Goloborodko brings unquenchable optimism to Godfrey & Kahn

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Yelena Goloborodko’s key to success is her optimism.

Goloborodko is the accounting manager at Godfrey & Kahn, where she oversees the firm’s financial functions. But her duties don’t stop there.

Amid the pandemic, Goloborodko found herself taking on new responsibilities, helping to oversee a two-year project to switch to a new practice-management software.

The change meant Goloborodko was effectively taking on two jobs, managing the firm’s finances and serving on a team responsible for making use of the new software. Goloborodko took on the task with her characteristic attitude.

“My opinion is that you have to make the best out of any situation,” she said. “I tell my team, there’s no way to look back, we have to move forward.”

Goloborodko joined Godfrey & Kahn as a financial analyst in 2014 after nearly 14 years at Foley & Lardner. A native of Ukraine, Goloborodko earned an accounting degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee after moving to the U.S. 30 years ago.

Before going into accounting, Goloborodko obtained a degree in engineering in Ukraine. She said she discovered she had a love for using figures to reach well-supported conclusions.

“Analysis, that’s what I like more than anything,” Goloborodko said. “I like to do non-routine stuff. Every day you’re dealing with different things.”

Goloborodko was promoted to Godfrey & Kahn’s accounting manager in 2018. Soon after, the firm was forced to obtain its practice-management software from a new vendor after learning the software it was using would be discontinued.

Carey Provan, Godfrey & Kahn applications manager, said Goloborodko played a crucial role in shepherding the project.

“Goloborodko is extremely organized, knows how to re-prioritize issues when a change is needed, has excellent troubleshooting skills and is a talented leader for her team,” Provan said.