Georgetown Hosts U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction, Investment, and Innovation Forum
Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and Walsh School of Foreign Service hosted the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction, Investment, and Innovation Forum on July 16, featuring a keynote address by Stephanie von Friedeburg (SFS’87), managing director at Citi, as well as a keynote dialogue featuring Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy Tetyana Berezhna, United States International Development Finance Corporation’s Chief of Staff Jane Rhee, and USAID’s Senior Advisor for Ukraine Recovery Alex Tiersky. The event also included panels on resilience and reconstruction and renewal and reinvention, in addition to lunch remarks from Ukraine’s former First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko.
The forum commenced with opening remarks from Mike Ryan, teaching professor of marketing, Michael O’Leary, senior associate dean of graduate and executive degree programs, Susanna Mudge, chair of Chemonics, and Anil Khurana, executive director of the Baratta Center for Global Business. They underscored the importance of public-private partnerships and the pivotal role of technological advancements in driving innovation, growth, and the financial independence of Ukraine.
In her keynote address, von Friedeburg noted that it was a war about democracy overcoming tyranny, highlighting the war’s devastating impact and pointing out the long-term challenges for reconstruction. She emphasized six key elements for Ukraine’s recovery: air defense systems; a culture of rule of law; new risk management tools; sufficient capital; and social recovery (including the return of 5 million refugees).
The keynote dialogue, moderated by Walsh School of Foreign Service Professor of International Development Raj Desai, focused on the adaptability of Ukrainian businesses amidst wartime challenges, emphasizing the critical need for workforce development and energy partnerships. Tiersky spoke about the historical context of USAID’s involvement since 1992 and the importance of stabilizing exports and agriculture. Rhee highlighted financial tools and partnerships with multilateral banks to bridge gaps in agriculture and manufacturing, while Berezhna pointed to demographic challenges and the significant number of forced migrations but also emphasized that Ukraine’s situation remains optimistic, citing a 5.3% growth in GDP that is projected to continue rising.
The first panel on resilience and reconstruction, moderated by former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, brought together former Deputy Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Gryban, Dragon Capital’s Volodymyr Tymochko, Stephens Managing Director Max Blandon, and U.S.-Ukraine Business Council Chair Eric Luhmann. The discussion focused on energy independence, technological innovation, and the essential role of American leadership. Panelists emphasized the urgency of decentralizing energy systems and preparing for winter with strategic plans for energy imports and local production. Tymochko discussed equity co-investments, while Gryban and Luhmann highlighted the need for transparency and competition, and Blandon called for a Marshall Plan-like approach to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure.
The second panel on renewal and reinvention, moderated by Chemonics’ Tetyana Dudka, featured insights from Horizon Capital’s Hanna Shuvalova, Microsoft’s Anupama Shekhar, Nova Ukraine’s Nick Bilogorskiy, and Medtronic’s Trevor Gunn. Shekhar discussed the transformative potential of AI and education, while other panelists highlighted medical equipment, community relations, private partnerships, and cultural preservation.
The forum closed with remarks from First Lady Yushchenko, introduced by Herbst, and a networking luncheon. Yushchenko emphasized the importance of psychological support, education programs, and the Sister City program. She stressed the need to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage against disinformation and external threats, advocating for corporate sponsorships to promote historical research and cultural initiatives. Yushchenko led by example on this point, donating several books on Ukrainian culture and Russian imperialism to Georgetown’s library, a tradition she shares with her husband, Former President Viktor Yushchenko whenever the pair visit universities.