UBL PIE Program Kick-off on September 2nd, 2022

Ukrainian Business Leaders: Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship is thrilled to finally engage with its newest cohort of 21 participants following the program postponement due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now re-designed in a hybrid format, the program kicked off on September 2nd with a virtual orientation hosted by Program Manager Stanislav Miachkov. Guest speakers included American Councils Executive Vice President Lisa Choate, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv Scott Whitmore, and President of National Center for Resource Development Joe Kapp, who will conduct the virtual portion of this hybrid Fellowship experience through his course on business leadership. UBL PIE Fellows joined the orientation from across Ukraine and several other countries. Some fellows are displaced by the war but are still committed to returning to Ukraine and increasing their business knowledge and professional development. At the conclusion of Mr. Kapp’s virtual course, American Councils looks forward to welcoming this delegation of UBL PIE Fellows to the United States in person to take part in a Study Tour, providing them with face-to-face trainings, workshops, and networking opportunities to grow their entrepreneurial competencies. “This program is one of our most important ones,” Scott Whitmore said of the UBL PIE Program, adding that it will be “a key factor to rebuilding and making Ukraine even stronger” in the coming months.