On July 25, a “Breakfast of Trust” was held in the courtyard of Dzyga, dedicated to the memory of Yaroslav Rushchyshyn—an entrepreneur, philanthropist, public figure, and co-founder of the UCU Business School. The event brought together Yaroslav’s closest friends, colleagues, and partners for shared prayer, a meal, and an intellectual discussion on the role of trust in society.
Joining the discussion on a new paradigm of leadership and institutional resilience were Sofiya Opatska, founding dean of the UCU Business School and vice rector for strategic development at UCU; Yaryna Boychuk, director of the UCU Business School; Iryna Starovoit, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at UCU; artist Khrystyna Melnyk; and politician and Plast member Rostyslav Dobosh. The discussion was moderated by Volodymyr Turchynovskyy, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UCU. A shared meal, musical performances, and poetry readings served as a testament to Yaroslav’s legacy, which the “Trust Fund” in memory of Yaroslav Rushchyshyn—established by the UCU Business School—is committed to carrying forward.
The Credit of Trust as a Principle of Life
Sofiya Opatska opened the meeting by emphasizing that for the UCU Business School, Yaroslav Rushchyshyn was not merely a founder, but a person who laid the foundation of values through his own vulnerability and openness to others:
“This is such a large, wonderful community of people whose lives Slavko once touched in various ways. We deeply value the friendship we’ve built together. For most of us, he is associated with the word ‘trust.’ Given the traumas of our past, we usually start from a place of distrust, but Slavko was different—he always started from a place of trust.”
Volodymyr Turchynovskyy, moderating the discussion, drew attention to the breakfast format, which serves as a space for building a safe environment:
“Here, we took a leap of faith, trusted one another, and came to have breakfast together. This is already a wonderful opportunity to be together. Trust is our safety. And trust also protects us.”
Khrystyna Melnyk, analyzing entries from Yaroslav Rushchyshyn’s quote book, added that trust is a basic need, the absence of which paralyzes society:
“For me, trust is the foundation upon which our world is built. We think about it more when it’s missing. Slavko said that trust has an antonym, and it’s not distrust, but fear and uncertainty. Trust creates an environment where there is no fear.”
The Practice of Trust in Business and Politics
Yaryna Boychuk emphasized that for the business community, trust is not an abstract concept but a conscious action that radically accelerates all processes:
“Trust is, after all, a practice. We must constantly practice it with one another. Slavko argued that when you approach others with a credit of trust, you have a much better chance of receiving trust in return and multiplying it. This is a much shorter path to achieving results.”
Rostyslav Dobosh recalled Slavko’s energy and his ability to cultivate trust through personal sacrifice, which was particularly evident in his attitude toward young people and community initiatives:
“Few people know how to see trust in the Ukrainian people and cultivate it. Slavko used to say, ‘Trusting and loving must hurt your wallet.’ That was his life lesson for us.”
Iryna Starovoit emphasized Yaroslav Rushchyshyn’s ability to see potential where others had not yet seen it, contrasting trust with societal cynicism:
“Slavko knew how to support people by seeing their potential for growth—not just who you are, but who you can become.”
As a tribute to Yaroslav Rushchyshyn’s legacy, the UCU Business School has established a permanent “Trust Fund.” The school has committed to investing $500,000 in the development of research, educational programs, and initiatives dedicated to the theme of trust.
We would also like to remind you that, in memory of Yaroslav Rushchyshyn, the Ukrainian Catholic University has established a permanent scholarship fund in his name. The university is keeping the fundraising campaign for the permanent memorial fund in memory of Yaroslav Rushchyshyn open. Therefore, anyone interested can contribute via the link.
