Alumni Leadership Day – 2024: 5 Key Insights from Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s Speech
Valerii Zaluzhnyi approached his communication at Alumni Leadership Day – 2024 in a unique and unconventional way. Instead of delivering a pre-planned speech followed by a short Q&A session, as many public figures do, he focused on answering questions that were most relevant to the audience. The event was not recorded, which allowed him to be more candid with the participants. Here are the most memorable takeaways:
💬 Leadership is about accountability and responsibility.
It’s less about being accountable to superiors and more about being responsible to the people who trust you. Building “family-like” relationships within the team holds immense power, but it also comes with a risk: individuals who experience this style of leadership can struggle when returning to typical hierarchical systems. This is why sustaining leadership within the team and embedding it into the organizational culture is crucial.
Valerii outlined three periods that shaped his character:
- 1993–1997: His studies at the Odessa Institute of Land Forces.
- 1997–2007: His climb through various levels of officer service.
- 2007–present: His development into the leader we know today.
He described this evolution as a response both to the system he was part of at the time and his understanding of what a leader should be. These stages can be summarized as:
- Gaining respect and authority in an environment that only understands strength.
- Achieving discipline to influence the environment through power.
- Recognizing the value of building a team as a true leader.
💬 Business and the military share more similarities than commonly believed.
Discipline, clear planning, teamwork, and task prioritization are the cornerstones of both successful businesses and military operations. Zaluzhnyi suggested that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could benefit from adopting entrepreneurial approaches that emphasize speed, efficiency, and communication. For example, integrating logistics models from companies like Nova Poshta into certain brigades is a testament to the benefits of such collaboration.
💬 The secret to Zaluzhnyi’s success lies in forming horizontal connections.
He has an excellent memory for names and faces, treats service members of all ranks with respect, and is open to feedback. This approach has allowed him to gather first-hand information directly from military units, complementing official reports. These informal channels not only provided him with a clear picture of the situation but also discouraged commanders from lying, as they knew his network of contacts could expose the truth.
💬 A major societal challenge will be the reintegration of veterans.
Zaluzhnyi warned that Ukrainian society must prepare for the reintegration of veterans to avoid a repeat of the 1990s. The challenges faced by Afghan war veterans, such as distrust of civilian life, “black-and-white” worldviews, and isolation, contributed to a surge in crime during that period. The solution lies not in changing veterans but in adapting society to welcome them, with love as the foundation of this effort.
💬 A warm and inspiring atmosphere.
The event was filled with genuine interest, meaningful questions, and recognition of Zaluzhnyi’s achievements. He extended his time with the audience and expressed a willingness to repeat such collaborations in the future. Several times, the audience broke into applause, including a standing ovation at the end. Zaluzhnyi admitted he addressed the audience as “adults” who are themselves role models, creating a truly memorable interaction.
The event concluded with heartfelt gratitude and a strong sense of admiration from everyone present.
