the U.S. market, offering support in areas like brand positioning, regulatory compliance, e-commerce strategy, and product development. Her consultancy closes gaps in understanding consumer behavior, labeling requirements, manufacturing standards, and marketplace dynamics. Her portfolio includes beauty and skincare brands, pet supplement innovations, wellness products, and numerous other high-growth consumer projects.
Judges of the Stevie Awards cited her ability to “translate global brand strategy into U.S.-specific success frameworks,” as well as her hands-on approach. Unlike many consultants, Tsvigun’s advisory work is grounded in operational experience. Her launch of Pawgress included formula development, sourcing U.S. manufacturing, packaging, label compliance, and overseeing the brand’s debut on Amazon.
A Win Rooted in Reinvention
Tsvigun regards the honor as a milestone in a journey marked by reinvention. Rebuilding her career twice—first in Panama without Spanish and then in Los Angeles without a professional network—shaped her approach to entrepreneurship.
“I am honored by this recognition,” she said. “For me, innovation comes from being willing to adapt, to start again when necessary, and to help others avoid the obstacles I faced.”
She credits her clients, collaborators, and broader professional community for contributing to the work recognized by the award.
Additional Honors and Recognition
In addition to her Gold Stevie win, Oksana was also recognized as a Bronze Winner – Woman of the Year in Business Services, honoring her results-oriented leadership, growth mindset, and category-defining accomplishments. She also received the Bronze Award for Female Solo Entrepreneur of the Year and Bronze for Female Entrepreneur of the Year, celebrated for launching a consulting business that provides faster execution, a stronger product-market fit, and greater operational impact than traditional agencies.
