Last week, the off-site module of the Presidents’ MBA took place in Zakarpattia. Each day, participants worked in different contexts: business, manufacturing, culture, and public governance. Gradually, this built a coherent logic of interaction among various stakeholders for the region’s development.

Day 1: The first day began with exploring the context. Together with Rosana Tuzhanska, co-founder and CEO of Varosh and a PMBA-28 graduate, we discussed the region’s history and culture. With Robert Traxler, founder of Traksler Development, we talked about the development potential of Uzhhorod. The day ended at the ILKO Gallery Art Center, where art critic Ivan Nebesnyk helped us explore the identity of the Transcarpathian art school.

Day 2: We visited the Ukrainian office of the Austrian company Fischer, which manufactures winter sports equipment. Later, with Viktor Mykhailov, founder of the restaurant complex "Poryadnyy Gazda," we explored the "farm-to-table" vertical integration model. During a meeting with pastry chef Valentyn Stefanyo, we discussed how the "Uzhhorod" cake evolved from a local product into a regional signature brand.

Day 3: In a meeting with the heads of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration, Vasyl Ivancho and Myroslav Biletskyi, we discussed the region’s strategic priorities and opportunities for cross-border cooperation. The day continued at the Chateau Chizay winery, where we analyzed the strategy of bringing a local product into the premium segment.

Day 4: We examined local business operations. At the Rosenthal eco-farm, we saw how businesses interact with the community — including through the revival of a century-old cheese dairy. At the Tsypa craft brewery, the focus was on scaling without losing authenticity and fostering a culture of experimentation.

Day 5: To conclude, we looked at the case of the biotech company Biopharma Plasma. We discussed the resilience of business models in the face of global challenges and how the private sector can transform the healthcare industry. Finally, with Olga Toichkina, co-founder of the Syrovyna wine space and the WINE LAB educational project, we analyzed the potential of Transcarpathian winemaking.