Summary
AI Lawrence
The conversation opens with Yuliia “Jules” Kovtun introducing herself and explaining why she is sometimes known by two different surnames. She talks about living in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, and her connections within the WordPress community, including colleagues and friends such as Lana Miro and Anna Hurko. Jules describes the extraordinary effort required for Ukrainians to attend WordPress events abroad, recounting the 36-hour journey by bus, train, and car to reach WordCamp Athens because commercial flights are unavailable during the war. Despite the hardships, she remains deeply involved in the international WordPress community and values the friendships it has provided.
Much of the conversation focuses on what daily life is like in a city under constant threat of Russian attacks. Jules explains that there are no practical bomb shelters near her, so she relies on mobile apps and Telegram channels that warn residents about incoming missiles and drones. She describes living with first-aid kits, tourniquets, lanterns, and emergency supplies in every room, while her fiancé serves as a combat medic. Although these precautions have become routine, she reflects on how surreal modern warfare feels and how Ukrainians have adapted to living with constant uncertainty and danger.
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Jules also shares her personal story, including two previous marriages and her current relationship with Alex, whom she met on Tinder during the war. She explains that her first marriage ended because they married too young, while her second ended amid the stresses of war, alcoholism, and an unsupportive partner. Today she hopes to marry Alex and is considering adoption rather than having biological children, citing both her turbulent life and the many Ukrainian children who have lost parents during the war. Throughout the discussion she speaks candidly about family expectations, growing up as an only child, and the pressure her parents placed on her to succeed and eventually care for them.
Professionally, Jules describes her seven-year career at Crocoblock, where she has worked in numerous roles ranging from video production and customer support to quality assurance, marketing, and client communication. Although she has a background teaching English and studying literature, including research into C. S. Lewis’s science fiction and Christian themes, she explains that her academic training developed analytical skills that now help her work with AI and solve problems in the technology industry. She emphasizes that success in WordPress does not always require deep technical expertise but rather adaptability, communication, and a willingness to learn.
The interview concludes with an honest discussion about mental health, language, and the future. Jules reveals that she lived with depression for nearly a decade before seeking treatment and now openly discusses taking medication for anxiety and depression, hoping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. She also talks about learning English from an early age, overcoming the fear of speaking it imperfectly, and appreciating the international volunteers who have learned Ukrainian while helping her country. Before the interview ends, she recommends several WordPress community members as future guests and expresses hope that, once the war ends, she will be able to travel freely, explore more of Ukraine, and finally visit the United States.