Economic training for war-affected businesses in Ukraine

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A new project, “Economic Training for Businesses Affected by the War in Ukraine” is launched with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands under Dutch development foreign policy, financed by the Private sector development program of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl). The project is implemented by the KIEF Academy (NGO “Kyiv International Economic Forum”) on the Ukraine Global Faculty platform under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and is aimed at strengthening the resilience, recovery, and development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine.

Are you an entrepreneur, top manager, or key specialist of an SME in Ukraine looking for knowledge and tools to expand your business? As part of this project, from March through August 2025, you can explore new horizons and receive free training via the UGF online platform. Leading global and Ukrainian experts will deliver 36 lectures and seminars covering topics such as economics, systems thinking, strategy, artificial intelligence, fundraising, crisis management, lean manufacturing, PR, and more.

Terms of participation

Participation in the program is free of charge. Participants are selected from those who have submitted applications. Priority is given to representatives of the following industries:

Energy Sector
Agri-food Sector
Entrepreneurship, SME Development, and Processing Industry
Information Technologies
Green Transition and Environmental Protection
Other Industries (Second Priority Line)

Languages of instruction: English and Ukrainian. Simultaneous translation into Ukrainian will be provided. Participants will have access to the program’s video archive. Upon completion of the program, certificates of participation will be issued.

Application Deadline: March 21, 2025.

Training Start Date: March 25, 2025.

Training Period: March to August 2025.

14 Major Topics:

Navigating Global Trends and Identifying Opportunities – Understanding Global Changes for the Successful Positioning of Ukrainian Businesses
Crisis Resilience and Adaptability – Strategies for Sustaining and Growing Businesses in Challenging Times
Systems Thinking and Strategic Planning for Recovery and Reconstruction (Build Back Better) – A Holistic Approach to Problem-Solving and Achieving Long-Term Goals
Tools for Post-War Recovery and Economic Development – Government and Donor Support Mechanisms for Business Reconstruction and Growth in Difficult Conditions
Effective Fundraising Strategies – Tools for Attracting Investments, Grants, and Financial Support
Building and Developing High-Performing Teams – Techniques for Recruiting, Motivating, Retaining, and Nurturing Productive Employees
Lean Thinking and Tools – An Approach to Enhancing Efficiency by Eliminating Waste, Creating Value, and Ensuring Continuous Improvement
Personal and Managerial Effectiveness – Tools for Boosting Productivity, Decision-Making, and Personal Well-Being
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Business – Practical Ways to Apply AI for Operational Optimization and New Opportunities
Expanding into Export Markets – Insights on Entering International Markets and Scaling a Business Amid War Conditions
PR, Communication, and Reputation Management for Effective Recovery – Strategies for Building a Strong Brand and Engaging Key Stakeholders
Practical Tips and Insights for Entrepreneurs – Lessons and Advice from Ukrainian Business Owners on Their Successes and Failures
Project Management and Team Collaboration in Business – A Comprehensive Toolkit for Effective Project Execution
The Economy of Change: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects for Key Economic Sectors

36 Lectures and Seminars:

Lecture: "How to Use Global Trends and Strategy for Business Development"

Viktor Halasiuk CEO of KIEF Academy and Ukraine Global Faculty, Adjunct Professor at Kmbs 25.03.2025 | 18:00

How to find new market opportunities based on global trends
How to identify winning areas of development
How to create effective strategies and outperform competitors
How to make strong decisions and achieve results

Lecture: "How to Address the Shortage of Human Resources and Skills"

Tetyana Berezhna Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine 01.04.2025 | 18:00

Government and donor programs for retraining and skills development in Ukraine
Assistance to SMEs in overcoming human capital challenges during the war
"Made in Ukraine" offices and their role in SME development

Lecture: "Turning Crisis into Opportunity: How Ukrainian business Can Leverage Defense Investments for Green and Digital Growth"

Rainer Kattel Professor and Deputy Director at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), University College London (UCL) 02.04.2025 | 18:00

How defense investments spark innovation and economic opportunities
Blending security with sustainability for a thriving future
Ukraine’s path to digital leadership through wartime advancements
The power of partnerships in building a resilient business landscape

Lecture: "How Ukrainian Companies Preserve and Grow Their Business During the War"

Ruslan Illichov General Director of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine 04.04.2025 | 18:00

Problems of small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine
Anti-crisis practices of Ukrainian companies in the context of shortage of employees, insufficient level of qualification, disruption of logistics chains etc.
The role of a leader during the war
Uniting companies for protection and influence
International cooperation of Ukrainian producers

Lecture: "How Ukrainian Businesses Can Strengthen Their Competitive Position"

Andrii Dligach Doctor of Economics, Professor, Founder and Chairman of Advanter Group, Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics, International Business Community Board, Kyiv Foresight Foundation, Co-founder of Investudio, Aiwise 09.04.2025 | 18:00

Challenges and opportunities for Ukrainian entrepreneurs: from wartime to European integration
Anti-crisis tools
Adaptability and proactivity in the practice of Ukrainian business
Development life hacks for SMEs

Seminar: "Strategic Planning in Times of High Uncertainty"

Oleksiy Tymofieiev Member of the Board of Directors of BGV Group Management 14.04.2025 | 17:00

Risk management
Adaptability and strategic flexibility in times of crisis

Lecture: "Why You Need a Strategy and How to Use It to Outperform Competitors"

Rick Rasmussen Industry Expert and Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley (USA) 15.04.2025 | 18:00

The role of strategy in business
Key elements of a successful strategy
How strategy helps to anticipate changes and adapt to new challenges
Strategic planning tools for creating competitive advantages
Practical tips

Lecture: "Systems Thinking as a Competitive Advantage in Business"

Eduard Maltsev Associate Dean of the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School 21.04.2025 | 18:00

Systems thinking and its benefits
The language of the systems approach
Company, city, country as systems
Synergy and emergent properties of systems

Seminar: "State Support Mechanisms Available for Businesses in Ukraine"

Dmytro Kisilevskyi Member of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Development 24.04.2025 | 18:00

Industrial parks as convenient sites for new production facilities
Regime to facilitate large investments ("investment nannies")
Localization in public procurement
War risk insurance and export support (Export Credit Agency)
Concessional lending (5-7-9 program)
Grants for manufacturers (E-Work)
Sectoral support programs

Seminar: "Challenges and Opportunities for Ukrainian Business in the Context of Ukraine’s Future Accession to the European Union"

Oleksandr Ilkov Director General of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration 25.04.2025

Regulatory innovations
Terms of negotiations between Ukraine and the EU
Adaptation of Ukrainian business to the European market

Seminar: "Credit Financing of Business in Ukraine"

Andrii Hapon Chairman of the Board of the Business Development Fund 29.04.2025 | 16:00

Where and on what terms you can attract credit financing in Ukraine
Mistakes and best practices of cooperation with banks
Affordable loans of 5-7-9% for business
Modern fintech products

Lecture: "Fundamentals of Successful Fundraising"

Olga Slavina Advisor on International Cooperation and Donor Coordination at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine 30.04.2025 | 18:00

Fundraising basics: how businesses can prepare to attract funding
Finding sources of funding: from investors to grantors
Different donors and their priorities
How to prepare a strong grant application: experience of the state grant program e-Robota

Seminar: "Financial Modeling of Investments Under Uncertainty"

Kyrylo Bondar Partner, CFO of UNIT.City UDP Renewables 06.05.2025

Advantages of attracting investment
The current state of investment in Ukraine
Risk and return assessment in the face of uncertainty
Think like an investor. Practical examples and tips

Seminar: "Case Study of Building and Developing a Successful Team in Ukraine"

Artem Borodatiuk Founder of the Netpeak group 07.05.2025

Practical insights from a successful leader on building star teams
Mistakes to avoid
IT tools for team management
Recommendations for entrepreneurs in Ukraine

Lecture: "The Best Global Experience in Building and Developing Successful Teams"

Felix Litvinsky Managing Director of Blackstone LaunchPad at Cornell University (USA) 13.05.2025 | 17:00

Modern methods for attracting talent and building a strong corporate culture
Motivation system that stimulates productivity and ensures employee loyalty
Techniques for effective retention of key employees in a competitive environment
Development of the team's professional potential through training, coaching, and mentoring

Lecture: "International Experience in Implementing Lean Solutions"

Sanne Mylonas Business Case Innovator and co-founder of Noorderwind (Netherlands) 15.05.2025 | 18:00

Lean Startup: a methodology for validating and developing business ideas
MOM test: an effective approach to interviews
Business model Canvas: a tool for business design and development
Circular value chain approach to build partnerships

Seminar: "Fundamentals of Effective Pitching: A Professional’s Guide"

William Mercer Venture Partner at Zag, investor & mentor director at eó Business Incubators (UK) 20.05.2025 | 18:00

The importance of pitching and its structure
Preparation, communication and personalization skills for successful pitching
Persuasion strategies and audience influence

Lecture: "Lean Manufacturing: A Recipe for Operational Efficiency for All Types of Business"

Serhii Komberianov President of Lean Institute Ukraine 23.05.2025

Basic theory and benefits of the Lean approach
Examples of Lean implementation in Ukrainian companies across various industries
Pitfalls of Lean transformation and practical recommendations

Seminar: "Effective Manager: Adapting to Wartime Management Challenges"

Nataliia Kadia Expert in neuromanagement, lecturer at the Business School of the Ukrainian Catholic University, certified ICF coach (Erickson University International) 26.05.2025

Strategies and approaches for effective management in conditions of extreme uncertainty
Emotional stability and well-being of a manager as a factor of productivity
Influence of the psychological state of the team: how the emotional state of colleagues affects performance, engagement and interaction
Leadership in the face of uncertainty: key qualities of an effective leader

Seminar: "Fundamentals of Generative AI: Tools, Business Process Automation, and Prompt Engineering"

Mykhailo Patsan Founder and CEO of Learn To Earn Global 27.05.2025

Generative AI: basic principles, types, and business opportunities
Overview of popular neural networks for business: ChatGPT, MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, etc.
Business process automation: application cases in marketing, finance, HR, and law
Prompt engineering: how to create effective prompts for business tasks (practical examples)

Seminar: "International Experience of Using AI in Business"

J. Scott Christianson Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri (US) 03.06.2025 | 18:00

Current AI-driven business transformation across industries, from manufacturing to agriculture
Optimizing business operations with AI
AI-powered innovation and market expansion
Challenges and ethical considerations in AI adoption
Practical AI tools for SMEs

Seminar: "AI for Strategic Planning in Companies of the Future: Cases of Innovations Integration"

Ivan Vekirchyk Co-founder of KNESS 04.06.2025 | 18:00

Using AI to analyze competitors, market, and create business development strategies
Finding new opportunities with the help of neural networks
Case studies of AI implementation in business: automated chatbots, data analysis, language analytics
Companies of the future: how to build a business with maximum AI integration
Step-by-step algorithm of AI implementation in business: from idea to realization

Seminar: "How Ukrainian Business Can Enter Export Markets"

Iryna Zelenina President of the Ukrainian Export Alliance 10.06.2025

Analysis of company readiness: assessment of resources, competitive advantages, export strategy
Market research: demand analysis, competitor studies, regulations, and target country selection
Legal aspects: certification, customs procedures, intellectual property protection
Searching for partners: participation in exhibitions, B2B platforms, contacts through Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Financing: grants, loans, support from ECA and international organizations
Logistics and adaptation: optimal delivery, localization of the product
Marketing: localization of content, digital tools, customer trust

Seminar: "Case Study of a Ukrainian Company That Became an Exporter"

Yuliia Shopska General Director of Agrol LLC 13.06.2025

The company's journey: from local business to exporter
Overcoming barriers to entering foreign markets
The role of marketing and partner search in expanding sales geography
Lessons learned: key conclusions and recommendations for Ukrainian companies seeking to become exporters

Lecture: "Communication Strategy and Reputation Development as a Competitive Advantage"

Nataliya Dmytrenko Head of the Analytics and Monitoring Department, Office of the President of Ukraine; member of the Board of the Centre for Social Change and Behavioural Economics 16.06.2025 | 18:00

Main communication channels: how to choose and use them effectively to achieve business goals
Reputation management: tools and strategies to build brand trust
Case study: secrets of successful communications for small and medium-sized enterprises

Seminar: "Digital Marketing Using AI"

Dr. Raymond Lutzky Adjunct Lecturer of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California (US) 17.06.2025 | 18:00

Generative AI and autonomous AI agents transforming digital marketing and CRM systems
Content creation using AI to increase customer engagement
The role of AI in analyzing customer data and optimizing omnichannel marketing strategies

Lecture: "Why Businesses Should Invest in PR During the War: From Recognition to Reputation"

Oleksandra Pogorila Founder and Managing Partner of the strategic communications agency U Agency. Co-author of the podcast about PR, words and meanings "NE PID ZAPYS" 23.06.2025

Communication trends of 2025 for leaders and brands
Personal brand of the founder and CEO: myths, strategies, and tactics
Step-by-step action plan - how to create an effective communication strategy that will contribute to personal and professional success

Seminar: "Life Hacks of a Serial Entrepreneur"

Vitaliy Lubinets Serial entrepreneur, CEO of Win Win Club 25.06.2025 | 18:00

Mistakes as a way to continuous development
What is more important - money or people?
Partnerships in business: how not to lose your idea and earn more
Secrets of delegation: how to combine businesses from different worlds: crypto, startup, investment, and business club

Seminar: "How to Quickly Analyze a Business and Identify Opportunities for Improvement"

Nataliia Kalinkina Business Development Director at UFuture, CEO of the investment accelerator INDAX 03.07.2025

Diagnosing business problems that hinder development
How to raise money for business development?
How a meeting with an investor or donor should NOT look like
How to analyze your business and what the structure of the future business plan should be
Types of business plan presentations and practical recommendations

Lecture: "Principles and Secrets of Successful Project Management"

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Project management principles for business continuity: risk management, business continuity planning, infrastructure restart, capacity building, adaptive resource deployment
Change management
The role of innovation in crisis recovery

Seminar: "IT Tools for Project Management and Teamwork"

Oleksii Nishchyk Chief Growth Officer at Genesis 08.07.2025 18:00

Overview of project management and team collaboration software

Lecture: "Overview of Energy-Independent and Energy-Efficient Solutions for Business in Ukraine"

Serhii Kravchuk Director of Electricity Trading and Supply at KNESS 15.07.2025

How Ukrainian businesses can operate and develop in the face of energy shortages and war challenges

Lecture: "Climate Policy Challenges and Prospects for Sustainable Development"

Maksym Kryvosheiev UGBC (Ukrainian Green Building Council) Leader 17.07.2025

Sustainable development and the circular economy
Basic concepts of sustainable supply chains
Greenwashing and sustainability metrics ESG standards for banks and business ESG reporting for capital raising and competition in the EU

Lecture: "From Raw Materials to Finished Products: How Businesses Can Create Added Value and Generate Foreign Exchange Earnings"

Ihor Guzhva First Deputy Director of the State Research Institute for Informatization and Modeling of the Economy, advisor to the Committee on Economic Development of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine 22.07.2025

Development of the processing industry as an investment opportunity and a super-multiplier for the economy

Lecture: "Technological (IT) Innovations for Groundbreaking Business Recovery Solutions"

Maria Shevchuk CEO at IT Ukraine Association 24.07.2025 | 18:00

Current state of the IT industry in Ukraine
How modern IT solutions can help Ukrainian businesses recover and win the competition
How to get rid of Russian software

Lecture: "The Netherlands’ Experience in Agriculture, Agrotechnology, and the Food Industry"

Coming soon

Dutch phenomenon: key factors of success of the agricultural sector on the world stage
Innovative technologies in agriculture
Smart use of resources: water conservation, energy solutions, and circular economy
Lessons for Ukraine: how to apply Dutch experience in local conditions