Through studying in the master’s programs at UCU Business School, participants gain not only valuable knowledge and skills but also a network of individuals with diverse management experience across various sectors. These connections are built over two years of close interaction in classrooms and often continue long after graduation. This environment of trust fosters profound reflections, collaborative projects, and fruitful partnerships.
One such example of business collaboration among Key Executive MBA graduates is the partnership between “Ukrpol Publishing House” and “ESEP Consulting.” Alumni involved in this venture include Svitlana Palko, Deputy General Director of “Ukrpol Publishing House”; Roman Petrylyak, Commercial Director of “Ukrpol Publishing House”; and Olena Sozanska-Ivankiv, founder of “ESEP Consulting,” a member of the UCU Business School Alumni Association Board, and the initiator of the UCU Business School Alumni Book Club and Advisory Board. All three were classmates in the Key Executive MBA class of 2019.
During the event “Partnership in Action: Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Development” at the UCU Alumni Forum, Svitlana, Roman, and Olena shared the stories of their companies, the results of their collaboration, and the implementation of sustainable development practices.
About “Ukrpol Publishing House”
Svitlana Palko and Roman Petrylyak have each worked at the company for over 20 years.
Founded in 1997, “Ukrpol Publishing House” has grown from a small team of 10 enthusiasts into a leading player in the cardboard packaging market in Ukraine and Europe. The company holds 19% of the domestic market share and exports 17% of its products abroad. Operating on 23,000 m² of production space in Stryi, the company manufactures 100 million units of packaging monthly.
“Visitors are always surprised that such a modern company, equipped with state-of-the-art printing technology from global leaders and collaborating with major international companies, operates in a provincial town. Today, ‘Ukrpol Publishing House’ is the market leader in cardboard packaging production in Ukraine,” shared Svitlana.
Choosing the Path of Sustainable Development
The company specializes in producing cardboard packaging for food products, sweets, teas, medicines, and cosmetics. Collaboration with international corporations such as McDonald’s, Nestlé, Jacobs, KFC, and Unilever brings new challenges, including requirements for renewable energy use and CO2 emission tracking. Additionally, the company faces increasing demands related to social responsibility, such as workplace conditions and “employee happiness audits.”
“Our international clients request data on the share of renewable energy in our production processes and the volume of CO2 emissions generated from the moment we procure cardboard to the final product and logistics. These companies want to ensure their business operations do not harm the environment. Moreover, there’s a strong focus on social audits to ensure ethical labor practices, as any dissatisfaction among employees could disrupt production and affect their supply chain,” explained Roman.
A Partnership for Sustainable Development
Olena Sozanska-Ivankiv, a business consultant specializing in sustainable development and change management, is a lecturer on sustainability at UCU Business School master’s programs and the founder of “ESEP Consulting.” Her company focuses on developing sustainability strategies, reports, and audits for businesses. Trust in Olena as a former classmate encouraged the leaders of “Ukrpol” to embark on a joint project.
Olena prepared a sustainability report for “Ukrpol” covering the years 2019–2023, detailing the company’s environmental, social, and economic initiatives. For instance, the report highlighted efforts in energy efficiency and waste recycling. “Ukrpol” sends its cardboard waste to PJSC “Kokhavynska Paper Factory,” which turns it into 13 million rolls of toilet paper annually.
“We outlined all the sustainable practices at ‘Ukrpol’ so that stakeholders, including investors, employees, and management, could have a unified understanding of the company’s efforts. This formed the basis for ideation sessions and the development of a roadmap for future growth, considering business needs,” explained Olena.
Through the report, Olena illustrated how the company reduces carbon emissions, supports military personnel, aids vulnerable populations in Stryi, promotes employee well-being, ensures gender equality, trains staff, and fosters the printing profession among students. The report demonstrated how “Ukrpol” contributes to 12 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Transforming Business and Creating the Future
This collaboration between Key Executive MBA alumni is just one of many examples demonstrating that studying at UCU Business School offers more than just lecture notes and a diploma project. It provides lifelong connections with people who can help transform businesses, build new ventures, and create a better future for the country.
Key Executive MBA is a master’s program for business owners and top managers (C-level) of Ukrainian companies who aim to scale their businesses domestically and internationally. Designed for strategic decision-makers in businesses operating for over five years, this program focuses on long-term vision, offering asymmetric solutions, unconventional strategies, and global projects.
Find more details about enrollment at lvbs.com.ua and seize the opportunity to join the UCU Business School community this year.
