On April 15, the business media outlet Delo.ua and the business/media bureau Ekonomika+ gathered entrepreneurs, investors, and top managers to discuss economic transformation, business development in conditions of uncertainty, and new growth points. The program combined panel discussions, analytical presentations, and practical cases — from regulatory policy and exports to AI and energy efficiency. The focus was on practical solutions that businesses can apply today, UNN reports.
The event was opened by Oksana Guttsait (ICTV) and Tetyana Smirnova (Ekonomika+). In her keynote speech, Oleksandra Matviychuk (Center for Civil Liberties) spoke about the power of dignity and responsibility and how true hope manifests not in expectations, but in conscious action and the ability to participate in change.
The question of whether "white" business today is an obligation or still a tool for growth was discussed by Yevhen Riyako (RIYAKO&PARTNERS), Vasyl Danylyak (OKKO), Andriy Lukasevych ("Philip Morris Ukraine"), Danylo Hetmantsev (VRU), and Andriy Bukin (Pivdenny Bank). The participants emphasized that shadow business loses, while transparent business provides access to financing and has prospects for development.
A special guest of the summit was the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine — Kyrylo Budanov. In an interview on stage, he noted that it is critically important for Ukraine to move away from the raw material model and focus on producing products with high added value. This primarily concerns the development of mechanical engineering and the defense-technological sector, which will allow the country to take a competitive place in the global arms market.
During the discussion on the transformation of Ukrainian exports, Taras Vysotskyi (Ministry of Economy of Ukraine), Olena Borysova (Gastro Family), Anna Derevyanko (European Business Association), Hennadiy Chyzhikov (CCI of Ukraine), Oleh Zapletnyuk ("TAS Agro"), Dmytro Kysylevskyi (VRU), Larysa Bondareva (Raiffeisen Bank), Yuriy Sorochynskyi (Nemiroff) discussed barriers to entering new markets, effective models of international partnership, and noted that "made in Ukraine" has become a conscious choice of support.
Illia Polshakov ("Kyivstar") presented the result of cooperation with Starlink Direct to Cell — a technology that allows ordinary 4G smartphones to automatically connect to a satellite signal even in areas without coverage, ensuring the continuity of business communications.
Oleksandr Leshchenko (LESHCHENKO & PARTNERS), Yuliia Ponomarenko (AB InBev Efes Ukraine), Olha Vasylevska-Smagliuk (VRU), Taras Shydlyk (Starlight Media), Yuriy Polishchuk ("Foxtrot") and Yuriy Bondar (ARX) discussed companies' adaptation to risks, losses and emphasized that the key challenges for business during the war are the loss of employees and consumers, access to financing and the effectiveness of insurance and compensation mechanisms.
Andriy Semchenko ("INGO") spoke about how insurance helps businesses survive under shelling and why war risks are already a reality that can be worked with.
Marta Levchenko ("Misto dobra", "Ya maybutnye Ukrainy") spoke about business's responsibility to the future and how the decisions companies make today shape the country after the war.
Within the panel on social responsibility, Tetyana Smirnova (Ekonomika+), Lyudmyla Novak ("Interpipe"), Taras Kytsmey (SoftServe), Yuliia Yarmolenko ("Kyivskyi BKK"), Halyna Solovey (Ronald McDonald House Charities), Iryna Mietniova (Vandog Agency) and Serhiy Prytula (Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation) emphasized that social impact has ceased to be an "additional option" and should work as part of a business model with clear metrics integrated into company strategies.
Maryna Pavliuk (Glovo in Ukraine), Svitlana Onishchenko (SharksCode), Yevheniy Bachynskyi (Sigma Software), Serhiy Martynchuk (Cisco Ukraine), Oleksandr Krakovetskyi (DevRain), Nataliia Liashchenko ("KYIV24"), Mykola Tkachenko ("Astarta-Kyiv") reflected on the line between applied AI solutions and hype, areas of measurable effect from the use of artificial intelligence, and approaches to managing AI risks.
Pavlo Tsaruk (TAS Insurance Group) spoke about ways to achieve business results and systematic daily action as a strategy for real results.
Within the discussion on energy efficiency, Olha Buslavets (Honored Power Engineer of Ukraine, Ph.D. in Technical Sciences), Serhiy Kovalenko (YASNO), Serhiy Yevtushenko (UDP Renewables), Yana Shymunova (Sense Bank), Olha Rybachuk (Elementum Energy), Mykhailo Bubnov (Schneider Electric) outlined approaches to anti-crisis adaptation and the search for new ways to optimize business, including through the integration of energy-efficient solutions.
Vitaliy Lubinets (WIN WIN CLUB), Timur Kozonov (Foundation Coffee Roasters), Maryna Mkrticheva (Magnet Legal Law Firm), Oleksandr Bilyi (1+1 media), Valentyna Sakhno (Kyiv School of Economics) discussed where businesses should look for growth points in conditions of uncertainty and the main principles of the new management architecture.
The final block was a Q&A session on management mistakes with Vladyslav Antypov (CERN) and Artem Borodatyuk (FRACTAL), where they discussed intuitive management, the connection between managerial skills and the use of AI, the risks of burnout, and tools for leader development.
At the end of the event, the TOP-50 business leaders according to "TOP-100. Ratings of the Largest" magazine were awarded.
The organizers — business/media bureau Ekonomika+ and the leader of business content Delo.ua — are grateful to their partners:
main partners: Sense Bank, LESHCHENKO & PARTNERS,
general media partner — Starlight media
As well as partners Kyivstar, KSE, Linkos Group, coffee partner Foundation Coffee Roasters, water partner "Morshynska", alcohol partner Aznauri, sweet partner BKK.
Media partners: advertising holding "Megapolis+", Infovision, VS Media, "My Ukraine", "My Ukraine+", ICTV, "1+1 media", "KYIV24", media holding "Apostrophe", espreso.tv, UNN, HiTech Expert, Kyiv1, Logist.fm, "Kommersant Ukrainian", "Delovaya Stolitsa", Burda media Ukraine, Glavkom, trueua, ProfBuild magazine, Marketer.ua, Founder, Economist, budynok.com.ua, 44.ua, "Economic News", "Expert", "First Business", HR Liga, Mind.ua, mc.today, InVenture, "Labor Protection and Fire Safety", European Business Association, Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers of Poland.