We live in a time of constant change where uncertainty isn’t the exception, but the rule. From pandemics and war to swift digital change, adaptability isn’t just a competitive advantage anymore. It’s a necessity. For Ukrainian business consultant Mykola Kovalenko, helping companies adapt isn’t just part of the job; it’s at the heart of everything he does. Over the past decade, he has guided some of Eastern Europe’s most difficult organizations through major transformations, helping them not only survive unsettled times but also emerge stronger. Whether it’s securing $100 million in investment, redesigning logistics with AI, or leading largescale digital upskilling programs, Kovalenko’s work is rooted in one clear goal: building businesses that are ready for whatever comes next.
“I don’t just help businesses operate,” he says. “I help them evolve. Because evolution is what keeps them alive.”
Kovalenko’s career didn’t begin in a boardroom; it started in a moment of crisis. Fresh out of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, he found himself consulting (unofficially) for a local electronics distributor on the brink of collapse. The situation required quick thinking and systemic change. He conducted a comprehensive audit, developed a customized financial model, and reconfigured the company’s distribution network. The company recovered, and more importantly, so did Kovalenko’s understanding of what he wanted to do.
“That experience made something clear to me,” he says. “My interest isn’t in maintenance. It’s in transformation.”
That insight became a blueprint. He deepened his expertise with coursework at Harvard Business School and the Lviv Business School, focusing on strategic management and the intersection of AI, digital systems, and human leadership. He joined the Global Business & Finance Association in 2018 and was later recognized as a juror for the European Business & Finance Award in 2020.
If there is one project that symbolizes Kovalenko’s value as a consultant, it’s his ongoing work with ATB-Market, one of Ukraine’s largest retail chains.
Starting in 2017, Kovalenko led a sweeping digital transformation that restricted everything from supply chain systems to employee training; ultimately securing $100 million in a new investment, saving over $30 million annually in logistics costs, doubling online sales in just two years, and upskilling more than 50,000 employees in digital fluency across the country.
“Transformation doesn’t end when a system is launched,” Kovalenko says. “It ends when people start thinking differently.”
That cultural layer is where his work truly differentiates itself. While many consultants focus on process and product, Kovalenko insists that culture is the ultimate infrastructure.
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kovalenko was among the first consultants in the region to begin restructuring logistics for essential retailers. He introduced AI-driven predictive modeling, launched hybrid working systems, and developed emergency response models to ensure stability during times of panic. When war reached Ukraine in 2022, Kovalenko was again at the forefront, this time coordinating anti-crisis strategies to help businesses retain talent, reroute supply chains, and support internal stability. At the same time, he intensified his work in ESG strategy, assisting companies not only to survive but also to emerge with stronger ethical frameworks and environmental practices.
“Crisis is a spotlight,” he explains. “It reveals the weak points in an organization, and the leadership potential hiding in plain sight.”
Kovalenko’s credibility extends beyond Ukraine. He has worked on integration and transformation projects with international heavyweights such as SAP, Microsoft, and Deloitte, contributing to the global architecture for omnichannel systems, AI implementation, and corporate transparency models. His role often includes designing roadmaps that shorten time-tomarket cycles and embedding decision-making intelligence directly into operational structures.
“Speed without clarity is chaos,” he says. “I help clients move fast, but in the right direction.”
Though his consulting work alone is enough to fill a résumé, Kovalenko believes his real legacy lies in education. Over the years, he’s developed intensive training programs, corporate academies, and high-impact masterclasses for leaders and middle managers alike. One example: his work with Novus, a major Ukrainian retailer. Beyond advising on digital strategy, he helped launch the Novus Academy, where more than 10,000 employees were upskilled, resulting in a 15% increase in internal performance metrics.
“Consulting fixes problems,” he says. “But teaching prevents them.”
For Kovalenko, knowledge is not power. It’s a responsibility. He’s seen a recurring pattern in the problems companies bring to him:
“Many of our clients come to us saying things like, ‘We’re stuck in growth,’ or ‘We have chaos in our systems.’ Others admit, ‘We want AI, but don’t know how to start,’ or express concern that ‘Our people can’t think strategically.’ These are the kinds of challenges we hear every day, and where we step in to help.”
Each issue, Kovalenko says, is a symptom of the same illness: lack of adaptability. His core methodology is rooted in helping organizations build internal capability to change, not just once, but continuously. His six-step checklist for transformation is deceptively simple: Audit digital maturity, identify key growth points, find operational bottlenecks, build a 6-12-month roadmap, and track metrics from day one, even if they’re imperfect.
“Perfection is the enemy of action,” he warns. “You have to test, refine, evolve, and fast.”
Now, Kovalenko is preparing to expand his practice beyond Ukraine. He sees strong potential in applying his crisis-era frameworks, sustainability models, and AI-enhanced systems to companies across Europe, North America, and Asia.
“My goal is to take the lessons we’ve learned in Ukraine about resilience, digital maturity, and human-driven transformation, and make them global,” he says. “We didn’t just survive. We discovered how to thrive.”
In an era where many companies pursue disruption for its own sake, Mykola Kovalenko represents something far more valuable: disciplined innovation, human-centered systems, and long-term adaptability. In other words, not just the future of consulting, but the future of business itself.
