Mentoring for Leaders Program
On March 15, 2024, a mentoring meeting was held with students of the Educational and Research Institute of International Relations of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv within the framework of the Mentoring for Leaders program from the NGO UA Experts.
Speakers of the event:
Antti Hartikainen, Head of the EU Advisory Mission 2019-2023;
Mykhailo Vydoinyk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark 2018-2023;
Vitaliy Portnikov, Ukrainian publicist, analyst, journalist;
Yulia Sokolovska, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine 2019-2020.
"The appointment to Ukraine was the pinnacle of my career, because your country is really committed to European integration and my work here brings maximum benefit," shared Antti Hartikainen. "Language skills are only a tool for doing your job. Of course, you have to study in depth the European integration conditions."
"I urge you not to be afraid of any work - this is a plus for your resume, the employer will appreciate your experience," said Mykhailo Vydoinyk. "We are forming a nation of leaders, and Denmark is forming a friendly nation where everyone helps each other."
"The main thing is to learn to think systematically. How you do it is your choice. Life is a chessboard on which you have to outplay everyone," says Vitaliy Portnikov. "When Ukraine wins the war, there will not be a return to international law, but the process of creating a new international law will begin."
"You don't need to do things right, you need to do the right things," said Yulia Sokolovska. "Being a leader means taking responsibility and not being afraid."
Participants of the program adopted the experience of speakers about the importance of diplomacy in achieving goals on the way to the EU and communication as a guarantee of leadership.
The Mentoring for Leaders program is implemented by NGO UA Experts on the initiative of the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and support of the USAID Ukraine - USAID Ukraine project "Strengthening Public Trust" (UCBI: Strengthening Public Trust in Ukraine).