Today we’d like to introduce you to Halyna Proskurina.
Hi Halyna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like so many of us, I lived on coffee — until the jitters, restless nights, and that anxious mid‑afternoon buzz became too much to ignore. Plus, my favorite morning coffee on an empty stomach disrupts the process of iron absorption throughout the day.
I didn’t want to give up the ritual, though: the warmth of the cup, the bold roasty aroma, that satisfying first sip. I’d tried caffeine free coffee and caffeine free tea, but nothing quite scratched that “real coffee” itch.
So I started experimenting. After months of testing recipes in my own kitchen, I discovered that chicory root could deliver everything I loved about coffee — the depth, the slight bitterness, the way it plays beautifully with a splash of creamer — without a drop of caffeine, with none of the acid that had been wreaking havoc on my body, and with the added bonus of gentle soluble fiber support.
That kitchen experiment became Vallee de Galene (The Valley of Peace) — a chicory concentrate crafted for anyone who has ever felt like their coffee habit was working against them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I run into obstacles at every stage, and I take that as part of the process and growth. If the road were perfect, it would not feel real and inspiring to me.
It all started with choosing a name. We tested more than 50 options—trying to find something creative, distinctive from competitors, not already trademarked, and true to what we stand for. We went from “A Sip for a Gnome” to “Gardens of Gaia” and everything in between, and eventually we landed on the one “Vallee de Galene”, Galene- is derived from my name, and in Greek it means “calm*—which turned out to be exactly the feeling I wanted the brand to carry.
Then there was the logo. I found a designer with an incredible portfolio—someone who specialized in beverage identity and was based in Utah. We had a couple calls, I paid the deposit, and he started sending concepts and drafts… and then he disappeared. To this day I don’t know what happened, but he stopped responding to calls, emails, and messages.
Then oil prices rose, and shipping costs jumped with them. That changed our partnership rates across the U.S. and internationally. If we had shipped just one week earlier, we could have avoided that increase.
And on top of everything, our product is made in Kyiv under the constant threat of enemy drone attacks. That is exactly why it means so much to us.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have always been close to product creation and sales, but I had never built a brand of my own. This is my first time stepping into that role, and it is both humbling and energizing.
Before maternity leave, I developed Ukrainian furniture brands, leading product creation, marketing, network growth, and export. I was fortunate to achieve real results, selling internationally to clients such as American basketball players, Google’s headquarters, and high-end homes of movie stars.
After seven years, though, I realized success is not enough when curiosity is gone. The work no longer felt new, and I could not see a bigger challenge ahead. So I chose to begin again.
Today I am in a completely different industry, but the skills that shaped me are the same: solving hard problems, building strong relationships, and creating a product I can stand behind. Wins and setbacks are both part of the path, and I keep moving forward.
In an unexpected way, maternity leave became a pause that gave me space to listen to what I truly wanted. It opened a door to a new horizon, and I decided to walk through it.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
My biggest inspiration is a simple phrase: the winner takes it all.
I believe you cannot achieve anything without taking risks.
But I am not brutally reckless. I always listen to my heart: Is this a risk worth taking, or not?
My partner analyzes everything with logic, and I feel it with my intuition.
Do we jump, or do we stay?
I have faced this moment many times.
People around me have said, “No, don’t do it. It’s too risky.”
But when I hear that quiet whisper inside, no argument can stop me.
Because I truly believe success in any area depends on which fears you are willing to walk through.
Pricing:
- 24.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valleedegalene.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vallee_de_galene/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19LBRZU9sm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
