In Session: Yuliya Tychkivska

In this episode of In Session, Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Kyiv, reflects on how the war in Ukraine has reshaped her understanding of leadership.

Raised with a belief in democracy and freedom, she never imagined her country would have to defend those values in the center of Europe in the twenty first century. That reality, she says, has made one truth unmistakable: leadership is measured by actions, not words.

The past three years have shown her that real leadership is not management. It is caring for people, inspiring them, and offering hope in moments that feel impossible. It is growing alongside your community and finding resilience together.

Tychkivska carries a simple motto from a mentor. Believe in yourself, even when the ground feels unsteady. Believe in the people around you, because leadership is always a shared effort. And believe that good will prevail, even when darkness feels endless.

She also speaks openly about the sacrifices leadership requires, especially while raising three children and guiding an organization through crisis. Leadership has a price, she says, and it demands honesty, strength, and sustained effort.

Through it all, her message is clear: faith in yourself, faith in your community, and faith in the power of good are essential guides for leaders in the hardest of times.