Leading and Growing a World-Class University in a Country Afflicted by War

Our ‘Leading Through Uncertainty’ series explores how senior leaders manage continual complexity and ambiguity. In a world where change is the only constant, we spotlight inspirational stories of leadership in uncertain times.

Jacek Leśkow joined the American University Kyiv (AUK) as Rector and Professor in March 2024 where he was introduced by Odgers’ Kostiantyn Golovin and Alina Demchenko. In a recent interview, they discussed with Jacek what leading through uncertainty means in the higher education sector, the changing expectations of leadership during a war, and his advice to other organisations also preparing for uncertainty.

What Does ‘Leading Through Uncertainty’ Mean To You?

This has a very deep meaning for me and my generation as it is something I have been accustomed to on a personal level.

I am 66 years old and I belong to the generation of the Solidarity social movement in Poland which campaigned to advance the causes of workers’ rights and social change. This shaped my younger years in the 70s as we defended our freedom, respect of human rights and also for freedom of religious expression.

Growing up in these times, it was these high ethical values which tens of thousands of people were drawn to that later resulted in a democratisation of Poland and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.  

Now Ukraine is under war, which I believe is a war of culture due to the Ukrainian culture not being recognised, so I feel like uncertainty has been embedded into the fabric of our nation.

Over the course of my career, I have worked for many universities located in other countries where the promotion of freedom and the respect for human rights is also well documented. I believe every leader must have this sort of experience imprinted in their DNA, which can then be translated to help their institution or business. Crucially, this physiological foundation – from the ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ – must be there first.

How Does The Day-To-Day Reality Of War Combine With Other Challenges And Disruptions Currently Facing Your Sector?

We are living in a very disruptive world full of tension, fuelled by rising new powers and the economic inequities. For the higher education sector in Ukraine, the biggest disruption is of course caused by the war – the bombings, missiles and drones are a very unfortunate reality.

But on the other hand, as terrible as the war is, it is also creating opportunities. It has meant our institution has needed to rapidly adopt innovative digital and AI tools.

Besides being Rector, I am a dedicated Professor and I love teaching. During my classes - and this has happened many times - when the air alarm sounds, by law, I need to stop the class and ask the students to leave the premises immediately and go to the nearest shelter.

Of course, this is naturally disruptive to our students but this can be compensated by the remaining segment of the class being video recorded later and added to our learning management system, along with AI tools to support students’ learning. Face-to-face classes are very highly valued which there is no real substitute for. 

In Response To This, How Have Leadership Expectations Changed?

The war is a factor that is enabling leaders either to prove themselves, or it has been the reason they have stepped down due to the added pressure. Of course, uncertainty is not only induced by war – it is only one element of this very high stress global climate we have right now.

Before joining AUK, I led the Polish Cybersecurity Institute in Warsaw - drawing from this experience and from my time as Rector, I think a good leader must first be committed to serving. The famous Latin phrase ‘primus inter pares’ meaning ‘first among equals’ is quite appropriate here as the leader has to be first. but, they must work to use their power and influence for the good of their institution. Alongside, leaders should treat everyone equally, fairly and be helpful.

The next expectation is to have high ethical values. I consider AUK as a forefront institution in this regard - our motto is ‘education that brings freedom’ and that's exactly what we promote. Freedom of education, speech and the direct contact with the students are the ethical values which leadership needs to embody.

How Else Is AUK Navigating Uncertainty?

As an organisation, we of course need to keep moving. This year, we have successfully established a new campus in Dnipro, a large city with rich academic history and a significant business community to provide young students the opportunity to have a dual Ukrainian and American diploma. In the next three to five years, we hope to further expand by opening a school of engineering.

Our institution is also a member of the Cintana worldwide network of universities under the auspice of Arizona State University, one of the largest public higher education institution in the U.S. which furthers our offering as a leading institution. 

Our students emphasise how much they value face-to-face meetings and interactions, so we are encouraging our teachers to increase their on-campus presence. We have permanently hired international specialists from the U.S. and France to work with us in Kyiv and Dnipro, which is another response to the uncertainty.

What Do You Believe Are The Most Valuable Leadership Traits Or Behaviours?

Leaders need to show endurance and demonstrate to the wider institution that the long-term goal is realistic and to stand by it. In this context, I would like to mention my deep respect for my Ukrainian colleagues - although I work in Kyiv, my home is in Krakov, so I'm exposed to war operations around 50% of the time whereas my Ukrainian colleagues are faced with it all of the time.

So I am also learning from my colleagues what it means to endure, resist, and stay - this is our civilian way of contributing to victory of Ukraine, which I fully believe will happen.

Secondly, demonstrating high moral standards is critical during times of disruption, as well as the spirit of help and volunteering. We need to make ourselves available to other colleagues to share our time, so even when I'm not physically onsite, I'm always available.

In the face of uncertainty, we really like to see the moral values that we circle around, the ground that will never abandoned, and the things that are higher than life, so to speak. 

There can also be the merging of work and family life towards leadership. I am a happy husband and father of two grown-up children. Before accepting the job at AUK, I discussed with my wife whether she would be OK with it, and with her support, I am a stronger leader.

What Advice Would You Offer To Other Institutions Or Organisations Preparing For Uncertainty?

In the higher education sector across central and Eastern Europe, we have a gold mine of young talent in Ukraine and Poland. We are seeing an increasing number of exceptional young people - some who are not yet 18 years old - who are highly skilled in quantum computing, AI, drone technology and algorithm design. AUK’s dedication to our management and IT courses is a reflection of this and recognition of future growth in these areas.

My advice to institutions and investors is to focus on empowering young talent. Pay them not just for their time, but for their success. Consider redefining traditional payment structures - move beyond hourly wages and introduce success-based incentives. Young people today are eager to be recognised by the market, and larger organisations could position themselves more like venture capital firms, investing in potential rather than just credentials.

My advice to investors is approach the value chain in a more agile, less rigid way. Investors must be patient, but also responsive and understand what lies at the end of the value chain, adjusting accordingly to market shifts.

Introduced by Odgers | Success Story

Odgers partnered with the American University Kyiv to identify a transformational Rector and Professor, with Jacek Leśkow commencing his role in March 2024.

To discover more about what attracted Jacek to the role, and his future goals for the university, read his unique success story below. 

Introduced by Odgers | Jacek Leśkow Success Story 

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