BOHDAN HAWRYLYSHYN AT 100: A LIFE DEVOTED TO UKRAINE AND THE FUTURE
“Ukraine has always existed for me, even if only in my thoughts. Wherever I was and whatever I was doing, I always thought about what useful contribution I could make to Ukraine.”
On 19 October 2026, Ukraine marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bohdan Hawrylyshyn—an outstanding Ukrainian economist, visionary, philanthropist and public figure whose intellectual and civic legacy reached far beyond national borders. He is recognised as a co-founder of the World Economic Forum in Davos, was the first Ukrainian member of the Club of Rome and advised governments, international companies and political leaders throughout the world.
From Displacement to Global Leadership
Bohdan Hawrylyshyn was born on 19 October 1926 in the village of Koropets, in the Ternopil region. During the Second World War, he was taken to Germany and later lived in a displaced persons’ camp. He eventually emigrated to Canada, where he initially worked as a lumberjack before entering the University of Toronto and obtaining degrees in engineering.
His professional journey subsequently took him to Switzerland, where he became a distinguished educator and international management expert. For 18 years, he led the International Management Institute in Geneva, which later became part of the International Institute for Management Development. He trained generations of business leaders while advising governments and major international companies on management, economic development and institutional transformation. en.wikipedia.org
Hawrylyshyn also played an important role in initiating the gathering of international business executives in Davos that contributed to the creation of what became the World Economic Forum. His membership of the Club of Rome placed him among the global thinkers searching for solutions to the most important economic, social and environmental challenges facing humanity.
Ukraine Was Always at the Centre of His Mission
Although Bohdan Hawrylyshyn spent many decades abroad, he never lost his profound connection with Ukraine. By the late 1980s, he had begun dedicating an increasing part of his life to developing the institutions, leaders and intellectual foundations that Ukraine would need as an independent European state.
He initiated the establishment of the International Management Institute MIM-Kyiv, one of the first institutions in the former Soviet Union to introduce MBA-level management education. From 1990 until 1998, he chaired the Supervisory Board of the International Renaissance Foundation, supporting education, science, culture, democratic institutions and the development of civil society. en.wikipedia.org
Hawrylyshyn advised Ukrainian presidents, prime ministers and parliamentary leaders. Yet his contribution went far beyond political consultancy. He understood that true independence required effective institutions, responsible citizens and a new generation of internationally educated professionals capable of transforming the country.
Investing in Young Ukrainians
Supporting young people became one of the central missions of Hawrylyshyn’s later life. He believed that Ukraine’s future depended on a critical mass of responsible, professionally competent and patriotic citizens who would be prepared not merely to criticise existing systems, but to create better ones.
He was deeply connected with Plast, the National Scout Organisation of Ukraine, and belonged to the Lisovi Chorty fraternity. The principles of responsibility, service, self-development and commitment to the community remained essential elements of his character throughout his life.
In 2010, he established the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Foundation to support young Ukrainians capable of reforming and transforming their country. Today, the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation continues his work by advancing responsible leadership, democratic development and innovative ideas for Ukraine’s recovery and future. Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation
A Legacy of Responsibility
One of Bohdan Hawrylyshyn’s most important intellectual contributions was his belief that human rights must be accompanied by human responsibilities. He argued that lasting social progress requires individuals to accept responsibility for their families, communities, countries and the world.
His life demonstrated this principle in practice. He achieved international recognition but used his knowledge, influence and professional networks to serve Ukraine. He helped establish educational and civil-society institutions, supported young leaders and contributed to the intellectual foundations of Ukrainian statehood.
Bohdan Hawrylyshyn passed away on 24 October 2016, only five days after his 90th birthday. A century after his birth, his ideas remain profoundly relevant. They continue to live through the institutions he helped establish and through the people who defend, rebuild and transform Ukraine today.
Bohdan Hawrylyshyn’s legacy reminds us that genuine patriotism is not defined only by words or by one’s place of residence. It is expressed through responsibility, knowledge, service and the lifelong determination to do something valuable for one’s country.