Olesia Reznichenko and Yuliia Rudakova on the organization of the transformational games festival 'Your Move' in Düsseldorf

Olesia Reznichenko and Yuliia Rudakova are the Ukrainian founders of the transformational board game "Your Move". Each of them has a different professional focus – Olesia is an energy practitioner and MAC therapist, while Yuliia is a psychologist and the founder of the Academy for Transformational Game Facilitators. Despite their different backgrounds, they joined forces to create the "Your Move" transformational games festival. The festival's goal is to provide a space where people can not only have fun but also transform their lives through games. Your Move will take place in Düsseldorf on February 8. Olesia and Yuliia shared with Drive Music Media the story of how their collaboration began and the vision behind the festival.

Interviewer: How did the idea for the Your Move board game festival in Düsseldorf come about? What is the main concept of the event, and who can participate? Which professional gamers will be attending? Where can people buy tickets?

Olesia: The idea for the festival has been in my mind for a long time as I was looking for ways to bring people together through transformational games. This summer, I met Yuliia Rudakova when I joined her training program for transformational game facilitators. After completing the course, we had an inspiring conversation, and that’s when the idea of creating something in Düsseldorf that could unite people was born.

A little later, I traveled to Ukraine, where I attended a transformational games festival. The event was so inspiring that I realized we needed to organize something similar in Germany. When I returned, I called Yuliia, and after our discussion, we decided to take action. Of course, it was exciting and even a bit scary since everything was new and unfamiliar. But thanks to Yuliia’s support, we started working together on the Your Move project. The festival aims to create a space where people can not only have fun but also discover new perspectives, experience personal transformation, and connect with like-minded individuals.Tickets are available on our website and through social media.

Yuliia: We have invited colleagues, professionals from the helping fields, game practitioners, as well as experienced entrepreneurs and business consultants who will conduct business and financial games. All transformational games will be tailored to participants’ personal requests and goals, offering self-discovery, interaction, and valuable insights. The festival will feature around 20 different games led by 15 facilitators.

Interviewer: Olesia, how did your collaboration with Yuliia Rudakova begin?

Olesia: My collaboration with Yuliia Rudakova started when I came across her Instagram page, where she was presenting her game "Me and My Relationships". The game had such a profound impact on me that I reached out to Yuliia for training. After becoming a facilitator of her signature game, we met in person and discussed the idea of organizing a festival in Germany. Yuliia’s support was incredibly important to me, and our meeting became the catalyst for launching this project. We are passionate about giving people the opportunity to unlock their potential through games, transform their lives, and come together around shared values.

Interviewer: Besides the games, what else will be featured in the festival program?

Yuliia: The festival will include self-presentations from VIP guests and our partners, among whom are three major business clubs from NRW. Notably, our main business partner is Schutzer GmbH, a company founded by a Ukrainian entrepreneur 16 years ago. I will also host a special workshop for all festival guests titled "Leveling Up Through Games". In this session, I will delve deeper into the essence of transformational games from a psychological and scientific perspective. I’ll explain why personal growth through play is one of the easiest yet most effective methods and how a playful state of mind can be used to solve real-life challenges. Of course, there will be plenty of networking and meaningful connections. The emotional highlight of the evening will be a performance by a Ukrainian interactive Playback Theater. This unique show is created in the moment, bringing guests' real-life stories to life here and now. I am confident that this day will be an unforgettable experience for everyone!

Interviewer: Yuliia, tell us about your career in psychology and its role in the world of games. You are the creator of the game "Me and My Relationships". What is its main concept?

Yuliia: For over 16 years, I have been studying various branches of psychotherapy and practices focused on consciousness work. My specialization lies in relationships and personal potential development.

I work with entrepreneurs and individuals seeking growth. In reality, relationships and self-fulfillment are deeply interconnected, just like all other aspects of life. I incorporated my insights into the mechanics of my game "Me and My Relationships". The core idea of the game is to show players how they build relationships with the most important person in their lives – themselves. By improving this relationship, people can enhance all other areas of life, including: partnerships, career, relationships with parents and children, finances, business, and success.

For the past seven years, I have also specialized in group work and have been facilitating the psychological game Leela. This game was my first step into the world of transformational games, and it was love at first sight. A year ago, I founded the Academy for Transformational Game Facilitators, where I teach my unique methodology for working with groups and leading transformational games, using Leela and Me and My Relationships as examples. It was during one of these training sessions that I met Olesia, and she later became a facilitator of Me and My Relationships as well.

Interviewer: Olesia, at the event, you will be leading games. Tell us about this aspect of your journey – how challenging is it to engage an audience?

Olesia: I facilitate transformational games such as Leela, Me and My Relationships, and Money MBO. For me, this is not just a hobby – it’s a path that has profoundly changed my life. As a refugee who came to Germany, I went through difficult times. Transformational games, MAC therapy, and energy practices became my tools for overcoming depression and rebuilding my life. Now, I help people discover their inner resources, shift their perspectives on life, see new opportunities, and start taking action in a new way.

Is it difficult to engage the audience? Sometimes, yes, because many people don’t initially understand how games can impact their lives. It’s a new approach, and I often have to explain how these games can help shift perspectives on self-perception, the world, finances, or even relationships. My goal is to communicate the importance of these changes in a simple, accessible, and enjoyable way – through play. Over time, people begin to see how it works and start discovering new opportunities for themselves.

Interviewer: In addition to this, you are also a MAC therapist and energy practitioner. Can you tell us more about this side of your career?

Olesia: MAC therapy and energy practices became powerful tools that I felt were missing in my life. I studied extensively and gained experience by working with different people. MAC therapy helps individuals understand deeper internal processes and recognize their true needs, while energy practices help align energetic flows, release blockages, and restore harmony in both body and soul. These methods provide a profound opportunity to achieve inner balance and create positive changes in life.

Interviewer: How long will the festival last? Do you plan to organize it again in the future?

Olesia: The festival will start at 9:00 AM and end around 8:00 PM. We’ll begin with registration and introductions to the facilitators. The program will include games, lunch breaks, workshops, and a theatrical performance. And of course, we’ll conclude the festival with a memorable moment that will leave a lasting impression on everyone. We strongly believe that organizing events like this helps people not only transform themselves but also discover new collaborations and opportunities for growth. In the future, we plan to host even more events so that more people can experience this unique journey.

Interviewer: Tell us about previous festivals you have organized.

Yuliia: From 2015 to 2017, I organized five "Zen Time" festivals in Kyiv, each of which gathered between 300 and 500 attendees.

We even had billboards all over the city! I look back on this period with great warmth – it was filled with incredible people with open hearts and challenges that shaped me into who I am today. The uniqueness of such events is that they have soul. I believe "Your Move" is the same – it magically creates a space of possibilities and brings together extraordinary people!

Interviewer: Yuliia and Olesia, what is the main goal of your festival? What outcomes do you hope to achieve, and what message do you want to convey to participants?

Yuliia: We have several key goals.

Charity. Our event, along with myself and our main business partner Schutzer GmbH, has been supporting the Ukrainian orphan charity foundation Dobrosvit for over three years. We want to introduce more people to this important project. Government assistance is decreasing, but the number of children in need is not. Together, we can do more for them.

Community building. We aim to create a network that connects professionals from helping fields with the active, progressive audience of NRW, including: entrepreneurs, creators experts from various industries. This festival offers an opportunity for new connections, knowledge exchange, growth, and mutual support. We want each participant to find “their people” and trusted specialists.

Popularizing transformational board games. These games are a unique tool that helps people embark on a journey toward: self-discovery, mental well-being, personal growth, a happier and more conscious life. Together, we are creating a space for development, connection, and new opportunities!

Interviewer: What is one word that represents your work in the world of games?

Yuliia: Big-picture thinking.

Olesia: Balance through positive thinking. This isn’t just a phrase – it’s the essence of my work with games. Each one helps people find inner balance, understand how their mindset influences their lives, and shift their perspective on themselves and the world. I believe that positive thinking unlocks endless possibilities for transformation and harmony in life.

Pictures were taken by Alina Proroka