We recently had the chance to connect with Ekaterina Ilina and have shared our conversation below.
Ekaterina , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
One of the moments I’m most proud of recently was finally receiving my official ADHD/AUDHD diagnosis. For years I sensed something about my mind worked differently, but I didn’t have the language or clarity to name it. After years of research, reflection, and trying to put the puzzle together on my own, I finally got that confirmation — and it felt like a missing piece clicking into place. It wasn’t about labeling myself, but about finally understanding myself. That moment gave me a deep sense of pride because I turned what once felt like lifelong confusion into clarity. And it’s shaping the self-care system I’ve been building, giving me a roadmap for how to support both myself and others in more intentional ways.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kate, and I created the ROSE Self-Care System — a framework designed to help people rediscover their own soul essence. At first, I shared it with mothers moving through burnout, creatives, entrepreneurs, and even barbers. But after finally receiving my ADHD/AUDHD diagnosis, I realized how deeply this system speaks to anyone rediscovering their life after diagnosis. Today, my focus is helping people navigate that transition with clarity, compassion, and rituals that reconnect them to who they truly are.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that I’m learning to release is the version of myself that survived by masking — by over-giving, overworking, and pretending I had it all together while silently burning out. That part of me kept me safe for years, but it also kept me disconnected from my true rhythm. Receiving my ADHD/AUDHD diagnosis was a turning point, because it showed me I no longer have to live in survival. Now, I’m building my life from a place of clarity and self-compassion. I’m letting go of the old patterns so I can step into a more authentic, intentional way of living — and that’s what I now help others do through my ROSE Self-Care System.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, in 2021 during COVID, I reached one of the darkest points of my life. I was burnt out, deeply depressed, and felt like I couldn’t keep going. I even had suicidal thoughts and ended up in a mental hospital, searching for answers. At that time, I truly felt like I had nothing left. But slowly, I began to rebuild — through therapy, self-reflection, and creating small rituals that kept me grounded. Those rituals eventually became the foundation of my ROSE Self-Care System. What once felt like the end became a turning point. Today, I can look back with gratitude, because that moment of almost giving up forced me to create a new way of living — one that I now share with others who are navigating burnout, diagnosis, or reinvention.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A project I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, is building the ROSE Self-Care System into a movement. It started as something deeply personal — a way to bring myself back from burnout and rediscover my own soul essence. Over the years, I’ve shared it with mothers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and barbers, and I’ve watched how powerful it is for anyone navigating transition. Now, after my ADHD/AUDHD diagnosis, I see it even more clearly: this is a system for people who are reinventing themselves and learning to live with more truth, compassion, and structure. Whether it takes months or decades, I’m devoted to shaping ROSE into a framework that helps people feel at home in themselves again.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in the simplest rituals of my daily life. I love taking long baths, sometimes sitting for hours just letting the world slow down. I love curling up in my bed, surrounded by cozy blankets and natural linen fabrics that make me feel grounded. In the mornings, I often sit outside burning incense while watching the sunrise — it feels like a quiet conversation with the day before it begins. I also love spraying lavender mist, which instantly calms my nervous system and reminds me to breathe. Peace for me is also about connection — when I cuddle my favorite person, when my cat Sunny curls up beside me purring, or when I sit with my dad doing a puzzle together. These small rituals remind me that peace isn’t something distant — it’s found in textures, scents, and shared moments that make me feel at home in myself and with the people I love.
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Image Credits
Ekaterina Ilina
Kristina Davini
