SMART Business Club has started operating in Dnipro as a new business club exclusively for executives who manage large systems from within on a daily basis — top managers of large companies and first executives of mid-sized businesses. The project was launched by the team behind the Dnipro-based INSPIRA business club.
Twenty-seven executives from companies including SoftServe, Work.ua, EVA (RUSH LLC), ATB, Biosphere, Logos, the Albatross trading group and other leading players in the Ukrainian market have already joined SMART.
Not for owners — but for those who “run the business”
Unlike most business communities, SMART is not aimed at owners but at professionals who are directly responsible for day-to-day management:
- CEOs and first executives of mid-sized businesses;
- members of boards of directors and advisory boards;
- top managers of large companies reporting directly to the CEO.
For top managers, three things matter most: leisure, learning and communication. They carry a lot of responsibility and have very limited time, yet they constantly seek opportunities for development and high-quality networking. SMART was created precisely for this purpose, explains Valentyn Changli, CEO of the club.
Beyond networking: what SMART offers
SMART Business Club operates as a curated ecosystem for executive development. Its programme includes a mix of informal and educational formats, such as:
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thematic smart clusters;
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online and offline learning;
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peer-to-peer groups for exchanging management experience;
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sports sections and event-based formats;
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film screenings, company visits and closed-door meetings;
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access to selected events across the broader INSPIRA ecosystem.
Speakers who have already participated in SMART events include Valerii Pekar (LvBS, kmbs) and Ihor Hut, co-founder of the DYB project.
Why such a club emerged now
According to Borys Markov, co-founder of INSPIRA and a member of the ATB board of directors, Ukraine has long lacked dedicated environments specifically for top managers of large businesses and first executives of mid-sized companies.
People who manage large systems also need development, peer exchange and a sense of community. Investing in them is essential — and such investments ultimately return to the country many times over, he noted.
Membership terms
Membership in SMART costs $250 per month. The club applies strict selection criteria:
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age 25+;
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at least three years of management experience;
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employment in companies with:
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50–250 employees and €8–40m in revenue (mid-sized businesses), or
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250+ employees and €40m+ in revenue (large businesses);
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two recommendations from INSPIRA or LEAD Business Club members;
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an interview with the club’s CEO.
SMART as part of a broader ecosystem
SMART Business Club has become the fourth project within the INSPIRA ecosystem, which currently includes:
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INSPIRA — a business club for owners of large and mid-sized businesses;
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LEAD Business Club — for leaders of small and mid-sized businesses;
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American University Kyiv Campus in Dnipro;
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SMART Business Club — for top managers.
In this way, INSPIRA is gradually building a comprehensive infrastructure for the development of Ukrainian executives — from small businesses to large corporations.
