Wiola Stasieluk
Founder and CEO, IO Ready
Wiola is an analyst, advocate for youth employment among marginalized groups, and founder of IO READY - International Organizations Ready. She has held significant roles at institutions such as the European Union Delegation in Kenya, where she focused on political and security analysis, and the UNODC in South Africa, where her work centered on HIV/AIDS prevention, human rights, and health policies. In her most recent role at the OECD, Wiola served as a Policy Analyst on the Crises and Fragility Team, leading key projects on gender and development in fragile states and contributing to the flagship States of Fragility 2022 report.
Motivated by her desire to contribute more directly to UN Sustainable Development Goal 8—which promotes youth employment, economic equality, and equal opportunities—Wiola founded IO READY. This social impact enterprise offers tailored coaching services, including a Career Coaching Programme designed to equip individuals with the skills and strategies needed to secure jobs in international organizations (IOs) and NGOs. Through this initiative, she empowers young professionals, especially women, to thrive in global careers and contribute to sustainable development.
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Wiola has been a passionate advocate for youth employment, championing initiatives that prepare young professionals to succeed in today's competitive job market. Her work consistently bridges the gap between emerging talent and opportunities in IOs, with a special focus on economic equality and career development for marginalized groups.
She holds a Master’s degree in International Security from the prestigious Sciences Po Paris, specializing in diplomacy and African affairs, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Swahili from SOAS, University of London. Her hands-on experience studying and working in Poland, Kenya, Tanzania, France, UK and Ghana further enriches her global perspective.
What is my story?
As someone who came from a small town in eastern Poland, had no exposure to the world of international organisations, received Polish education in public schools, learned English as a foreign language, and had parents with no connections or even the knowledge of English to help with my university and career choices, I managed to get experiences of working for the EU, UN and the OECD – all top choices for most people aspiring to have a career in international organisations.
Having a cultural diplomacy event as an EU representative and entertaining diplomats from the Polish embassy in Nairobi, Kenya
Why did I create IO Ready?
After spending YEARS of trying to figure out how to get into IOs, understood that 80% of information about the job market is unsaid, unpublished, unofficial.
YES, even at the UN, where recruitment processes are supposed to be ‘transparent’, ‘equal’
and ‘non-discriminative’.
That is, only the privileged few (the ones with diplomatic or well-connected parents, those who manage to get into elite schools, and those who can afford to do unpaid internships) have access to crucial information about getting jobs in IOs/NGOs.
Basically, until you’re ‘IN’ you will not know HOW to get in.
It is very much the chicken and an egg situation, huh?
That is why I am here to help you.
I was in your exact spot a couple of years ago and I made it my mission to empower people in accelerating their dream careers in IOs/NGOs- helping YOU get where you want to be much faster than I did!
The most memorable moments of my career
Working for the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, during Paris Peace Forum in 2018 and hanging with a bunch of presidents.
Paris Peace Forum, 2018
When I said that I was sitting next to a "bunch" of presidents, I really meant it.
Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti
Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya (2018)
Me, bad hair day
Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of the Congo
Hassan Ali Joho, Governor of Mombasa County (2018)