Yevhenii Bombela is the epitome of a go-getter, having risen from a project manager to a COO over his 12 years in the IT industry. Now, from the height of his achievements, he’s looking to show the world the value of AI as a business tool and prove it’s more than a trend.
Having been a partner in a software company that worked closely with medical businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Yevhenii has witnessed firsthand how important technology is. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he was forced to relocate to the United States. Here, he set his sights on the real estate business, noting that this industry is still not using modern solutions to their full potential, lacking AI automation among other things.
Drawing on his extensive experience working with IT solutions across multiple countries, Yevhenii is now developing his own AI product for the service industry. Understanding the cultural codes of Europe and North America, he sees an opportunity to enhance the quality of customer interactions. His story is one of finding new perspectives through personal expertise and developing internationally viable solutions.
In this interview with AllTech Magazine, Yevhenii opens up about the challenges of matching AI to a diverse range of customers, finding resources and approaches half a world away from home, and seeing through the hype to find the core value of AI technologies.
Q1: Let’s start with a recap of sorts. You began your IT career all the way back in 2013 as a project manager for a San Diego company, combining Ukrainian staff with US-based ones, working with international clients. Was this a tough cultural mix to navigate? What did you learn about the respective markets of these countries?
Yevhenii Bombela: It was certainly a bit unusual, especially as my first foray into IT, but, with the perspective of all these years, I see it as a wholly positive experience. Of course there were challenges, with some cultural clashes and time zone navigation issues, but it’s a given. On the other hand, the experience of working with these starkly different mentalities has shown me how much room there is to innovate and solve issues that I never even considered before. For instance, the cost of talent is a significant issue for US companies, whereas Ukrainian businesses are more concerned with the high competition and unstable environment.
Q2: Now, you became a COO in 2017, which gave you a bit of a different perspective from a management position. In your opinion, how has the IT landscape changed since then, both for someone high up and the average employee? Have companies optimized their operations?
Yevhenii Bombela: Well, for one, it was a pretty swift rise, and what it meant practically is that I went from being just a level above some employees to being way above the same people. As a result, I could see how this promotion can skew someone’s perspective. When you’re “on the ground level”, you directly see who’s doing what and can easily spot problems or opportunities. In my opinion, way too many C-level executives fall into the trap of only ever seeing the macro picture, and this is something I believe has only worsened up to now. Meanwhile, the average employee, in my view, is under more pressure to perform because they’re competing internally, with AI tools, and with the expectations of executives.
As for optimization, as an AI believer, I can confidently say that some companies have refined their operations in a significant way. But then others are still either bogged down in micromanagement or have a persistent desire to stick to their traditional ways. Although it may be cheaper and more convenient for now, it will inevitably result in unwanted issues and expenses.
Q3: You’re currently based in the US, a country that drives innovation in technology. Has this affected your own relationship with modern solutions, perhaps got you more interested in using current trends?
Yevhenii Bombela: Oh, absolutely. That’s not to say my other positions in life somehow precluded me from meeting progressive minds and seeing future potential in tech. It’s just that the US market has this great mentality of always pushing forward, regardless of industry. As a result, you’re always set up to improve your business and seek new ideas.
As for trends, now, that’s the downside for me. I think the US is so digital that everyone is always online and always looking at what the “influencers” have to say. And make no mistake, those are very prevalent in the tech world. So, to my mind, these people are incentivized to promote the next big thing, which means some of these trends are passed over too fast. In particular, again, I think AI is seen as a fad thanks to this attitude, while I see it as a crucial tool for businesses moving forward.
Q4: AI is such a huge force across all industries nowadays, yet plenty of people remain skeptical about it. What would be your “elevator pitch” to convince the average CEO that they need to integrate it?
Yevhenii Bombela: Regardless of the company’s size, everyone looks to cut expenses, foster more positive client relations, and streamline operations. AI is a Swiss Army knife of the tech world, and it does all these things and more.
Q5: Changing people’s minds about a subject as divisive as AI is already a challenge, but it must be extra-difficult when you’re far away from home and the business network you built up there. Have you found that the local tech community is embracing you, or has it been an uphill battle?
Yevhenii Bombela: Not an uphill battle at all and, yes, if I may be candid for a moment, it’s certainly heartwarming to see how eager people are to embrace professionals from Ukraine and work with them. That said, most businesspeople already want AI. I believe the latest adoption stats are around 65% overall? The real need to change minds lies with the general population. As I mentioned, AI is great for business, but customers don’t see those backend benefits. To them, it’s just some tech thing that doesn’t make things cheaper or more accessible for them. So I think a great way to promote AI is to be open about how its ability to decrease expenses results in the end-consumer getting a better, less expensive product.
Q6: What do you consider the top challenges in making AI more accessible or easier to adopt, at least?
Yevhenii Bombela: Outside of just public perception? Well, I think training is the biggest hurdle, because it is a time-consuming and complex process, at least if you want truly outstanding results. Other than that, really, I think we’ve moved past this stage of “oh, this technology is a headache to integrate”. No, the real challenge is getting the most value out of it, which means we need more experts, we need strong AI education. Every person in the company who will interact with AI must understand it beyond just “press this button to make things happen”.
Q7: Lastly, tell us what you think is the main mistake people make when integrating AI into their business and how you would address it.
Yevhenii Bombela: I keep answering the questions before you ask them! Well, aside from poor onboarding and a lack of expertise, it’s really a matter of choosing how to apply AI in your company. Because there are people who think AI is a silver bullet that will solve everything. And, listen, it might be that, down the line, years later. Right now, it’s great at a specific set of tasks: analytics, customer support, and automation. So how would I address this? I wouldn’t push the technology beyond its boundaries – just set AI to do what it does best and watch it grow and improve.
About Yevhenii Bombela:
Yevhenii Bombela is an entrepreneur and project leader whose career embodies persistence and reinvention, with a strong belief in technology’s transformative power. Over 12 years, he has driven results as a project manager and C-level executive, leading multimillion-dollar projects that improved outcomes across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. His leadership in healthcare, gaming, cloud computing, and real estate has spurred innovation and boosted operational efficiency at every turn.
As Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Tateeda, Yevhenii led large-scale healthcare projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining valuable insight into the impact of digital solutions. Following his relocation to the United States in 2022, he expanded into the real estate sector and identified that many industries have yet to fully leverage modern AI automation.
To address this need, Yevhenii founded ProRab AI Agent, a SaaS platform that delivers automation, CRM integration, and operational efficiency to service and field operations. Drawing on his international experience and understanding of business cultures in Europe and North America, he aims to enhance client interactions in an AI-driven economy.
Today, Yevhenii is recognized for his strategic vision, technical expertise, entrepreneurial mindset, and resilience. His career demonstrates the importance of adapting to global challenges and highlights the role of AI in building sustainable, customer-focused businesses.
