On November 9, 2024, Yurii Safonov, President of the NGO Ukrainian School of Elites, and Marichka Pohorilko, Grant Program Manager at the Razom Foundation (“Together for Ukraine”), discussed the prospects of Ukraine’s humanitarian sector in 2025 and potential collaboration opportunities.
One of the key insights focused on redefining the concept of “leadership development.” Here are three distinct lenses through which leadership is usually viewed.
Since Ukraine regained independence from the USSR in the 1990s, “leadership development” has been associated with academic programs, knowledge, and awareness. This approach emphasized gaining information about leadership — understanding what it is, how a leader differs from a follower, and the characteristics and personality traits required. But does awareness alone create a leader?
“Our goal is not to just inform but to transform” — this is the approach to leadership we promote at the Ukrainian School of Elites.
Obviously, knowledge about leadership is not enough. A holistic approach is needed. Leadership involves more than just knowledge; it requires character — a mature person. Psychological, moral, and even spiritual maturity is key, ensuring actions align with words.
In the early 21st century, this holistic approach is gaining relevance in Ukraine. Interestingly, one often-overlooked aspect of leadership is physical health and wellness. Many who associate themselves with leadership lack this essential component, which is now recognized as critical.
Today, Marichka Pohorilko from the Razom Foundation highlighted another perspective. We sensed it intuitively, but now it was finally voiced directly.
Razom Foundation places special emphasis on the local leadership. It advocates for investing resources in a targeted way to address specific local issues, rather than just spreading “information about leadership.” This is particularly valuable for communities with limited resources for the development of children and youth.
In rural areas, young people form initiative groups to develop their own community improvement projects in areas where they can make an immediate impact. This includes creating sports facilities in places that have never had them, playgrounds, and development centers, etc. — all grassroots initiatives led by local leaders.
After participating in mentoring programs, these teams present their projects in a “pitching” session (a term borrowed from the investment sector, where startups showcase projects for funding; in our humanitarian context, it involves securing funding for nonprofit initiatives aimed at positive community change). The most promising projects receive funding.
The amounts involved are small, even symbolic (for instance, 100,000-200,000 UAH). However, the goal is not the “amount” but the formation of the new generation of leaders who succeed with their projects locally.
Through this approach, the Razom Foundation not only shapes leadership skills among youth (planning, teamwork, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, reporting, transparency, accountability, etc.) but also builds faith and fonfidence in the new generation’s ability to effect positive change in their communities.
Thus, November 9, 2024, marked a “rethink leadership” day for the leadership, partners, and volunteers of the Ukrainian School of Elites.
