As Ukraine continues to navigate the challenges of wartime, one of the most pressing issues facing businesses is the shortage of qualified professionals. Mobilization, migration, and demographic changes have significantly reduced the available workforce, making it increasingly difficult for companies to recruit and retain talent. At the same time, international expansion has become a strategic priority for many Ukrainian businesses seeking resilience and long-term growth. Companies are increasingly looking for professionals who can identify new markets, build international partnerships, and drive export sales—but experienced export specialists remain in short supply.
To help address this challenge, Grow Global has officially launched in Ukraine. The program is designed to strengthen the country’s export ecosystem by connecting Ukrainian businesses with future export professionals while equipping both new and existing employees with the practical skills required to succeed in international markets.
Unlike traditional educational initiatives, Grow Global brings together two target audiences. On one side, the program supports Ukrainian companies seeking to recruit or develop export talent. On the other, it offers ambitious students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals the opportunity to launch a career in international trade through practical learning, mentoring, and employment with Ukrainian companies.
Three Ways for Companies to Participate
The program offers three flexible participation formats tailored to different business needs.
Format 1: Recruit a New Export Professional
Companies looking to strengthen their export departments can recruit a new employee through Grow Global. The program first conducts a competitive selection of motivated candidates interested in building careers in international trade. Participating companies receive access to this talent pool, select candidates for matchmaking meetings and interviews, and independently decide whom to hire.
After employment, the new team member receives comprehensive support through the program, including:
- Practical export training;
- ESG principles training;
- International sales training;
- Individual mentoring from international experts.
This approach allows companies to recruit motivated talent while ensuring that new employees continue developing the knowledge and competencies needed to contribute to international business growth.
Format 2: Support a Recently Hired Employee
Companies that hired a junior employee between May and August 2026 can also benefit from Grow Global. If the employee has limited professional experience, they are eligible to participate in the program and receive the same comprehensive development package, including export education, ESG training, international sales training, and mentoring from international experts.
This format enables businesses to accelerate the professional development of new employees while strengthening their export capacity.
Format 3: Develop Existing Export Teams
Grow Global also supports companies with established export operations. Business owners, export managers, and employees responsible for international sales who have at least one year of export experience can participate in advanced training focused on:
- Export management;
- ESG principles and sustainable business practices.
The program helps experienced professionals enhance their knowledge and stay competitive in rapidly evolving international markets.
A Career Pathway for Future Export Specialists
Unlike traditional training initiatives, Grow Global works with both employers and future export professionals. Alongside the recruitment of participating companies, the program is also selecting motivated early-career professionals, people who want to change their professional direction, students, recent graduates, and young specialists who aspire to build a career in international trade and export development. These participants go through a structured selection process and, if hired by companies participating in the program, will not only gain real work experience in Ukrainian companies but also receive comprehensive education and mentoring support throughout the program.
Strengthening Ukraine’s Export Ecosystem
Grow Global is more than a professional development program. It is a strategic investment in Ukraine’s future competitiveness. By connecting businesses with motivated talent, strengthening export teams, and preparing a new generation of international sales professionals, the initiative contributes to building a more resilient and globally competitive Ukrainian economy.
Applications are now open for both Ukrainian companies and aspiring export professionals. Businesses can recruit future export specialists, develop existing employees, and strengthen their international capabilities, while participants gain the skills, mentoring, and practical experience needed to build successful careers in global trade.
Together, Grow Global is helping create the human capital that will drive the next chapter of Ukraine’s export success.
The Grow Global program is developed and implemented by Visionest Institute in Ukraine (Estonia) in cooperation with the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office under the national Diia.Business project, and the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Zhytomyr. The program is financed by ESTDEV — the Estonian Centre for International Development.
