The International Business Association (IBA) is a global community of entrepreneurs, experts, scientists, and thought leaders.

The goal of the IBA is to create a network of international cooperation, bring together specialists from various fields, and promote economic, cultural, and intellectual interaction between countries. 

In 2020, the IBA supported leaders in creative industries — representatives of art, design, architecture, and cultural management. In this context, the Association welcomes the victories of its members on the international stage, which highlight the strength of Ukrainian talent and professionalism. One such story is that of Maria Gavrilyuk, co-founder of the Gunia Project brand, who won the prestigious Best Fashion Awards — Discovery of the Year.

Ella Libanova, member of the IBA, director of the Institute of Demography and Social Studies, and academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, talks about the importance of such stories and the role of associations such as the International Business Association.

For several years now, the International Business Association has been consistently bringing together the best leaders from various fields, ranging from business to culture, science, and art. What is the main goal of this community, and why is such a model of association critically important today?

According to the IBA Charter, the main goal is to create a sustainable professional and expert community that brings together business leaders, scientists, artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs for joint development. We are forming a modern elite that represents Ukraine at the international level — in business, education, culture, and creative industries. The IBA is a non-profit organization, and all its activities are aimed at developing cross-sector contacts, investments, innovations, and the image of Ukrainian professionals in the world. The IBA is forming a community in which Ukrainian specialists can be visible to the world—not only as individual professionals, but as part of an intellectual country that develops new ideas and values.

Is it really difficult to join the prestigious International Business Association, which guarantees such high standards for its members?

The IBA is not a mass organization, but a community of recognized professionals.
According to the Membership Rules, candidates must confirm their achievements at the national or international level with awards, certificates, participation in competitions, publications, or successful projects. The admission procedure includes an assessment of the candidate's achievements by three independent experts in the candidate's field who are not members of the Association, which guarantees impartiality. This is followed by an online interview and an open vote by the IBA Council. Therefore, membership is not a formality, but a recognition of professional status, leadership, and expertise in the field. Thanks to this selection process, only the best of the best become members of the International Business Association.
    
When it comes to creative industries, how important are they for the development of the modern economy?

The creative economy is a new model of development that combines business, culture, and innovation. The story of Maria Gavrilyuk and the Gunia Project brand is a wonderful example of this. Maria was able to present Ukrainian traditions in a modern format, creating a competitive product that is recognized worldwide. This shows that Ukrainian culture can be not only a spiritual force but also an economic one.
Such examples prove that creativity and entrepreneurship can work together.

The IBA actively promotes the development of its members in the international arena through participation in forums and partnerships with universities, corporations, and cultural institutions. How does this work in practice?

The International Business Association implements the principle of “global presence through partnership” enshrined in its Charter. This means that each IBA member has the opportunity not only to represent themselves but also to act as an ambassador for Ukraine in the global professional community.
In practice, this happens in several ways:

• International forums and conferences. The IBA organizes international forums and conferences in Ukraine and ensures the participation of its members in relevant events in Europe. The IBA helps prepare speeches and provides communication support.
• Partnerships with universities and industry schools. IBA members gain access to educational programs, research consortia, and joint startup platforms.
• Cooperation with corporations and international associations. The IBA organizes meetings between Ukrainian experts, investors, technology companies, and cultural foundations. This enables IBA participants to find new partners for the development of ideas and industries as a whole.
• Cultural diplomacy. Through our members — artists, designers, stylists — the IBA supports Ukraine's participation in international exhibitions and festivals, helping to shape the country's image as modern, open, and creative.

All of this shapes the international visibility of the Ukrainian expert community at the international level.

Thank you, Ms. Ella, for a profound and inspiring conversation! Your thoughts once again confirm that Ukraine's strength lies in its talents, which are capable of uniting and creating a new quality of development.

Thank you! It is important to me that Ukraine becomes not only a country of talented people, but also a country of opportunities for these talented people.