Roman Nabozhniak, an Anti-Terrorist Operation veteran and the founder of Veterano Brownie, served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the eastern part of the country in 2015-2016, although before that, he had no military experience and worked for an IT company. To get into the army, he had to go through a serious school, and he did just that. And after demobilization, he and his wife founded a mono-cafe specializing in brownies. The team included veterans and IDPs because the business had a strong social component: assistance in adapting to a peaceful life.

On the eve of February 24, Roman planned further business steps for his cafe, collaborating with a new partner. However, instead of implementing these plans, he joined the ranks of our defenders and organized a very successful fundraiser to provide everything necessary for his military unit.

The business had to be stopped: the team left Kyiv, and some members joined the Armed Forces. On his Facebook page, Roman wrote, “At kmbs, I learned to be clear about my roles at the moment. Currently, my role is that of a senior soldier in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the times of the war. I am not an entrepreneur now. Not a public figure who gives comments to the media, whether Ukrainian or foreign. Neither about business, nor about the current situation at the front, nor about how I am doing, etc. etc. etc. My dreams for “after the war” are first of all about “seeing my family.” Now each of you understands this 100%. We will rebuild everything after the victory. We are currently working on it. And I am more focused than ever on this task.”

At kmbs, I learned to be clear about my roles at the moment. Currently, my role is that of a senior soldier in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Arsen Zhumadilov, the Director General of Medical Procurement of Ukraine State Enterprise and a participant of the kmbs Executive MBA program, is originally from Simferopol. So, he knows better than anyone the price of the “Russian world.”

From the first days of the war, Arsen was engaged in what his organization knows best — in the establishment of medical supplies. Medical Procurement appealed to suppliers who had stocks of medicines and were ready to transfer them to the needs of doctors, the military and volunteers. Dozens of companies responded, which made it possible to more quickly meet the demand of the country’s defenders for medicines.

Later, Arsen and his colleagues began to coordinate receiving assistance from abroad. And, finally, he became one of those participants and graduates of kmbs MBA programs, who joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. On March 18, Arsen took an oath of enlistment.

From the first days of the war, Arsen was engaged in what his organization knows best — in the establishment of medical supplies

“I have made the decision following the results of an interdepartmental meeting, where the SE shared its experience of working in the current conditions,” Arsen said on a Facebook post. “I got mobilized to the ranks of the Armed Forces, helping to coordinate the supply of goods for the medical needs of servicemen. At the same time, I go through the formal and real components of military service in wartime. After Ukraine’s victory over the Mordor, I plan to return to work at the State Enterprise. Now, our company has a clear and at the same time flexible vision of work in the current conditions. It will not be easy for the company but there has not been a single crisis from which Medical Procurement of Ukraine State Enterprise had not come out stronger. There are all the prerequisites that the company will be stronger this time as well. And this will happen in the country of the winners.”

How Managers Change Roles during the War. Arsen Zhumadilov and Roman Nabozhniak