Ilona Parunakova

What to Expect From Ilona Parunakova

When Ilona Parunakova takes the stage, she doesn’t just speak — she commands, ignites, and elevates. Her presence is both magnetic and disruptive in the best way possible.

With over two decades of global experience spanning six continents, Ilona has held high-level leadership roles, including her current position as Vice President of NSLS — the nation’s largest leadership honor society. She is a 10X best-selling author, international TEDx speaker, and an accomplished strategist in organizational growth and cultural transformation.

Ilona has led million-dollar rehabilitation programs, facilitated breakthroughs in executive boardrooms, and mobilized thousands through her powerful keynotes. Her style is fiercely original — no fluff, no clichés, just transformational truths delivered with fire and precision.

You can expect:

- A high-impact, unforgettable keynote experience that shifts mindsets and leaves lasting results
- A commanding presence with an authentic message that connects instantly with audiences
- Proven leadership strategies drawn from decades of nonprofit, executive, and global experience
- Bold storytelling and insight-driven content tailored to drive immediate application
- Expertise in cultivating confidence, identity, and purpose across diverse demographics
- Multilingual delivery capabilities and a cross-cultural perspective to connect with global audiences
- Total professionalism and excellence — before, during, and after your event

Ilona Parunakova is not a speaker you schedule.
She’s a movement you unleash.

If you're looking for a speaker who checks boxes, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for someone who will transform the room, ignite your audience, and deliver an unforgettable experience, then Ilona is your only choice.

This is more than an event. It’s a defining moment.
Let’s create it together.

Ilona Parunakova is a 10X Best-Selling Author, Motivational Keynote Speaker/ Identity Success Expert. Founder and CEO of IP Resilience Global. Publisher. TV Producer and Host of ILONA TV.

Ilona is a direct descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors during WWI and survived the wartime in the Republic of Georgia right after the collapse of the USSR. Over the years Ilona has succeeded in turning her disparities from war, losses, struggles to fit in, and every “No” in her life, into her superpowers.
Ilona loves connecting with her audiences and making it personal. Having gone through the civil war after the collapse of the USSR to addition, she is no stranger to adversity, self-doubt, and overcoming obstacles. Her authenticity attracts admiration from others. She believes in being truthful and fierce and comes from the heart. Her vulnerability and honesty inspire transformation in people's lives. Ilona’s unique way of connecting is what makes each event special and memorable. Her presentations are customized for each event and exceed expectations.

Experiences that enlighten people and inspire them to push onwards despite life’s biggest challenges are stories that are always worth telling. By listening to these stories, people find the strength and the courage to rise up and fight another day. Such is the story that motivational speaker, best-selling author, and master transformational life coach Ilona Parunakova brings to the table when she connects with audiences and her personal clients. Hers is a story of tenacity, faith, and a long family history of surviving some of history’s bloodiest wars.

Born to a half Ukrainian mother and half Armenian father in the Republic of Georgia, Ilona’s relatives lived to tell the horrific tales of war, from the Ottoman genocide of the Armenian people during World War I to the uneventful collapse of the Soviet Union. The parents of her great-grandmother were slaughtered mercilessly before the latter’s eyes. Her great-grandmother fled on foot to survive. Between 1991 to 1993, Ilona witnessed the downfall of the Soviet Union and the war that broke out in her home country.

Apart from surviving the terrors of war, Ilona also endured ethnic discrimination for a considerable amount of time. She grew up in a community where she was considered a minority. She suffered rejection from her own grandparents, was mocked by her relatives, and was denied admission to universities because of her Russian last name. At that time in her life, Ilona felt like a reject and an outcast as a result of the massive political discrepancies between Russia and Georgia back then. Throughout that discouraging season in her life, Ilona fought her hardest to stay strong and found the inspiration to pursue further studies and accomplish exceptional feats.

Ilona is the author of the best-selling books "Opium of the Almond Tree", "Unleashed", "Unapologetic", Legacy Legends" and more. She is also a certified personal fitness trainer, certified nutritionist, and health coach. After finishing a degree in Business Administration, she is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling program.

Furthermore, Ilona received the People’s Choice Award in a beauty pageant in the Republic of Georgia in 1998. She also collected medals for completing a marathon in 2017 and a triathlon in 2018. Interestingly, Ilona can also speak seven languages, including English, Russian, Armenian, Georgian, and Spanish, among others.

Ilona is a proud TEDx international speaker and brings a lot of encouragement to her audiences whenever she walks up the stage. Empowering people to find their voice even in the darkest times of their life is something that she is very passionate about. Knowing that there are a lot of people out there who choose to suffer in silence, Ilona hopes to impart courage and self-confidence so that they, too, can experience liberty in all of its glory.

Her Christian faith has been very instrumental in her survival. It also allowed her to see things from a positive perspective—that no matter what happens, God will always be in control of her destiny. Reaching out to others like her who experienced the intergenerational trauma of war and the challenges that come with being multicultural has allowed her to live out her real purpose in life. In the end, all of her pain was worth it because it means being able to help others overcome their own.

As a Speaker, she empowers people to find their voice even in the darkest times of their life and imparts courage and self-confidence so that they, too, can experience liberty in all of its best.
She is an International TEDx speaker and is featured in Fox, NBC, CBC, Influencive, Powerhouse, and Forbes Magazines.

Ilona introduces herself unapologetically as God’s Masterpiece and puts God as the CEO of her life.

Event Day Setup & Requirements for Ilona Parunakova

To ensure the best experience for your audience, we kindly request the following simple setup and accommodations:

Room & Equipment Needs:

* A screen and projector for slides (if applicable)
* A microphone (lavaliere preferred, handheld if needed)
* A small platform or stage (if available)
* A table for books and materials (for sale or display)
* Optional: High-speed Wi-Fi access

Any additional needs can be discussed ahead of time during pre-event planning.

Participation:

Ilona will arrive well before the scheduled start time to ensure everything is in place and runs smoothly. She will deliver a high-energy, impactful presentation tailored to your audience and is happy to participate in related activities such as meet-and-greets, receptions, or dinners as requested.

Materials provided are copyrighted and shared exclusively with attendees for personal use. Duplication or distribution beyond your team should be requested in writing.

Audio/Video Recording:

We welcome video or audio recording of the presentation. If recorded, we kindly ask for a copy of the final footage within 30 days, either from your team or our crew (if recording on-site). This allows Ilona to share her impact and continue reaching new audiences.

Let’s make it an unforgettable event together!