How Maryna Mazan Turned Loss into Purpose—and Built a Marketing Mission for the Planet

When your world shatters, what anchors you? For Maryna Mazan, it was the ocean. Displaced from her home in Ukraine by war, she found herself on the shores of Portugal, facing both despair and beauty. The waves became her refuge—and soon, the foundation for a purpose-driven business that would touch brands and communities worldwide.

Today, through MyOceanOne Inc., Maryna helps companies blend sustainability with business goals, proving that “even the smallest voices can create powerful change.”

From Survival to Starting Over

Maryna's entrepreneurial story didn’t begin with a business plan. It started with survival. Forced to leave behind everything she had built, she arrived in Portugal with little more than hope. "The ocean became my friend," Maryna recalls. "I saw the plastic, the oil, the damage—but also its beauty. I was transformed by that contrast."

After two years, she moved to the U.S., carrying only her resilience and a burning passion to marry conservation with marketing expertise. That passion gave rise to MyOceanOne Inc., a one-woman marketing firm dedicated to championing environmentally conscious brands through storytelling, community-driven initiatives, and eco-friendly marketing strategies.

Storytelling With Heart: The Core of MyOceanOne

For Maryna, sustainability is not a trend — it's a truth that must be told authentically. "Consumers today are smart. They don’t just want products; they want brands with purpose," she explains.

From supporting North Carolina’s Adopt-A-Highway program to helping small eco-startups amplify their voice, MyOceanOne’s projects stay deeply rooted in planet-first thinking. It’s her unique blend of strategic expertise and lived empathy — shaped by her own experience of rebuilding from scratch — that resonates with mission-driven brands seeking to create real change.

Battling the Waves of Challenge

Starting a business is tough. Starting one in a foreign country, with no connections, no community, and a new language to learn, is even tougher.

“There were moments I thought: maybe this is too much,” Maryna admits. “But the ocean taught me something — waves always come back stronger after they crash.”

Every setback — paperwork nightmares, financial stress, cultural hurdles — became fuel for her cause. Today, MyOceanOne stands quietly but firmly as an advocate for brands that dare to put purpose above profit.

Real Advice for Women Entrepreneurs

Maryna’s message to aspiring women leaders is refreshingly direct: "Start with what you love. Because the only thing that will get you through the difficult times is passion."

For her, success isn’t measured in viral posts or fundraising rounds. It's about the real impact — on clients, communities, and the cause.

And resilience? It’s not about being unbreakable. “It’s about always getting back up,” she says with a knowing smile.

Beyond Business: A Personal Mission

For Maryna Mazan, MyOceanOne isn't just a company. It’s a life mission—a testament to the power of hope, heart, and purpose.

From the beaches of Portugal to the vibrant streets of Monroe, USA, Maryna proves that even amid loss, we can build again. Not just businesses, but movements. Not just brands, but dreams.

Because in the end, her story reminds us that “healing and growth can start with one voice, one heart, and one unstoppable purpose.”

Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryna-mazan-myoceanone/

Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-ocean-one/