Servant Leadership Under Fire: Lessons from Volodymyr Zelensky – A Special Online Fundraising Seminar Benefiting United Help Ukraine
Learn about leadership. Stand with Ukraine. Make a difference.
What does it mean to be a leader who truly serves others? And what can we learn from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose leadership has been tested under extraordinary circumstances?
Join Rochelle Kopp, an American leadership consultant and author, for a special one-hour online seminar exploring the concept of servant leadership through the example of President Zelensky.
100% of registration proceeds will be donated to United Help Ukraine, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian assistance, medical supplies, support for Ukrainian defenders and their families, and aid to people affected by Russia’s invasion. United Help Ukraine has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator.
Dates, Registration & Recording Options
This special fundraising seminar will be presented live four times — twice in English and twice in Japanese. Each session lasts one hour and covers the same core material.
Registration fee: US$100 per person
Every live registration includes complimentary access to a recording of the seminar. If you cannot attend any of the live sessions, you can purchase the recording separately for the same price.
All dates and times below are in Japan Standard Time (JST), with international equivalents provided for the English-language sessions.
English-Language Live Sessions
Monday, November 9, 2026
8:30–9:30 PM JST
- London: 11:30 AM–12:30 PM
- Paris/Berlin: 12:30–1:30 PM
- New York: 6:30–7:30 AM
Registration: [November 9 English session — CLICK HERE]
Sunday, November 15, 2026
9:00–10:00 AM JST
For U.S. participants, this is Saturday evening, November 14:
- New York: 7:00–8:00 PM
- Chicago: 6:00–7:00 PM
- Los Angeles: 4:00–5:00 PM
Registration: [November 15 English session — CLICK HERE]
Japanese-Language Live Sessions
Sunday, November 8, 2026
10:00-11:00 AM JST
Registration: [November 9 Japanese session — CLICK HERE]
Monday, November 9, 2026
7:00–8:00 PM JST
Registration: [November 14 Japanese session — CLICK HERE]
On-Demand Recordings
Can’t join us live? You can still support Ukraine and learn about servant leadership by purchasing access to a recording.
Recording-only price: US$100
- Watch at your convenience
- Recordings will be available after the live sessions
Purchase the English recording: [CLICK HERE]
Purchase the Japanese recording: [CLICK HERE]
All live participants will receive access to a recording at no additional charge. Whether you attend live or purchase the recording, 100% of registration proceeds will benefit United Help Ukraine.
Why I’m Organizing This Seminar – A Message from Rochelle
Like many people around the world, I have watched Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine with horror and outrage. And recently I have become increasingly distressed by what I see as a series of betrayals of Ukraine by the United States, my own country.
Restrictions on satellite communications used by Ukrainian forces. Discussion of business deals with Russia under the guise of peace negotiations. Resuming purchases of Russian diesel, providing Russia with additional revenue while it continues its war. Waiving the sanctions established by the Lindsey O. Graham Act before they went into effect, gutting legislation intended to increase economic pressure on Russia.
It has been one thing after another in the past few weeks. To me, these developments represent a deeply troubling pattern of appeasement toward Vladimir Putin. As an American, I find them not only infuriating but frankly embarrassing.
I don’t have Elon Musk’s money. I don’t hold political office or wield any particular power over international affairs. But I hate the feeling of helplessness that comes from watching these events unfold and wondering what I can possibly do.
So I thought about what I could do, within my own sphere of influence, that might be able to have some positive impact, even if just a small one.
In my work as a global leadership consultant, I frequently teach the concept of servant leadership — the idea that the leader’s role is not simply to direct others, but to support, empower, and inspire them to achieve shared goals. It is also the subject of my most recent book, published in Japanese.
Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, I gave a presentation to a study group of Japanese business leaders examining how Zelensky exemplified servant leadership. His courage, humility, communication skills, and unwavering commitment to his people made a profound impression on me.
More than four years later, his leadership continues to offer important lessons. The challenges have changed, the war has dragged on, and the demands on Ukraine’s leaders and people have been enormous. And although he’s not necessarily perfect, Zelensky’s conduct throughout this prolonged crisis continues to provide powerful examples of what it means to lead in service of others.
I realized that I could update that original presentation, share it with a wider audience both in Japan and internationally, and use it to raise funds for Ukraine. And that is this event.
What We’ll Explore
During this one-hour seminar, we’ll examine:
- What servant leadership is, and why it matters in today’s organizations.
- How Zelensky demonstrates servant leadership, including courage, humility, empathy, communication, and commitment to a shared purpose.
- How his leadership has evolved from the first days of the invasion through the prolonged challenges of war.
- What we can learn from his example and apply to our own leadership roles, whether in business, nonprofit organizations, or our communities.
The seminar will draw on real examples of Zelensky’s actions and his own words, including speeches and interviews. No prior knowledge of servant leadership is required.
About the Presenter
Rochelle Kopp is the founder and Managing Principal of Japan Intercultural Consulting, an international consulting and training firm specializing in leadership, management, and cross-cultural communication.
An American who has spent much of her career working with Japanese and global organizations, she advises executives, develops leaders, and helps organizations work more effectively across cultures.
She is the author of numerous books on business and management, including a recent Japanese-language book on servant leadership, and serves as an outside director of two Japanese listed companies.
About United Help Ukraine
United Help Ukraine is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Ukrainians affected by Russia’s war.
Its programs include providing medical and humanitarian supplies, supporting Ukrainian defenders and wounded veterans, assisting families affected by the war, and helping communities recover.
The organization has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong performance on the charity evaluator’s measures of accountability and effectiveness.
Learn more about United Help Ukraine:
https://unitedhelpukraine.org/
Charity Navigator:
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/47-1837509
Your Participation Makes a Difference
Whether you join a live session or watch the recording later, your registration will help support Ukrainians while giving you an opportunity to reflect on what effective, service-oriented leadership really means.
I hope you’ll join me in turning our concern for Ukraine and dismay over recent developments into something constructive.
Rochelle Kopp