Big Start will take place at the UCU Business School on October 7–10, 2026. These days mark the beginning of a two-year program for a new cohort of students—managers, entrepreneurs, and professionals—across five master’s programs. The theme of this year’s event is “Leadership in Change. Unity in Action. Resilience Through Development.”
Over the course of four days, participants will get to know the university, the UCU Business School team, and one another. Together with their mentors, they will set their own goals for the program, attend lectures by guest experts, test their management knowledge with the school’s leading faculty, and work on real-world business cases.
Five Master’s Programs
This year, participants in five programs are beginning their studies at the UCU Business School. Each program addresses specific challenges in the fields of business and management:
Business Administration (Key Executive MBA) — for business owners and top managers. Here, students learn to develop strategies for 10 or more years in advance and, in challenging times, make decisions where the potential reward far outweighs the risk.
Marketing Management (Master in Marketing Management) — for mid-level marketing professionals who want to build strong brands, develop strategies using digital tools, and build effective teams.
Innovations and Entrepreneurship (Master in Innovations and Entrepreneurship) — for aspiring entrepreneurs and startup founders who are developing cutting-edge products and business models.
Managing Impact-Driven Organizations (Master in Managing Impact-Driven Organizations) — for leaders who seek to build resilient and socially responsible organizations.
Technology Management (Master in Technology Management) — for professionals who use technology to optimize business operations, implement new solutions more quickly, and help teams work more productively.
Speakers and instructors with international experience
In the first module, students will gain international experience and practical tools to help them lead when much remains unknown. Among the instructors and speakers at Big Start 2026 are:
– Jean-Christophe Bonis – founder of Team4UA, technology entrepreneur. He will deliver a motivational speech to the audience, sharing his leadership experience in entrepreneurship and philanthropy, how he tackles today’s challenges, and what drives him toward a higher purpose.
– Prof. Viva Bartkus, University of Notre Dame (U.S.), will teach the course “Management in Turbulent Times.” Students will master the fundamentals of management, examine current challenges facing managers, and reflect on how the role of a leader changes in times of crisis and uncertainty.
Live Case Study: First Territorial Medical Association and the UNBROKEN Rehabilitation Center
One day will be dedicated to a case study based at the First Medical Territorial Association and the UNBROKEN Rehabilitation Center. Students will work within the real-world management context of the medical association: they will get to know the organization and its leaders, observe the work of the UNBROKEN Rehabilitation Center, and hear stories from people who have experienced trauma and recovery. Working in teams, students will tackle real management dilemmas faced by the Medical Territorial Association, develop their own solutions, and present them to the organization’s leaders.
At the UCU Business School, it is the participants and graduates of the master’s programs who build resilient systems, make bold decisions, and shape an ethical and effective future for Ukrainian business and society.
Would you like to be among next year’s Big Start participants?
