The UCU Business School Alumni Awards is an annual recognition of the achievements and professional accomplishments of our graduates. Every year at the beginning of November, the alumni community gathers to share experience, draw inspiration from one another’s stories, and celebrate the success of those who exemplify leadership and service.
We sincerely congratulate this year’s Alumni Awards 2025 winners:
Business and Industry Breakthrough Award
(For a breakthrough in business or industry development, entry into export markets, or the implementation of innovative solutions.)
Award recipient: Pavlo Zaiats — graduate of the MSc in Innovations and Entrepreneurship program (2023) and Stanford Ignite Ukraine-2, founder and CEO of Petslike.
Pavlo Zaiats has demonstrated a true breakthrough in the pet products industry. In the first nine months of 2025, the company’s turnover grew by 49.9% — from 319 million UAH to 478 million UAH, while the Petslike brand experienced 93% brand growth, reaching 193 million UAH in the same period. Pavlo and his company are listed among the 250 fastest-growing small and medium-sized enterprises.
Company revenue for 2024: 180 million UAH.
Business Resilience Award
(Recognizing leaders who have proven that no crisis can stop real entrepreneurship. This award honors those who, despite relocation, shelling, or occupation, not only restored business operations but also created new, critically important services, turning challenges into opportunities.)
Award recipient: Marianna Bilyk-Tomashek — graduate of the Key Executive MBA program (2024), co-owner, founder, and CEO of BISH company, and head of the public organization Dental Front, which aims to reform dental care in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Under her leadership, the organization, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Internal Affairs, is implementing a nationwide system of dental identification of military personnel.
Ukraine Global Brand Development Award
(For strengthening the brand of Ukraine on the global business map — recognizing companies, organizations, and individuals that shape Ukraine’s image as a country of entrepreneurs, innovative and high-quality products, and responsible business capable of global competition.)
Award recipients: Maksym Hladysh and Nazar Hembara — graduates of the MSc in Technology Management program (2024), co-founders of BotsCrew.
Together with their team, Maksym and Nazar achieved a large-scale technological breakthrough by evolving a bot service company into a provider of high-performance AI solutions. Their strategic merger with CourtAvenue highlighted Ukraine as a significant location on the global map of AI innovation.
The acquisition of BotsCrew by CourtAvenue (an Inc. 5000 company) demonstrates the global value of Ukrainian AI expertise.
BotsCrew stands as an example of how Ukrainian innovation positions the country as an exporter not of raw materials but of intelligence, creativity, and technological leadership.
Strategic Impact in Security and Defense Award
(For graduates whose work significantly contributes to the development of defense innovations and to building a secure future for Ukraine.)
Award recipients: Viktoriia Yaremchuk and Volodymyr Nepiuk — graduates of the MSc in Technology Management program (2023), co-founders of Farsight Vision, a Ukrainian defence-tech company developing innovative systems for analytics and situational awareness in combat zones. Their platform enables drone pilots and analysts to collaborate using 3D models and orthophotos for more precise operational planning and navigation.
In one year, the team has grown from 6 to over 30 specialists across Deep Tech, Computer Vision, Data Science, VR, and 3D modeling divisions, and has launched new products — FSV Navigator and FSV VR. Farsight Vision’s technologies allow navigation of drones and ground systems without relay stations, creating precise 3D terrain maps that increase targeting accuracy and reduce risks to soldiers’ lives. The company already cooperates with leading units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and participates in international defence initiatives — Resilience Conference, UK-Ukraine TechBridge, and SRI Deep Tech Security Accelerator.
Community & Social Impact Award
(For those who significantly contribute to community and societal development, implement civic, cultural, or social initiatives, engage in business and professional associations, and demonstrate outstanding generosity through financial support or volunteer work.)
Award recipient: Mariana Savka — graduate of the Key Executive MBA program (2025), founder and editor-in-chief of The Old Lion Publishing House.
In 2024, Mariana launched the unique festival “Land of Poets”, and in 2025, she organized the first “Bestseller Fest,” bringing together authors from across Ukraine. The Land of Poets project is remarkable in scale and cultural impact — helping Ukrainians rediscover their heritage, reconnect with national literary tradition, and meet artists who are living legends.
Marketing Excellence Award
(For those whose daily work makes companies stronger, products better known, and the Ukrainian marketing landscape more mature and competitive.)
Award recipient: Marta Rohach — graduate of the MSc in Marketing Management program (2023), B2B marketer at monobank, developing the bank’s corporate segment.
While at monobank, Marta:
- doubled monthly acquisition of corporate clients (legal entities and private entrepreneurs) by scaling paid traffic channels and optimizing campaigns;
- worked on the launch of a new legal-entity product, a milestone for monobank’s corporate development;
- took part in launching the “Tap to Phone Terminal on iPhone” — monobank became only the second bank in Ukraine to implement this technology; after release, the app entered the top-2 in the App Store;
- collaborated with Apple’s marketing team;
- created and expanded the monob B2B community for accountants and financial specialists (nearly 1,000 members, regular offline events, partnership program);
- launched monobank’s B2B website section and developed the messaging system for the bank’s business product ecosystem.
Product & Service Innovation Award
(For the creation of innovative products or services with significant business impact.)
Award recipient: Anastasiia Khmelovska — graduate of the MSc in Marketing Management program (2021), co-founder of Zmina Agency and founder of the Anakonda brand. The brand introduced several innovations: ultra-light elastic mesh certified by OEKO-TEX®, adapting to the body and unnoticeable on the skin; PYRATEX® fabric enriched with marine algae, offering soothing and pleasant tactile effects. The lingerie design allows it to be worn both under clothing and as a component of everyday or evening outfits. The brand actively promotes women’s health, responsible manufacturing, and a body-positive culture without taboos.
Anastasiia plans to reach $30,000 in sales in 2025, and to scale to the U.S. market by the end of 2026, proving that Ukrainian fashion can be global and competitive.
Read more about Alumni Leadership Day at the link below.
