Participants of the “Action in Hope” Program in Kryvyi Rih Learned the Art of Negotiation and Leadership Amid Change

Thirty entrepreneurs, business representatives, community leaders, civil society figures, and local government officials participated in the module. The lecturer and coach was Andriy Rozhdestvenskyy—head of the Leadership Center of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

The central element of the session was an analysis of the case study “Isaac Park: Crucible of Leadership,” which allowed participants to examine a real-world situation involving the management of complex organizational changes. The discussion focused on leadership responsibility, overcoming resistance to change, building team trust, and conducting negotiations during crisis circumstances.

During the classes, participants worked on understanding the nature of conflicts and objections that inevitably arise during transformation. Special attention was paid to how a leader can respond to criticism, maintain internal resilience, and direct the team toward a shared goal even when surrounded by doubt and disappointment.

Andriy Rozhdestvenskyy emphasized that most difficulties during times of change stem not from technical or organisational factors, but from human behaviour. Therefore, a successful leader must not only propose new solutions, but also help people adapt to them, overcome fears, and foster readiness for a new reality.

A dedicated portion of the lecture focused on developing executive personal resilience. Participants examined crisis situations as “defining moments” that shape a leader’s character and help clarify the core values upon which team trust and effective change management are built.

Attendees immediately mapped the acquired knowledge onto their own projects, businesses, and civic initiatives. The practical format enabled them to not only master negotiation tools but also gain a deeper understanding of the leader’s role in organizational and community development.

The mini-MBA program “Action in Hope” aims to foster a network of responsible leaders capable of combining professional competence with a values-based approach to management, contributing to the recovery and development of Ukrainian communities amid modern challenges.