Democracy as a verb: a reflection from a fellow

Today, when the world order is being challenged on the daily basis, when values are under pressure test and our humanitarian law is not necessarily protecting, but requires protection, I often come back to the true meaning of these strong words: #power, #values, #democracy.

This is something that kept me on my toes from student times while navigating through #international law, and it blinks even stronger today.

Since the moment in spring 2022, when I have been confirmed as a finalist of the flagship program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States - Marshall Memorial Fellowship, I have had a privilege to be surrounded but intelligent yet brave people, sharing their thoughts and values, thus provoking my mind to dig deeper.

Once this brain power turned around together in final three weeks of the program, where we embraced it all, from Washington D.C, via Houston, Detroit and Baltimore towards Brussels – all suddenly came crystal clear: purposeful and intentional strategies are met with inspirational, sincere and open hearts, bright minds and never-ending energy. And it clicked! As a proud Ukrainian I was on a mission to talk about Ukraine as an amazing example of strength and inner light.

My few take outs on our numerous discussions on democracy, social impact and personal roles:

·?????? Resilience of Democracy. Sometimes, in the quick change of events, we forget the base. The base that is structuring our nutshell and filling our inner base. This cannot be fragile – this is rock solid, requiring, however courage to pursue the democracy not as a result, but as a state of mind, state of approach, base for decisions and a beacon for a brave new world. As my favorite professor from 欧洲工商管理学院 (INSEAD) Ludo VAN DER HEYDEN has always been saying – Leadership is taken, not given. And throughout my numerous discussions I would add – Democracy is being exercised every day in every decision, otherwise it might fade away.

·?????? Pursuit of happiness. I do recall a quote from Declaration of Independence of 4 July, 1776 “ We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. And this is truly inspirational ‘pursuit of happiness’ moment. But I am even more proud that first Ukrainian Constitution drafted by Ukrainian Hetman Pylyp Orlyk in 1710 was actually a pre-requisite to many democratic norms we have today, as clear segregation of powers – as one of the basis of constitution. Isn’t that amazing? More than 300 years ago, Ukrainian kozaks fighting for freedom just as my country today, were designing the basis of future democracies.

·?????? Having courage to stick to values in challenging times. Values have always been there for us. Developed and thought, but also given, suggested and transformed. Today’s technologies and worlds’ grief at times challenges values – are they still there? Are they still valid? Do they go through reform-transform path? We had many hours discussing those, challenging and thinking aloud. To me the answer is very personal but in one quote – “If we fear the future, we will hide in the past”. And only strong base – values – will keep us going.

After million gratitude once again to Sarah Jones Bailey Childers Erica Folkestad , I would like to sincere thank my Company, the LEGO Group , Poul Hartvig Nielsien, Jesper Andersen Marina Edwards – as notwithstanding being very new to the business, I have received unimaginable support, which allowed me to finalize MMF program with full fuel, and …. Dream of new high.

Getting to new challenges, experimenting with your inner beliefs we are fueled to become better leaders – through thinking, provoking and being provoked, through diplomacy and engagement, development self and feeding back to others- new us, new impactful positive, strengthening the value chain of transatlantic cooperation.