Meet Clara Kaluderovic

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Clara Kaluderovic a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Clara, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.

I’ve been competitive for as long as I can remember, always striving to do better, to be better. That drive has been my greatest motivator in taking risks. I didn’t set out to become someone who embraces risk; I just wanted to succeed, and sometimes that meant stepping outside of my comfort zone.

Of course, I’ve had moments where things didn’t go according to plan. But for every risk that didn’t pay off, there’s a moment when it did—and those moments taught me to focus on what could go right, instead of dwelling on everything that might go wrong. Yes, you have to prepare for what might not work, but if you only focus on the negatives, you’ll never move forward.

In the world of startups and technology, success is a constant process of shifting, adapting, and rebuilding. Losses aren’t easy, but I’ve learned to see my goals as evolving, rather than fixed points where you either win or lose. It’s not about an all-or-nothing outcome; it’s about the journey, the changes, and finding success in unexpected ways.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I work in the ever-evolving world of AI and data, focusing on how we can use technology to bridge the growing digital gaps in underserved regions. The most exciting part of what I do is figuring out how to make AI a positive force in society—how to build it ethically, thoughtfully, and in ways that truly help people, all while ensuring it’s powered sustainably.

Lately, my team and I have been especially energized by a nonprofit initiative we’re developing that uses AI and big data to tackle the mental health crisis in Ukraine. With the overwhelming demand for psychological support—particularly among soldiers, veterans, and civilians—there’s an urgent need for accessible care. That’s where our AI-powered nonprofit platform will come in. We will offer free, round-the-clock mental health support in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, seamlessly integrating with existing services to ensure people get the right level of care. Whether it’s connecting them to NGOs, therapists, or other professionals, we aim to help fill the gaps in Ukraine’s mental health infrastructure.

But what makes this project even more exciting is the big picture. Our vision is to expand this AI model globally, bringing it to other countries and translating it into additional languages to make mental health support accessible everywhere. We’ll gather opted-in, anonymized data to support research that could shape future health policies—not just in Ukraine but in other regions affected by conflict or crisis. By analyzing patterns in mental health needs, we hope to improve public health and social support systems on a global scale.

At the heart of it all, we believe that mental health support is a basic right, and it should be available to everyone who needs it, no matter where they are or if they can afford it.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say the first quality that made a huge difference was learning the value of teamwork. It’s a bit of a cliché, I know, but I used to hate group projects in school. I always thought working with others would just slow me down. What I didn’t realize was that collaborating with different people, perspectives, and ideas actually leads to stronger, more resilient outcomes. The people I work with today push me to improve, adapt to feedback, and develop skills I never had before.

The second thing would be open-mindedness. Whether it’s about someone’s nationality or political beliefs, I’ve learned that good ideas can come from anywhere. I’ve worked around the world, and you’ll find brilliant people with innovative ideas everywhere—just as you’ll find not-so-great ones, too. In a time when politics seems more divided than ever, being able to listen to ideas that challenge your own beliefs can change your perspective. You don’t get the best outcomes by shutting out half of the conversation.

And finally, always be thankful. Whether it’s thanking the person working the front desk at a hotel or showing appreciation to an investor, gratitude goes a long way. You never know what your thanks might mean to someone, and it often comes back to you in ways you wouldn’t expect. Going the extra mile to express gratitude never hurts—and sometimes, it can change everything.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

As we expand our nonprofit work in Ukraine, we’re absolutely looking for collaboration. Whether you’re a mental health professional, economist, researcher, IT expert, policy specialist, or just someone who wants to make the world a little better, we’d love to hear from you. The more diverse perspectives and expertise we can bring together, the better we can adapt and meet the needs of the people we’re trying to help. It’s all about combining forces to create something meaningful.

We’re also actively seeking grants and donations to help support and grow this initiative. Every contribution goes directly toward improving access to mental health care in Ukraine and beyond.

If you’re interested in collaborating or supporting us, please reach out at clara@mentalhelp.global—we’d love to connect and explore how we can work together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mentalhelp.global/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarakalud/