Andrii Azarov. How to get through a crisis with minimal losses and build a crisis-resilient business

Andrii Azarov, Founder of the GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE international consortium (global-alliance.biz), entrepreneur with 35 years of experience, managing 40+ companies, organisations and projects; Chairman of the Higher Council of the European Association of Business Development.

Why the world keeps entering “new crises”

Over the last decade, the global economy has been living in a near-permanent stress test: financial shocks, political turbulence, economic downturns, pandemics, supply-chain disruptions, currency volatility, constant wars, energy price swings, high inflation and rising interest rates. These crises look different on the surface, but inside the business they trigger the same chain reaction: 

• demand falls or becomes unpredictable
• costs rise (or cash flow collapses)
• credit tightens
• partners break commitments
• the workforce becomes anxious
• decision-making speed becomes more valuable than “perfect plans” 

The anti-crisis methods are largely the same, regardless of whether the trigger is a pandemic, a financial crisis, a political crisis or a broader economic recession: protect liquidity, stabilise operations, renegotiate obligations, reduce complexity, pivot to what is in demand, and build partnerships that increase resilience.

Practical advice for the future (from my 35-year playbook)

If you want your company to survive not just one crisis, but many, treat resilience as a management system:

1. Build a cash buffer as a strategic asset, not “unused money”.

2. Keep your business model modular: products, teams, suppliers and channels should be easy to scale down and rebuild.

3. Diversify revenue streams: at least 2–3 independent sources, ideally in different customer segments or geographies.

4. Make “remote-first readiness” a standard (sales, service delivery, support, HR, finance).

5. Run scenario planning quarterly: base case, stress case, and worst case; with pre-approved actions for each.

6. Treat partnerships, clusters and consortia as an instrument of survival and growth, not just “networking”.

My recommendations for entrepreneurs for the first month of a crisis (and the months after)

Zaluzhnyi: “Our allies must deploy nuclear weapons in Ukraine as a security guarantee.”

Nuclear Shadows Over Ukraine: From the Budapest Memorandum to Calls for Allied Deterrence

When Valerii Zaluzhnyi publicly argued that Ukraine’s allies should deploy nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory as a security guarantee, it was not just a provocative soundbite. It was the latest expression of a long, painful story: a country that once held one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, gave it up under pressure and promises — and was then invaded by one of the guarantors.

To understand why such a statement can now be voiced by a senior Ukrainian statesman, we have to go back to the early 1990s.

Ukraine: Once the World’s Third-Largest Nuclear Power

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukraine did not start its independent life as a “normal” non-nuclear state. It suddenly found itself sitting on a huge part of the Soviet strategic arsenal:

• Around 130 UR-100N (SS-19) ICBMs with six warheads each

• 46 RT-23 Molodets (SS-24) ICBMs with ten warheads each

• 33 heavy bombers capable of carrying nuclear-armed cruise missiles

• In total, roughly 1,700 nuclear warheads on its territory

That made Ukraine, the third-largest nuclear power in the world, behind only russia and the United States. It held about one-third of the former Soviet strategic arsenal.

Sanctions Knockout: What the Blocking of Wise and Revolut Cards Means for Russians

The international payment service Wise has begun blocking cards issued to users from Russia and Belarus. The move follows the 19th package of European Union sanctions and further cuts many Russians and Belarusians off from global financial services. Customers are already receiving notifications that their cards will be disabled unless they confirm that they are citizens or legal residents of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

What has Wise changed for its users

The restrictions cover both physical and virtual Wise cards linked to accounts held by Russian or Belarusian citizens, as well as by people who live in Russia. For these users, card functionality is being switched off. They can no longer pay in shops or online with their Wise card. They cannot withdraw cash from ATMs. They also lose the option to rely on the card to top up their balance, pay for digital subscriptions or cover everyday expenses abroad.

“Education is not only about knowledge, but about creating strong personalities” — Dr. Olga Azarova

Trend: Shift from knowledge-based learning to competency-based learning.

International Education Network MINIBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL is the world’s № 1 brand in business education for kids and teens. For more than two decades, it has pioneered a new educational model that develops entrepreneurial, emotional, creative, and leadership skills in children aged 6–17, preparing them for success in the global economy.

“Education is not only about knowledge; it is about creating strong personalities who can lead, innovate, and transform society.” — Dr. Olga Azarova, Founder of MINIBOSS Business School

Curriculum Design: From Knowledge to Competence

Unlike traditional schooling, the MINIBOSS Curriculum is intentionally designed to balance theoretical learning with practical application. A curriculum map outlines a year-long scope and sequence, ensuring both structure and incremental personality development.

Dr. Olga Azarova emphasises:

“Intentional design must always come before systematic documentation. First, we build a model that works for the child’s full potential — only then do we formalise it.”

Main Problems of General Education and How MINIBOSS Provides Solutions

1. Outdated Knowledge, Irrelevant to Real Life

• Mass Education Today: Reliance on memorisation and obsolete theory.
• Parent Demand: Future-oriented skills: financial literacy, entrepreneurship, creativity.
• MINIBOSS Solution: Curriculum based on 8Qs; courses in entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, innovation, and AI; real startup creation and market testing.

2. Lack of Soft Skills & Emotional Intelligence

• Mass Education Today: Focus only on IQ.
• Parent Demand: Development of EQ, teamwork, leadership, and communication.
• MINIBOSS Solution: Team projects, startup creation, public speaking at Startup Forums, and emotional intelligence training.

3. Absence of Entrepreneurial Thinking & Financial Education

• Mass Education Today: Students leave school without financial literacy or entrepreneurial mindset.
• Parent Demand: Financial and business literacy from early age.
• MINIBOSS Solution: Financial literacy from age 6; training in money management, investment, and startup acceleration.

4. Passive Learning, No Engagement

• Mass Education Today: Teacher-centred lectures dominate.
• Parent Demand: Active, project-based learning.
• MINIBOSS Solution: Special teacher trainings, faculty development, simulations, role-plays, gamification, and experiential learning through startup building.

5. No Global Networking or Cross-Cultural Competence

• Mass Education Today: Localised, limited exposure to global perspectives.
• Parent Demand: Global readiness.
• MINIBOSS Solution: International networking via Startup World Cup Championship and Global Business Week, fostering cross-cultural communication.

6. Lack of Career Connection

Mass Education Today: Students graduate unprepared for professional life.
Parent Demand: Early career guidance, mentorship, and real experience.
MINIBOSS Solution: Startup Incubator, mentorship, career orientation embedded in every programme, and real-world project portfolios.

How the World Economy Could Look in 2050: Asia Takes the Lead

By 2050, the economic map of the world may look very different from what we know today.

According to long-term projections by Goldman Sachs, the centre of gravity of global GDP is expected to shift decisively away from today’s developed markets and towards emerging Asia.

The Big Picture: Who Owns Global GDP in 2050?

In 2050 (in constant 2021 USD), global GDP is projected to total about $227.9 trillion. Here’s how that pie is expected to be divided:

• Asia (excluding developed markets): $90.6 trillion – 40%
• Developed Markets (DM): $82.9 trillion – 36%
• Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEEMEA): $38.3 trillion – 17%
• Latin America: $16.0 trillion – 7%

The headline shift is clear:

Emerging Asia is projected to become the largest regional contributor to world GDP, with 40% of the total, edging ahead of traditional Developed Markets at 36%.

To see how dramatic this is, compare it with the year 2000. At that time, developed economies (North America, Western Europe, Japan, etc.) accounted for more than 77% of global GDP. By 2050, their share is expected to fall to just over a third.

Taiwan has become the world’s example of how an economy can boom while many people feel left behind

Silicon Island’s Boom: When the Economy Grows Faster Than Salaries
Taiwan has become the world’s clearest example of how an economy can boom while many people feel left behind. Under constant military pressure from China and amid trade tensions with the United States, the island has still been posting spectacular numbers. GDP has grown around 8% for two quarters in a row, and overall growth is expected to reach about 7.4% in 2025 – even faster than China.

The engine is obvious: high tech.
Taiwan’s factories build the chips and servers that power today’s artificial intelligence revolution. Its champion, TSMC, supplies giants like Nvidia and AMD and has lifted its own revenue forecast into the mid-30% range. Exports have exploded – up more than a third this year, with shipments to the US jumping over 60% as American tech companies race to build AI data centres. Taiwan’s stock market has surged into the world’s top ten on this wave of AI enthusiasm.
But this success story has a shadow. A rich economy, ordinary pay.