Whatever happens, business is the first to react to changes and find solutions. 2022 proved that. It took Ukrainian companies only several weeks to create new scenarios and plans and start implementing them.

We were telling the stories of our students and graduates who joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine or Territorial Defense Units, organized volunteering operations, started manufacturing lines, entered foreign markets, survived the occupation, received prestigious awards, or were appointed to key positions. 

We are offering our collection of stories that are highlighting MIM-Kyiv community activities to facilitate our Victory. 

1. Serhii Shovkaluk, MBA 2016 co-founded the Public organization “Volunteer help 4.5.0.” in the very first days of the invasion. Making bulletproof vests is one of the important areas of activity.  

2 In Astarta-Kyiv, MIM-Kyiv’s long-term partner, several alumni hold key positions. Regardless of all challenges of this year’s sowing campaign, Vadym Skypnyk launched volunteering initiatives and Oleg Positko organized support for those who fight at the frontlines. 

3 Dmytro Pylypenko, a graduate of two programs put aside his security business and started making reliable armor plates at a reasonable price. 

4 Serhii Feylo joined efforts with Serhii Feylo and launched armor plate carrier manufacturing.

5 Come Back Alive Foundation was the first organization to obtain a license to purchase Bayraktars and similar goods. MIM-Kyiv graduates held key positions there. Oleksandr Sudarkin, MBA programs director is the organization’s volunteer. Taras Chmut, the CEO of the Foundation and MIM-Kyiv graduate was on Forbes’s “30 under 30” ranking of the most influential young people.

6 Oleksandr Sokolov, 2nd year SE MBA student expanded his Smile-Food business and entered the Bulgarian market. 

7 Denys Dovhopoly, founder of the Unicorn Nest and MIM-Kyiv graduate has been working with international organizations to case out international businesses from russia and make them cement the public image of toxicity of the russia.  

8 Yaroslav Yanushevych, SE MBA 2021 was appointed the Governor of Kherson Oblast.

9 Volodymyr Shevchenko, founder of Veterano Cava and MIM-Kyiv’s MBA joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the very first day of the war. His wife runs the business while he fights at the frontline. 

10 Maria Brovinska, a journalist and Pre-MBA Marketing program graduate survived the occupation. She wrote letters and risked escaping the occupied territories.

11 Svitlana Zaluzhna organized support services for Ukrainian families in Lithuania. She studied at MIM-Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity.

12 Serhii Kruhlyk, a MIM-Kyiv graduate put aside his banking activities to join the Territorial Defense Unit.

13 Hryhorii Andrushko, founder of a security systems firm provided intelligence when stuck in occupation. After liberation, he sent his family abroad and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.  

14 Oleh Shaporenko and his team opened a hostel for occupation survivors in Lviv in the early days of the war. 

15 Volodymyr Lupatsiy founded the National Platform of Resilience to advocate Ukrainian interests in Europe. 

16 Yevhenia Kubakh is the organizational development and fundraising coordinator of the Center for Civil Liberties which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. She isMIM-Kyiv Management and Leadership Pre-MBA program graduate.

17 Yulia Pavlenko, director of the Ukrposhta’s International Operations department and SE MBA received the “International Provider of the Year” Award on behalf of the national postal operator. She was also a part of the cooperation with Amazon and was mentioned in the Financial Times.

18 Halyna Chyburovska and Maryna Matviychuk launched and run Volunteering Headquarters. 

19 Serhii Honcharevych, SE MBA, and Nia Nickel, Crafting Business Makers School alum founded the Children of Heroes Foundation to support orphaned children of war. MIM-Kyiv is an information partner of the “Worried” Project. 

20 Vitaly Deynega, founder of the “Come Back Alive” charity returned from the round-the-world trip to work on the new projects that facilitate our Victory.

21 Natalia Kalmykova, MBA was appointed managing director of the Ukrainian Veterans’ Fund in February 2022. She has restructured the Fund to meet the current challenges. 

22 Serhii Shulyck from Poltava managed to expand his retail chain during the war. He is a firm believer in partnerships whose success story proves him right. 

We have much more stories. Practically every member of the MIM-Kyiv community has been contributing to the new history. We wish them all the best and new truly victorious stories in 2023.