Leadership Lessons from the War in Ukraine for Recovery and Positive Change

In their study, Sofia Opatska, Andriy Rozhdestvensky, Gerard Sates, and Andy Gunder explored five key themes of the war and the related lessons for educational institutions, businesses, and leaders: resilience; fragmentation; grief; critical thinking; and vision.

Read more about leadership and victory after victory at the link.

Abstract

Case studies of countries at war are not typically part of the curriculum at business schools. However, such events have lots to offer in terms of leadership. Consider the following: Analysts estimated that the Russian Armed Forces would be capable of capturing Kyiv and removing the Ukrainian government within three days after the start of the full-scale invasion. However, more than three years into the war, Ukrainians have defied this prediction and continue to live through unimaginable hardship with exceptional fortitude.We highlight five main themes from the ongoing war and associated lessons for educational institutions, businesses, and leaders – resilience; fragmentation; grief; critical thinking; and vision – and make the point to never forget about the victory after the victory. Holding onto the victory will be crucial, not only to find a way forward but to keep despair at bay. Purpose, new perspective, and a sense of contributing to something larger can grow out of the need for wartime resilience. A new awareness of and commitment to gender equity can arise from fragmentation. Loss and grief can motivate societal change through post-traumatic growth. And the horrors of war can also serve as a wake-up call that leads to increased education and critical thinking. Such transformation is ongoing and can start now, even before the war is over.