Ana was born in Kazakhstan and moved to Germany with her family when she was 10 years old. She earned a bachelor's degree in International Project Engineering from Reutlingen University and after graduating, moved to work in the United States as a project engineer.
As part of her work in the manufacturing world, Ana regularly went from a meeting room to the manufacturing floor but, unlike her male counterparts, had to excuse herself to change from office shoes into bulky work boots that never fit quite right. For Ana, the existing work boot options were uncomfortable, unprofessional and unappealing.
“I started this company out of my own frustration. How you present yourself and what you’re wearing has a major impact on your self-confidence. It’s already an uphill battle for women to fit into certain industries and a lack of confidence caused by awful workwear is an unnecessary barrier. Professional women deserve to feel their best when they’re on the job.”
Ana founded Xena Workwear and after exhaustive research, design, prototyping, and development launched her first steel-toe model in May, 2019. The Gravity safety shoe features a feminine design without compromising on any safety or functionality. Ana expedited and hand-delivered the first pair to a woman who desperately needed her zip-up Xenas after having shoulder surgery. This experience set the tone for Xena’s commitment to providing personal and unparalleled customer service.
“Looking at where Xena stands today, I couldn’t be happier, or more optimistic that we can make a difference. Join me on a journey to build a community of women leaders who will inspire young girls to step into any role with confidence."
Today, Ana is the CEO of Xena Workwear. She serves as a Committee Board member of ASTM International, advocating for the safety needs of women in STEM and the trades and is also on the Board of FMFM, a non-profit building stable food and water sources in East / West Africa.
