Ukrainian veterans take part in leadership programme at Warwick Business School

A group of 15 Ukrainian war heroes have recently participated in a groundbreaking leadership programme at Warwick Business School.

The five-day Veterans Leadership Programme, which took place in September, was designed to help equip participants with the skills needed to aid Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

Its curriculum combined academic expertise with practical insight, featuring sessions from leading businesses.

Among those who took part was Maria Chekh, who survived the Russian siege of her home city, Mariupol, in 2022.

Through design thinking and collaborative learning, we hope to equip participants with the tools to drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond

Bo Kelestyn, Associate Professor at Warwick Business School and co-director of the Veterans Leadership Programme

She told the BBC: “Two females soldiers, my sisters in arms, died and I don’t know how I survived because I was actually closer to the explosion than they were, but in war sometimes strange things happen.”

Maria is using her ordeal, which saw her taken captive and tortured in Russian prison camps, to inspire and help others rebuild their lives.

She established a non-profit organisation that has taken fellow veterans on cultural and sports tours abroad, aiming to facilitate the rehabilitation process and “reboot them”.

“In my experience, people who had more positive experiences before war and captivity were better able to handle stress. I believe that this can restore them further,” she added.

Bo Kelestyn, Associate Professor at Warwick Business School and co-director of the programme, was delighted to welcome the veterans to the school.

Now studying towards a degree in political science, [Danylo Shyngelskyi] believes that he and his fellow veterans can continue to serve their country even away from the front lines

“Their commitment to public service and democratic values resonates deeply with our mission to foster inclusive and innovative leadership,” she said.

“Through design thinking and collaborative learning, we hope to equip participants with the tools to drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond.”

Another of those who took part is Danylo Shyngelskyi, who served in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War for two-and-a-half years before being medically discharged.

Now studying towards a degree in political science, Danylo believes that he and his fellow veterans can continue to serve their country even away from the front lines.

“Education can help me do this work better,” he said. “The best future for Ukraine is a future with Europe, so we must develop this connection with Europe.”

Warwick Business School hopes to welcome more Ukrainian veterans in the future.