By Adam Woodward

Copyright euroweeklynews

Recently named among the Top 100 Speakers to Watch, best-selling author, and creator of The One Minute Coach™, Masha Malka has turned a life of upheaval into a mission of empowerment. From her early years as a refugee to her current work as a co-founder and CEO of ShiftHub, she now calls Marbella home and is helping women worldwide redefine midlife and step into leadership with clarity and confidence.

EWN: Masha, your story spans Soviet Russia, the US, and Europe. How has this shaped the woman you are today?
Masha: Growing up in the Soviet Union and later becoming a refugee taught me resilience early on. When we moved to the US in 1987, I didn’t speak English and carried a dictionary everywhere. My cousin stopped translating for me, which forced me to dive in and embrace imperfection. Those struggles gave me courage and empathy—qualities that now shape how I coach and connect with women across cultures.

EWN: You’re a best-selling author, and your books, under the umbrella of The One Minute Coach™ have been praised by leaders like Brian Tracy as “powerful, practical books, loaded with great ideas you can use to get better results in every area.” What inspired you to write them?
Masha: Like all my work, they were born from my own experiences, such as rebuilding myself as a refugee, a divorced mother of three, or someone embarking on a whole new career at 50. I wanted to show that no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve been through, your future is always shaped by your choices, actions, and beliefs. Over the years, I’ve seen how these books have become a trusted guide, including CEOs, parents, or teenagers.

EWN: You’ve had an impressive career journey. How did you discover coaching as your true calling?
Masha: It happened during my MBA when I took a coaching course. I realised I’d been coaching all my life, just without the title. Returning to Marbella in 2004, I became the first professional coach on the coast. Later, co-founding a corporate training company and working with Fortune 500 firms deepened my experience. But what lights me up most is guiding women through reinvention – especially at midlife, when so many feel unseen or uncertain about their next chapter.

EWN: Tell us about ShiftHub. Why did you create it?
Masha: Too many women hit their forties and fifties feeling stuck – children growing up, careers plateauing, or life just not fitting anymore. ShiftHub, which I founded with two other partners – Audrey Spearing and Ken Course, was born to change that. It’s a global community for women over 40, modelled on elite peer-group forums like YPO and WPO but accessible to everyone.

In our Shift Circles, women meet in safe, facilitated groups to share experiences, rather than giving or receiving advice, because that’s how real transformation happens. It’s about connection, perspective, and growth. Not only that, ShiftHub also offers facilitator training, business opportunities, and even a marketplace for women to showcase their talents. ShiftHub was created for every woman ready to step into her next chapter – whether that means rediscovering purpose at home, seeking new meaning in leadership, or navigating physical and emotional changes with clarity. It’s about turning midlife into most powerful new beginning.

EWN: What advice would you give women here on the Costa del Sol who are searching for purpose?
Masha: From my experience, life responsibilities, careers, family roles… they can blur our sense of who we really are. And when that happens, it’s easy to feel lost. That lack of purpose, that disconnection from yourself—it’s such a painful place to be. The first step is just giving yourself some space to reflect, to experiment, to explore—without judgment. The real magic happens when you’re surrounded by women who are walking the same path – it makes reconnecting with your values, passions, and strengths so much easier. As we love to say: Shift Happens—do it your way, but don’t do it alone.

EWN: What’s next for you?
Masha: Right now, I’m putting my energy into expanding ShiftHub and reaching more women who are ready for change. At the same time, I’ll continue working closely with clients in my coaching practice, because those deep, personal transformations are what inspire me every day. For me, midlife isn’t a time to step back—it’s a time to step fully into who I am becoming and to create a life that inspires others.

Women ready to explore their next chapter can connect with Masha directly for coaching visit mashamalka.com/contact/ or join a Shift Circle at www.ShiftHub.me