Leadership for a New Ukraine: Rooted in Character and Values

“Leadership is not about titles. It’s about stepping into the gap between what is and what could be”,

Leonard Mazur.

On May 16, 2025, students of the “MSc in Managing Impact-Driven Organizations” program at the UCU Business School took part in a special learning module dedicated to value-based and innovative Leadership in times of turbulence. The second part of the session was led by Andrew Rozhdestvensky, Executive Director of the Center for Leadership of UCU, and one of its speakers was Leonard Mazur – a Ukrainian-American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Chairman of the Board of “Citius Pharmaceuticals”.

This online session, held in the format of an open conversation with students, became one of the highlights of the module, combining profound life wisdom, relevant management practices, and an honest call to nurture a new generation of leaders in Ukraine – leaders who are not only effective but also responsible, visionary, and resilient. And also – one of those whom the Ukrainian Catholic University Community can rightfully consider a Friend.

At the same time, this dialogue went far beyond a typical conversation. It became something of a manifesto for those who have taken on the weight of Leadership during a time of profound transformation. Today, we would like to share with you the key ideas of Leonard Mazur – a man who doesn’t just teach Leadership, but embodies it.

A Life Rooted in Values: Who Is Leonard Mazur

When students of the “MSc in Managing Impact-Driven Organizations” program listened to Leonard Mazur’s online address, they were hearing more than a success story. They were meeting a person for whom Leadership is a continuation of personal biography, not just a set of professional tools.

Born in a displaced persons camp in Germany, he grew up in the United States and built a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. At the age of 50, he launched his own business, which eventually evolved into “Citius Pharmaceuticals” – an innovative public company focused on oncology and critical care. But parallel to his business achievements, the businessman has supported Ukraine since 1991: first as an independent observer during the referendum for independence, later as a philanthropist, donor, and strategic ally.

“This isn’t politics. It’s a matter of morality”, he explained, referring to his involvement in helping wounded Ukrainian soldiers – personally facilitating their transport to the United States for prosthetics and rehabilitation.

Leadership as Action, Not Concept: Five Pillars of Character

Leonard Mazur was clear: he doesn’t believe in Leadership as a collection of slogans. For him, Leadership is a daily practice of responsibility. His model is what he calls “Character-driven Leadership” in the deepest sense.

Here are the five qualities he considers essential:

1. Empathy. You can’t lead a team if you don’t understand its emotional state – especially during change, layoffs, or crisis.

“Sometimes, people don’t need a bonus – they need a week off to recover”,

speaker explained.

2. Resilience. In biotech, 90% of efforts end in failure. But every failure teaches more than most successes.

“Failure is not an option. You have to learn to lose – and not stop”,

he advised.

3. Decisiveness. It’s important to act even when you don’t have full information.

“There will never be a perfect moment. Make the decision. If it was wrong – acknowledge it, fix it, and move on”,

Leonard Mazur emphasized.

4. Integrity. It’s not just about ethics – it’s about consistency in your words, actions, and strategies.

“Reputation is currency. If you lose it, nothing else matters”,

he stressed.

5. Adaptability. Companies that don’t change disappear. And this applies not only to markets – but also to leaders.

Leadership in Ukraine: Between Trauma, Transformation, and Hope

A significant part of Leonard Mazur’s address focused on what it means to be a leader in the Ukrainian context – in a reality shaped by full-scale war, trauma, loss, and hope.

“Leadership in Ukraine today is moral courage. It’s the voice that says: “We will not only survive. We will build something better than what was”. And that is what defines it”,

the speaker emphasized.

Entrepreneur shared his vision of the core competencies that should shape the next wave of Ukrainian leaders:

• Strategic foresight. Leaders must design long-term systems, looking beyond the visible planning horizon – seeing what most cannot – rather than merely solving today’s problems.

“Vision is the courage to strive for something big before it becomes obvious. You must always “look around the corner”. Whether you lead a large organization or a small team, you need to set the direction. You need to see what others do not”,

the guest expressed poetically – and most aptly.

• Emotional maturity. War leaves invisible wounds. A leader must recognize this and be unafraid to work with vulnerability.
• Global awareness. Ukraine is not in isolation. Leaders must be capable of communicating with investors in Germany, regulators in Brussels, and clients in Odesa.
• Ethical action. In critical situations, decisions must be guided not by algorithms, but by conscience.

AI Is Not a Substitute for Leaders – It Reflects Their Values

According to Leonard Mazur, Artificial Intelligence is not an answer in itself – it is a tool that amplifies the quality of human decisions.

“AI can optimize, but it cannot determine what is a priority. It doesn’t know what is good”,

he underlined.

For young leaders building impact-driven organizations, this means that the future of technology will depend not on technical efficiency, but on the moral integrity of the leaders who implement it.

From Success to Impact: Why True Leadership Is Always About Others

One of the most powerful moments of the talk was Leonard Mazur’s response to a question about motivation. He shared a formative story: in his youth, when he could not afford university tuition, the owner of the furniture store where he worked handed him a check and said, “Write down the amount you need. Pay me back whenever you can”.

“That act shaped me. And I decided that I would always give back. Because success is not a finish line – it’s the beginning of responsibility”,

he reflected.

This philosophy also shaped how he develops leaders within his own company. No generic training programs – but trust and opportunity. When he sees potential in someone, he gives them more autonomy, invites them to the board of directors, and assigns meaningful challenges.

“I don’t shape leaders by template. I give them the opportunity to grow into something greater. [Try that yourselves]”,

the speaker encouraged the audience.

Ukraine as a Space for a New Kind of Leadership

To close his address, Mazur offered students a powerful message:

“Ukraine today is the gap between what is and what could be. And it is you – this generation – who will determine whether the country becomes more resilient, more moral, and more competitive”.

This was not just a metaphor. It was a call to action – an expression of trust in those who sat in front of their screens. Leaders who are thinking not in terms of status, but impact. Not about profit, but about rebuilding the social fabric.

This module was not just another guest lecture. It embodied the very approach we promote at the Center for Leadership of UCU: Leadership as action, rooted in Values. Leadership as responsibility to the Community. Leadership as a path to impact that reaches far beyond company boundaries.

In this context, Leonard Mazur became a voice that affirms a simple truth: Strong business starts with strong Character. And a strong country begins with leaders who are not afraid to be human.

And we are deeply grateful to him for his strength, sincerity, vision, and the profoundly relevant example he has offered to those building the future of Ukraine!