Bridging Borders and Perspectives: A Deep Dive into the Liverpool-Ukraine Leadership Symposium

1. Background: The Leadership Development Group Programme

The Liverpool-Ukraine Leadership Symposium took place within the framework of the Ukrainian-British programme “Leadership Development Group: Reflecting on Leadership Experience”, developed by:

• Dr Kevin Flynn (United Kingdom) — Senior Lecturer in Executive Education at Liverpool John Moores University and author of several books on leadership;
• Iryna Ratzke-Rybak (Ukraine–Germany) — psychologist, supervisor, group analyst, and head of the organisation Life Competencies (Regensburg, Germany).

The programme is implemented with the organisational support of the NGO Human Rights Vector and in cooperation with the NGO Institute of Psychosomatics and Trauma Therapy.
The programme is currently in its third cycle in Ukraine and is delivered online. Participants include leaders from civil society, business, and public sector organisations. Each cycle lasts six months and consists of six online sessions of three hours each. The working languages are Ukrainian and English, with interpretation provided. Upon successful completion, participants receive a certificate from Liverpool John Moores University.
The programme serves as a space for developing adaptive and creative leadership, navigating complexity and uncertainty, supporting those who support others, and fostering cross-sector collaboration and learning environments.
All activities are made possible through participants’ contributions. The facilitators and organisers contribute their time on a voluntary basis as their investment in strengthening Ukraine’s leadership potential.
The Symposium took place in Liverpool from 4–6 May 2026. The lead facilitator was Dr Kevin Flynn, supported by colleagues from both the United Kingdom and Ukraine, including Iryna Ratzke-Rybak. Since the programme’s inception, the idea of bringing participants together in person had been a shared aspiration. We are grateful that this vision became a reality.
Ten participants from different cohorts of the programme were able to take part in the Symposium, creating a unique opportunity for deeper dialogue, learning, and relationship-building beyond the online environment.
2. Introduction: The Power of Connection
The Liverpool-Ukraine Leadership Symposium was more than a professional gathering; it was a profound exercise in human connection and solidarity. Hosted by Kevin Flynn, a Senior Lecturer in Executive Education at Liverpool John Moores University, the two-day event brought together a group of women from Liverpool and Ukraine. For many, this was a transformative moment—the first time they were meeting in the physical world after months of connecting only through the digital interface of Zoom.
The atmosphere was intentionally curated to foster psychological safety and deep reflection. Upon entering, participants were met with a circle of chairs designed to flatten hierarchies, while tables were adorned with symbolic objects and postcards to facilitate introductions. The core objective was to move beyond traditional management theory, exploring leadership practice through shared experience and a creative, participatory methodology that allowed for the «human essence» of each leader to emerge.
3. The Methodology: Understanding 'Photovoice'
Central to the symposium’s structure was «Photovoice,» a qualitative research method originally devised by Wang and Burris (1997). As a leadership tool, Photovoice is particularly potent; it empowers individuals to document their realities and perspectives through photography, providing a voice to those navigating the dual pressures of leadership and, in the case of the Ukrainian participants, ongoing conflict.
The participants moved through a disciplined four-step process:

1. Taking photographs: Capturing specific images that resonate with their internal and external worlds.
2. Sharing meaning: Engaging in dialogue to articulate the «why» behind the image and writing descriptive captions.
3. Identifying core leadership themes: Analyzing collective contributions to find common threads.
4. Taking action/creating artifacts: Translating these abstract concepts into physical representations of their shared leadership journey.

4. Day 1: From Personal Identity to Professional Practice
Day one was dedicated to the foundational «ways of being» that underpin any leadership role. The room was organized into breakout areas to encourage intimate conversation. Participants were invited to ground their exploration in three specific photographic prompts:

• Who they are: Images illustrating personal identity, human essence, and the self behind the title.
• What they do: Images depicting the granular reality of day-to-day jobs, community occupations, and the labor of leadership.
• What leadership means: Images signifying individual interpretations and personal definitions of the concept itself.

The use of «captions» was vital. These written reflections served to enrich the visual data, ensuring that the nuances of each woman’s experience were preserved and communicated beyond the surface of the image.
5. Day 2: Synthesizing the Three Pillars of Leadership
On the second day, the focus shifted from individual reflection to collective synthesis. The challenge for the 20 participants was to coalesce their diverse life experiences into three central themes. This process was not merely about consensus, but about identifying the essential leadership capacities and «ways of being» that transcend borders.
Core Leadership Themes and Creative Artifacts
During the Symposium, participants collectively identified three core leadership themes and expressed them through different creative formats:

• Theme 1: Decision-making, teamwork, and cooperation — represented through a collage.
• Theme 2: Responsibility, supporting people, and acting as a bridge — represented through an art installation/model of a “Tower Bridge” created using various art materials.
• Theme 3: Courage and self-acceptance — represented through a prose poem.

For the third theme, participants engaged in a visceral, sensory exploration of self-acceptance. They moved beyond intellectual definitions to describe how leadership and acceptance «feel, taste, smell, and sound.» This evocative approach allowed the group to articulate a more holistic, embodied understanding of what it means to lead with courage.
6. The Importance of the Setting: A Tale of Two Cathedrals
The symposium’s location in Liverpool provided a powerful symbolic backdrop. The event was «bookended» by the two iconic cathedrals at opposite ends of the aptly named Hope Street. Under the guidance of colleague Dominic, the participants embarked on an architectural tour that served as a metaphor for the leadership journey itself.
Starting with the Gothic Anglican Cathedral and ending at the modern Metropolitan Cathedral, the group walked the length of Hope Street—a path connecting a traditional, storied past with a bold, contemporary future. Despite their contrasting styles, both spaces offered a sense of scale and beauty that mirrored the gravity and aspiration of the leadership work being done within the symposium.
7. Conclusion: Solidarity and Symbolic Action
The symposium reached its emotional and symbolic crescendo with the signing of a Ukrainian flag. This final artifact was not just a gesture of support; it was a testament to the solidarity forged through the Photovoice process. It represented the «coalescing» of distinct lives into a shared mission.
Events of this nature are indispensable for modern executive development. By transitioning from the digital to the physical, leaders can move beyond the «what» of their roles to the «how» of their existence. The Liverpool-Ukraine Leadership Symposium demonstrated that by exploring creative methodologies and shared sensory experiences, we uncover the fundamental leadership capacities and «ways of being» that allow us to lead with authentic courage in an uncertain world.
You can watch the event in the video — https://youtu.be/FUyopcbUuB8