BDO Leadership Academy is a professional development event for specialists across the BDO network. The programme brought together representatives of the BDO CEE Cluster from Ukraine, Austria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Bulgaria at the BDO Czech Republic office in Prague.
This professional learning event marked the second joint initiative within the BDO Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Cluster, focused on developing management expertise and facilitating the exchange of practical experience across countries in the region.
Previously, the BDO in Ukraine team took part in the BDO Leadership Academy in Vienna, which was the first event in this series of international learning initiatives.
The two‑day agenda of the event focused on intensive leadership training. Participants worked on strengthening their soft skills, explored modern approaches to effective team leadership, and exchanged practical experience in implementing best practices within their local offices. Particular emphasis was placed on networking, enabling participants to establish closer cross‑functional and cross‑country collaboration across the region.
Participants worked with real‑life cases reflecting the challenges faced by managers in a dynamic business environment. The key modules of the event agenda covered the following:
- The role of the modern leader — building a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability as the foundation of effective leadership.
- Goal‑setting and delegation — establishing a clear goal‑setting framework, developing employee potential, and increasing team autonomy.
- Communication practices — implementing regular engagement formats, including one‑to‑one meetings, team sessions, structured feedback, and recognition of results.
- Leadership in conditions of uncertainty — participation in a simulation inspired by Ernest Shackleton’s expedition, designed to develop decision‑making skills under pressure.
- Challenging management situations — strengthening capabilities in conducting difficult conversations, managing conflict, sustaining motivation, and fostering team collaboration.
- Practical integration of learning — interactive exercises and case studies focused on applying the acquired tools directly in day‑to‑day work.
A key advantage of the event was its international format. This created an environment for experience sharing, broadening professional perspectives, and developing cross‑cultural leadership approaches.
Anna Chepurna, HR Partner, commented on the importance of the initiative: “This training is a strong example of how collaboration within the BDO CEE Cluster enables the creation of genuinely new development opportunities for our teams. The event was initiated and delivered under the leadership of the HR team of BDO Czech Republic, in close cooperation with colleagues from across the region. Importantly, participants gained not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical tools that will help them work effectively in both local and international teams. We view initiatives like this as a strategic direction for development and plan to continue expanding opportunities for international learning and networking for our people.”
Oleksandr Kononuchenko, Head of IT Audit, noted that participation in such initiatives is an important element of BDO in Ukraine’s talent development strategy: “Investing in the leadership capabilities of our people and actively integrating into the international professional community enables us to deliver services of the highest quality. The experience gained and the strengthened partnerships will provide a solid foundation for implementing new ambitious projects within the Eastern Europe cluster.”
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participants from the BDO CEE Cluster countries for their openness to experience sharing, engaging professional discussions, and willingness to exchange practical insights. It is this kind of international collaboration that creates real value and contributes to the development of strong leadership approaches across the region. Our colleagues at BDO in Ukraine are also grateful to the BDO Czech Republic team for the high standard of event organisation, the well‑designed agenda, and the exceptionally warm welcome. Thanks to your efforts, this initiative became not only an effective learning platform, but also a space for building long‑term professional connections.
Participation in the BDO Leadership Academy confirms BDO in Ukraine’s systematic approach to developing the leadership potential of its people. By investing in learning and international collaboration, the firm strengthens its position as part of the global BDO network and creates additional value for clients through the continued development of expertise and managerial capabilities across the team.
To obtain advice on audit and related services, please contact the BDO in Ukraine team.
