19th Ukrainian Marketing Forum — A Platform for New Ideas in a Broken World

The 19th Ukrainian Marketing Forum is set to take place in Kyiv and online on April 23-24, 2023, establishing itself as the premier annual event in the marketing and communications arena. This year's forum will operate under the theme 'The World is Broken. But Not Us.' Participants will engage in discussions about what a new formula for competitiveness might look like in an environment where traditional models and rules no longer apply, and what this means for Ukrainian companies in the coming decades.

This event will bring together marketing directors, entrepreneurs, communication specialists, psychologists, and founders of social initiatives — all those who are currently rethinking their strategies, forming new approaches, and redefining their interactions with the market. The forum is expected to attract over 80 speakers and more than 1,000 participants, reflecting a significant interest in the topics being presented.

The content program of the Ukrainian Marketing Forum is traditionally rich and diverse. The organizers and the expert council have curated the most relevant and valuable topics and case studies for the community, aimed at helping participants discover new solutions in challenging circumstances.

The event will kick off with a keynote address by Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, the General Director of the Frontier Institute, who will speak on 'How to Turn Crisis Experience into a Competitive Advantage for Ukrainian Business.' In his presentation, he will emphasize that we currently find ourselves in a situation where survival and development occur simultaneously. Can we leverage our ability to operate under adverse conditions as a strength?

The main theme of this year's forum, focusing on development in a broken world, will be explored through numerous engaging discussions. Among the discussions are: 'How to Build a Business When Tomorrow is Unpredictable' (moderated by Ihor Hut, managing partner of the Swedish project DYB | Develop Your Business), 'Communication Strategies in Crisis Normality' (moderated by Anastasia Zrazhevskaya, communications director at MHP), 'SMM Without Illusions: Speed, Meaning, and Money in the Age of Algorithms' (moderated by Valeria Lavska, CMO of the marketing agency Promodo), 'AI Production Without Rose-Colored Glasses' (moderated by Ivan Filippov, strategic director of the creative agency Banda), and many others.

Presentations, discussions, and debates at the forum will take place on two stages. The development of one of the content streams this year has been supported by title partners — Visa and Bolt. Serhiy Kostya, producer of the 19th Ukrainian Marketing Forum and regional marketing director of Bolt for Central and Eastern Europe and Asia, noted: 'The Visa&Bolt Stage at the Ukrainian Marketing Forum represents a systematic partnership that ensures quality content and supports the development of discussions about the future of technology and markets.'

Anastasia Nenasheva, senior marketing director at Visa for Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, added: 'The world is changing faster than the established rules, which is why Visa supports the Ukrainian Marketing Forum and, together with partners, creates the Visa&Bolt Stage as a platform for honest conversations about technology, trust, and new commerce. In challenging times, such dialogue helps find solutions that enhance business resilience and support Ukrainian society.'

The forum promises a wealth of presentations that will help attendees understand where the market has changed and where it continues to grow. The Ukrainian Marketing Forum is not just about proven experiences but also about the challenges and ideas that shape the future. Speakers — leaders from various companies and brands — will share their insights and visions for the future, including Alex Cooper, restaurateur and co-owner of Kyiv Food Market, Ihor Lachenkov, founder of the media group ProGroup, Olga Rudneva, CEO of Superhumans Center, Tetiana Lukinyuk, general manager of Google Ukraine, and Kristina Bondarenko, head of communications for the Third Army Corps, among many others.

One of the new features of this year's forum will be two content-entertainment shows. The first day will feature marketing debates where Roman Havrysh, founder of Aimbulance, CEO and co-founder of Anima.ua, and Hryhoriy Korohodskyi, writer and businessman, will seek answers to the question 'Love for the Brand: Myth or Real Growth Driver?'. The event will close with an intellectual show 'Protagonists', dedicated to famous Ukrainian brands, created by the authors Yevhen Yanovych and Oleksandr Khomenko.

In addition to the substantive program of the forum, new acquaintances, experience sharing, and live communication between participants and speakers are always valuable. An evening networking event on the first day will allow participants to discuss the knowledge and ideas they have gained in an informal setting.