It’s easy to find negatives in a country when you focus so hard on a select few rather than acknowledging all the other talented individuals who are impacting the world in a positive and productive way.
The Kyiv Post had the great honor to be a media partner at the first-ever Ukraine House Davos during the Jan. 22-Jan. 26 World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
I represented the newspaper as CEO and also moderated a panel discussion with the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, the retired heavyweight boxing champions.
What I witnessed made me a stronger believer in Ukraine’s potential when the right focus is put on the right people.
Panel after panel, day after day, the location was packed, not only with Ukrainians as most would suspect, but with high caliber international guests and business icons such as Cees‘t Hart, the global CEO of Carlsberg; famed investor Vivek Y. Ranadive; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development president Suma Chakrabarti, Wired Magainze founder Ian Charles Stewart. They and many more see a huge potential in Ukraine and were curious to learn more first-hand rather than read biased articles from outside sources.
Having lived in Ukraine for close to 20 years, I understand clearly that we are far from perfect and we are slow on reform, corruption, etc. but what country isn’t?
Some are simply better at masking it while other more developed countries have found ways to justify their corruption — take a look at the global banking systems and how they operate with impunity with illegally obtained funds.
I should know. I’m from Montreal, Canada and with a simple Google search, you would find story after story of major corruption at the top of the political institutions.
But does this mean that all Canadians are corrupt? That our economy should suffer and that we can’t attract investment? Of course not!
This is why Ukraine, with all its shortcomings, does have an entire population of talented people who are ready to show what they can deliver to the world and are dedicated to helping shape this country into what it has the potential to become!
What I found refreshing about my Davos experience was the opportunity to engage in an open and respectful conversation free of typical stereotypes about tangible steps that Ukraine and its private sector can deliver and how to increase its business activities.
Ukraine House Davos was one of the busiest if not the most popular, in my biased opinion, on the promenade as guests saw what could be accomplished. I salute the dedicated people from the private sector who came together to create this wonderful venue without any government help.
This demonstrated to me that a nation can be successful when all come together as one. As John F. Kennedy said: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country!” These words could not have been more appropriate from what I saw in Davos.
I understand the frustrations of many with the actions of the powerful and few who often tarnish the work and the potential of the many. But Davos was a clear signal that Ukraine is a survivor and that good will prevail and the country will one day reach its rightful place in the world economy and in people’s minds and hearts.
While some may dismiss Ukraine House Davos as a public relations stunt, I see it as a powerful start that will grow yearly and will prompt investors to discover this great country and its potential, as I did more than 20 years ago.
It’s easy to point a finger and blame others when things don’t quite work the way they should, but to make change, one should look in the mirror and start there.
Slava Ukrayini! Heroyam slava!
Watch the panel discussions at Ukraine House Davos here. To watch the panel discussions of the World Economic Forum, check here.
