Leadership in Disruptive Times: Lessons from Public Health Leaders

🚨 Few disruptions test leadership like war. As part of the WHO Leadership for Public Health Course, I had the privilege to:

• 📌 Interview two extraordinary Ukrainian public health leaders 🇺🇦
• 📌 Teach a global cohort of public health professionals—from Finland to Pakistan—how to speak with impact. 🎤

👩‍⚕️ Meet the Leaders:

• ✨ Dr. Kateryna Komar – Chief Nurse of Ukraine, an inspiring advocate for nursing leadership, education reform, and resilience.
• ✨ Dr. Liubov Makhota- Head of the Kharkiv CDC, leading essential public health efforts amidst war, including vaccinations and emergency response.

🩺 Their Stories:

Both have made courageous decisions to stay and lead in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. They’ve navigated impossible choices, supported teams in dangerous conditions, and adapted public health systems to wartime challenges.

📢 Teaching Public Speaking:

It was an honor to guide public health leaders across the globe in crafting their messages, building confidence, and using their voices to lead during crises.

• ✨ Key Takeaway: Leadership is about adaptation, courage, and care—for your community and your team.
• 💬 What’s the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned in tough times? Let’s discuss!

Thank you for having me JOAO BREDA Thanos Myloneros Natasha Azzopardi Muscat and the team at WHO Regional Office for Europe!
(And great to see Zoe Fragou, Charlotte Marchandise & Ghassan Khalil – fellow teachers!)