For Viktorija Aksionova, mental wellness isn’t a side note to success – it’s the foundation of it. As the Founder and CEO of MindTales, a UAE-based digital mental wellness platform, she has built her life’s work around one belief: that growth starts from within.
“Lasting success – whether personal or professional – comes from nurturing both the mind and the mindset,” she says. “Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, every setback a lesson.”
Her journey into mental health innovation began not in a clinic, but in the corporate boardrooms of her earlier career. After more than a decade in asset management and tech entrepreneurship, Viktorija saw how even the most talented professionals struggled with burnout, low motivation, and stress. “Despite our success on paper, many of us were silently battling emotional exhaustion,” she recalls. “That’s when I realised mental health and mindset are deeply intertwined. How we think shapes how we live.”
That realisation became her turning point – and her mission. “A fixed mindset creates fear and self-doubt,” she explains. “It stops people from asking for help or seeing challenges as opportunities.” Determined to rewrite that narrative, she founded MindTales to make mental wellness support accessible, relatable, and culturally relevant across the MENA region.
Today, MindTales’ AI-powered tools, personalised wellness journeys, and corporate mental health programmes reach hundreds of thousands of users and leading UAE organisations, empowering individuals and teams to build resilience, empathy, and balance. “We’re helping people see that caring for your mind is not a weakness – it’s a strength,” she says.
MindTales is more than an app – it’s a movement to normalise conversations around mental health in workplaces and communities that once avoided them. One of Viktorija’s proudest milestones came when she saw UAE organisations begin to truly embrace mental health.
“After our workshops, employees started opening up about stress and burnout for the first time,” she shares. “That openness and empathy reaffirmed everything we stand for. It showed that change is possible when you create safe spaces for people to feel seen and supported.”
For Viktorija, the success of MindTales lies not just in data or reach, but in human transformation. “What motivates me most is seeing someone regain confidence or start prioritising their mental health because of what we built. That’s when you know the impact is real.”
Her career path hasn’t been without challenges. Leaving a stable corporate life to enter the mental health space – still considered taboo in parts of the region – was daunting. “There were moments of fear, doubt, and financial uncertainty,” she admits. “But reconnecting with my purpose kept me going. Strength isn’t about never falling – it’s about learning to rise with self-compassion.”
Viktorija’s personal mantra has since become the backbone of MindTales’ philosophy: empathy, continuous learning, and resilience. “Mental health isn’t a luxury – it’s a foundation for human potential,” she says. “When we nurture emotional wellbeing, we make wiser decisions, build stronger relationships, and lead with empathy.”
Looking ahead, Viktorija envisions a future where mental wellness is woven into everyday life – schools, workplaces, and policy. “In the next decade, we’ll see mental health move from reactive to proactive care,” she predicts. “It’ll be integrated into education and business strategies, supported by technology and cultural awareness.”
She hopes to lead that transformation through MindTales, making mental health tools inclusive, data-driven, and sustainable. “I want to help build a world where taking care of your mind is as natural as taking care of your body.”
As a woman and immigrant founder in industries often dominated by men, Viktorija knows what it takes to stand firm in your vision. “At times I faced bias and scepticism, especially pitching a wellness venture in regions where mental health is still stigmatized,” she says. “But my background helped me see things differently – to build solutions that are empathetic and inclusive.” Her advice to other women forging their paths is simple but profound: “Believe in your voice, even when it feels unheard. Stay authentic. Don’t be afraid to take up space. Vulnerability isn’t weakness – it’s leadership.”
She also advocates for systemic change – more inclusion, mentorship, and capital for women founders. “Women bring empathy and lived experience to innovation. When we’re at the table, solutions become more human.”
What Viktorija hopes to leave behind isn’t just a successful company – it’s a movement. “I want to help shape a world where emotional wellbeing is not just a goal but a way of life,” she says.
Her billboard to the world would read: “Prioritise your mind – it’s the foundation of everything.”
And true to her spirit of connection, she encourages women in the UAE to join communities like WE Convention, Middle East Women’s Leadership Network (MEWLN), and TiE Women MENA, which offer mentorship, networking, and growth opportunities.
“Take care of your mind,” Viktorija says with conviction. “It’s the source of your strength, clarity, and purpose – and the key to creating change that lasts.”
