The O. Balatsky Department of Management at Sumy State University, in collaboration with Whitefield Business School, held the second session of their COIL virtual course “Modern Management Trends” on October 6, 2025. The session welcomed Dr.Hab. Hanna Shvindina as guest speaker – a distinguished scholar with dual appointments as Associate Professor at American University Kyiv (Ukraine), and Visiting Professor at Hochschule Fresenius (Berlin).
Dr. Shvindina, CEO of the NGO “Lifelong Learning Centre” and a Fulbright Program alumna (USA), presented a lecture titled “Modern Trends in Leadership Studies: Resilience, Stress Management, Gender Sensitive Aspects of Leadership.” Her presentation explored current leadership methodologies, stress management techniques, and gender-inclusive leadership practices, while also presenting findings from her original research.
Dr. Hanna Shvindina is conducting a qualitative study on how women lead in conditions of war, humanitarian response, and institutional pressure. The project covers 26 interviews with leaders from NGOs, education, business, and social initiatives in Ukraine and partner countries.
The research focuses on how female-led teams operate in crisis settings, the leadership styles that support resilience and productivity, and the role of cooperative and participatory approaches in achieving social impact.
Preliminary results indicate that empathy-driven leadership, adaptability, and strategic coordination are key strengths of female leaders in crisis environments. The project has been ongoing since October 2025 and will include publications, case studies, and best practice insights.
The Department of Management expresses its sincere gratitude to Dr. Shvindina for her professionalism and for the continuous support of Sumy State University’s academic initiatives, as well as for inspiring students and colleagues to gain a deeper understanding of modern leadership trends.
