LeaderImpact Podcast
LeaderImpact Podcast
Ep. 83 - Andrew Denysov - What Crisis Teaches Us About True Leadership
What does leadership look like when air raid sirens could interrupt your workday at any moment? From his office in Lviv, Ukraine, Andrew Denysov shares how leading a global technology company amid war has transformed his understanding of resilience, purpose, and faith-driven leadership.
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Welcome to the Leader Impact Podcast. We are a community of leaders with a network in over 350 cities around the world, dedicated to optimizing our personal, professional and spiritual lives to have impact. This show is where we have a chance to listen and engage with leaders who are living this out. We love talking with leaders. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to make the show even better, please let us know. The best way to stay connected in Canada is through our newsletter at leaderimpactca or on social at Leader Impact, and if you're listening from outside of Canada, check out our website at leaderimpactcom.
Speaker 2:I'm your host, lisa Peters, and our guest today is Andrew Denisoff. Andrew is co-founder and CEO of TechVision Global, whose software has been used for McDonald's, walgreens and 7-Eleven and many others. Although TechVision Global is headquartered in Tennessee, andrew has chosen to work with software developers in Lviv, ukraine. We first introduced you to Andrew in April 2022, less than two months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. Andrew's life, along with everyone in Ukraine, has changed. I am honored that Andrew has come back every year to chat with us and share his life living and working as a leader in Ukraine. Welcome back to the show, andrew.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, Lisa, for having me fourth time. Oh my God.
Speaker 2:It is a blessing to keep having you back. So thank you for just keep coming back and keep sharing. It is just an honor. I was going back over our notes going like, what have we chatted about? And the first episode we did in 2022 was episode eight, for anyone listening, and we talked a lot about. Um, I'm looking at my notes. Uh, we talked about you, your country, running a business in your country. Uh, we talked about cyber war. We talked about spiritual war. Uh, we came back in. What was it? 2023, episode 31. We talked about the role global business leaders have In 2024, episode 57, we are killing it here. We talked about leadership style and approach. We talked about unique challenges as leaders in Ukraine. So we're just going to keep going, andrew, it is yeah, it's great to have you.
Speaker 1:First of all, thank you for having me. I'm really humbled and honored to, not just for Stan being here, but actually for your attention to Ukraine, to the leadership topics and, of course, to the way what's actually happening over here and the way how you changed the world, lisa.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. Thank you, Andrew. So I always want our first question to just be about that update. If you have an update to what your experience, how you're living in Lviv, Ukraine.
Speaker 1:Thank you, lisa. You know I remember that you asked this question in previous episodes as well and I just you know, I tried to circle back a little bit. What happened every single year for these past? Now almost three and a half years, right? Oh, different updates, but I would be more than more than honored to share with, with, with the listeners of your podcast a fantastic podcast to get today as well, since this is the fourth year of full-scale invasion of this war and this is something that we didn't choose, that.
Speaker 1:But we have to live with this and we have to uh, you know, just like, just keep living and enjoying the next day, but we have the reality. So living in Lviv today is a paradox. Why? Because Lviv is located in the western part of Ukraine, which is just one hour drive from the border with Poland, which is the European Union 34 miles, 40 miles, something like that, so very close. So, on one hand, we live under the constant shadow of war, like sirens, missile threats and the knowledge that safety is never guaranteed Never. So you can follow that on the news, right?
Speaker 1:So, on another, there's an incredible sense of unity, resilience and purpose among the people here in Ukraine and, as entrepreneur. It pushes me to think, like you know, bigger and act bolder. So, for example, talking about the business, we built TechVision, not in spite of the war but because of it. And yeah, we started a little bit before the war, but you know, I mean it's just like our reality in the middle of the war. So, because of it, you know, to show that Ukrainians can build world-class software solutions, serve, you know, major global clients and raise the standard of excellence I love that word Even under the pressure. Under pressure, so, like personally, it has like deepened my sense of mission and urgency and I always say to me, first of all, that our life is too short and our mission is too important.
Speaker 2:That's good. I love that. I also want to acknowledge was it two years ago you had a new baby. So tell us a little bit about your wife, your family. You are a family of three now, well, four, with your wife.
Speaker 1:Yeah, lisa, you know that, how do you remember? I love you so much guys. So yeah, uh, june 1st we'll celebrate two years of our newborn baby. His name is david. Fantastic david, he's the. I mean, he's like a son, I mean lights to our lives right now.
Speaker 2:And how are the children? I know from 2022, I believe the children were pulled out of school. Maybe it was temporary, but are they back in school? Are they living a good life? Because you talked about just that safety is never guaranteed. So how do you raise children when safety is never guaranteed? It's still on the table. How do you raise?
Speaker 1:children when safety is never guaranteed or, and you know, um, it's still on the table, um, but of course, you cannot live in a fear. You're like forever, right, so your whole life. So you have to adapt it. And uh, yeah, we adapted. And uh, now we live in the same reality.
Speaker 1:Of course, technology help us to predict and follow the news and we have like to win some time to go to the bomb shelter, but, yeah, this is our reality. So, for example, when we understand that, oh, for example, a little bit chilly outside, we have to give our kids extra code or something like that, because we know that if or when the air raid service comes, they have to, you know, stay warm in some kind of. We don't have bomb shelters. This is like underground, underground parking, which is cold, right, so this is just a small glance of reality, what we have. But, uh, thank god and thank our government, the education process is going. Uh, kids getting is getting their education. So, um, all good, as, as we can call that good in in the middle of this time right and I just I appreciate that update.
Speaker 2:I think people wonder what it, what life is like, the simple things and education is very important. So to hear that you know the government is continuing, we are all good, as you're saying I'm going to take that for what you're saying and we are moving forward. You know you are in a unique situation and we are as you said. We are bigger and we're acting bolder. So I want to talk a little bit about your journey and I'm not sure if you want to. You know how you got to where you are today. But really, what we're looking for is we talk a lot about pivotal turning points and either since you started global, how you tech vision getting there, or even the last few years, have you had any of those pivotal turning points that you can share with us?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think there are. I mean I can share a few of them. I think I had a bunch of a stable job in the UK-based technology company with the office here in Lviv, and I co-founded TechVision because I just had some kind of fire inside that just kept me awake in the middle of the night. So of course, it was risky Entrepreneurs will understand me right but I believed that building something of our own, grounded in values like ownership, excellence and purpose, would have far more impact. Um, I always love that word, but you know it's a good word but in reality is very different, right? So that leap taught me that vision must be baked by courage. So courage everywhere, on the battlefield and in the marketplace, right? So that was kind of first leap. I think I would love to share that with you. And you know another one which is tuned a little bit for this. You know present times, right. Like wartime pilot, I would say so.
Speaker 1:When the full-scale war began, we had clients, employees and projects depending on us. I mean, because this is the company, right, and we didn't pause it. We recognized, increased our communication and found new ways to believe I'm sorry to deliver value. Actually, you know we believe in that, so in the hottest season, and found new ways to deliver value. Actually, we believe in that. So in the hottest season we became stronger, more aligned, more creative and, of course, more mission and values driven. I mean, that season taught me that constraint fuels creativity and resilience. And yeah, I can talk a lot about that, but this is just like very brief. What can I share with you right now?
Speaker 2:I'm sure, listeners who are experiencing, and to know not the same degree, andrew, don't, we are not in a war but the setbacks, and to have that resilience that the clients are depending on you. If you need to step back and just realign and go back, as you said, to the mission, the purpose, why are you here? Um, I I want like, if you can do it, andrew, I can do it.
Speaker 1:That's what I'm feeling right now I would love to yes let me add just one more thing, like steve job said, right, um, you know, uh, one of and I want to emphasize one of the clients that's, according to the ndas, we can share and I'm proud to share that. You mentioned a few of our clients in the beginning of this episode, like in the intro, and I would like to mention one more, which is, I mean, lots of people who listen to us right now and who will listen later and who will listen later. They are leaders, entrepreneurs and also people who probably, you know, believe in God and read Bible, right. So, and for those who read Bible on your phones, you probably use the result of our work, which is the YouVersion Bible app. This is the app that actually has includes more than 3,000 versions of the Bible, more than 2,000 languages. And I'll give you a quick secret, but just between us, especially for Leader Impact Podcast and Lisa Peters, today I'll tell you that in late this year, today, I'll tell you that in late this year, youversion Bible app will celebrate 1 billion downloads. Can you imagine that 8 billion people live on this globe but YouVersion Bible app will celebrate 1 billion downloads and we are the big part of that.
Speaker 1:We are a technology partner. We do all the coding stuff and you know what? That's what actually kept me alive. I mean like active, I couldn't just change the trajectory Word. It's difficult, yeah, difficult, soft version of the word, but still, you know we have a world mission and, yes, of course, jobs, employees, all of this processes, but um, I, I, I mean God knows, my prayers were that. God, even if it's going to be the last day today, I will keep fighting on the marketplace and especially in my company, because this is not just business and this is not just earning money but it's, like I said, mission and values driven. So sorry about like a longer answer, but I just couldn't miss the chance to share that because I'm so proud and I'm humbled and I'm happy to serve YouVersion Bible app as the software engineering technology partner.
Speaker 2:I am glad you shared and we have talked about that before because I can't remember what year, but it had been translated into for Ukraine, that's right. The country we talked about that, so I'm glad you brought it up. It is one of my favorite apps. I have been on that app for years, using many of the programs. It is fantastic. So if anyone's listening, you version look it up.
Speaker 2:It's great. I want to talk about your best principle of success. We talk a lot about that, leaders talk a lot about that. What is your best principle of success and do you have a story that you can share?
Speaker 1:I'd love to you know, when you're 38, I'm 38, you have probably lots of principles. You know, when you're 38, I'm 38, you have probably lots of principles. You know in your notes, in your head, etc. But I think I would like to pick up one which, honestly, is the most important for me. I would say so one of my core principles is ownership. Ownership, your mindset of your own role, no matter your, your title. Everything changes your mindset, your performance, performance and your impact.
Speaker 1:So and the story actually fits really good, because during the that, a critical project with a major us client not your version, but another major client in the United States our team faceda challenge that could have delayed delivery. Just a quick note if you're in software engineering, challenges is your daily bread. I mean you would like to avoid that, but you cannot, simply just cannot, because this is software engineering. Everything is difficult. Cannot, Simply just cannot, because this is software engineering, everything is difficult.
Speaker 1:So, instead of excuses, one of our engineers and, by the way, not very like senior, not very, you know, like famous engineer, but one of the engineers stepped up, solved the problem creatively and even improved the system beyond expectations. So you know that culture of ownership where people don't wait for permissions from, like project manager or whatever it could be, but take the initiative. But take the initiative, you know, and it has become a pillar of our success. So every time when I talk and I mean actually this is what we cultivate in our company ownership, you don't need to have title, you don't need to have the special permission. If you see the problem, just solve that, tackle that, help your team client uh, don't expect for raise or I mean raise. This is like I mean, uh, a cool outcome, but just just be the owner.
Speaker 2:Solve problems, change the world and you'll see the the rest yeah, so a times you have it's just a translation it's ownership, right, you're talking about being an owner to the problem. That's right. I love that. We currently in my leader impact group, we've been talking about problem solving and the first thing was just how are you looking at the problem?
Speaker 2:What is your perspective of the problem? Can you solve it, or is it unsolvable and are we going into like we are gonna do this versus this sucks? You know, yes, as you said, we are all going to have problems. It is. If you don't have problems, you don't have a job. Honestly, you know there are going to be problems. So, for someone to step up, take ownership and and give ideas, um, what? And what I heard was that this person wasn't the most senior person, right, they, they were just an idea and everyone listened, tested, move forward. That's right. Yeah, that's right. It's right, it's, it's, it's a. One thing about being a leader is listening, um, and and to take ownership. I love that. Thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 1:That was a and thank you for emphasizing. Sorry about my fancy english guys. I apologize, this is not my like first language, but I would love to, so um um, do my. I'm doing my best.
Speaker 2:Your. Your language is way better than mine in in your country, so we're good. One of the things we talk a lot about on our podcast is just failures and mistakes, and we all know we learn more from those failures, those failings, those mistakes so than our own successes. So I'm wondering if you can share one um a mistake, you've made a failure and and what you learned from it oh, I love this question.
Speaker 1:This is exactly exactly that, believe me or not, lisa, but we face with this work or this mistake, I would say or the success at the same time, every single day, five, six days a week, you know, sometimes so early on I underestimated the importance of communication. I mean obvious thing, right For extroverts, for people with well-communicated skills, it's nothing new. But trust me, if you work in tech with highly talented engineers who can solve probably lots of problems with technology in this world, communication on the flip side is a big, big challenge. We love them, but we have to face our challenges. So communication, you know challenges, so communication. So I assumed everyone understood the mission, for example, the expectations, the urgency, as I did. I co -founded that company. I am the CEO, you know. But that was the biggest mistake. So that led to confusion, missed deadlines and even client tension. So the lesson that I got was clear consistent communication is an option of its leadership know, prioritize over communication, feedback loops and clarity in every direction. That failure helped us become better, not just as talking, but through listening and aligning.
Speaker 1:And I need to tell you one thing that's like my online mentor, craig Rochelle. He says that as leaders in our organizations. We have to be CPO, chief problem solvers and also chief reminding officers. So I love that Chief reminding officers. So we have to remind that, because people know that they're not stupid, they're wise, they're clever. But, uh, when you're in your daily routine, uh, and you know some kind of set of skills, you start to forget about this. So we have to remind them, remind this to our people yeah, you have to feel your organization, your organization can be different.
Speaker 2:And I'm like I'm talking to listeners yeah, um, I have had the exact same mistake and um, I think as as a ceo of a company and I they did not get my urgency.
Speaker 2:it's like this needs you know. And before I got angry I went back and I read the email and I didn't say I need it done by three o'clock on Tuesday, that this date like I. I read yes, I can see how you didn't see my urgency. I didn't give you a date and the other thing I learned was asking the person does this work for you? Like I need this by three today. Can you get it done? How can I help you? Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:I have lived that Such a good example. I love it as well. Yeah, I mean, like this is so often communication.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm just going to say I would love to meet Craig Rochelle. So if you can hook this up, andrew, I'm flying wherever I need it. He, his, his. He has some programs on YouVersion and I have listened to them all, like Bible studies. Oh, he is fantastic, so thanks.
Speaker 1:Thanks for bringing it up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I love yours that works through him so much yeah.
Speaker 2:I'll tell him. Thank you, chief Reminding Officer. I love that. Chief Reminding Officer yes, so I want to circle back to just leadership in Ukraine, and we've talked a little bit about principles, of successes, fears and failures, and I just for you, what makes a great leader in Ukraine? You've seen the leadership that you are being led by by your country. You are seeing it in the people you work with, work for your clients, but everyone. What makes a great leader in Ukraine, and do you think this is unique to Ukraine?
Speaker 1:Of course, Ukrainians are very unique uh, I'm just kidding but partially not.
Speaker 1:So, uh, you know, uh, you know this. Um, great, also good question. Because you know, leadership in ukraine demands demands now resilience, adaptability and a deep care of people. We lead in crisis with limited actually resources and often without ideal conditions. What makes a great Ukrainian leader is not charisma, but I would say consistency, trust and courage under pressure. And is it unique to Ukraine In some way? Maybe yes, but you know, leading in war zone is different, but the principles are universal. So people want leaders who show up, stay calm and serve. What we learn in crisis can actually inspire leaders, I think, anywhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah, great answer and acknowledging these are not uncommon. However, when I listen to you, you I feel it very different um to remain calm, um in my, my city, my province, my country is a little different, I'm just gonna say, than remaining calm in a um a country in a war. So unfortunately.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, and and trust and consistency. I, I loved. I wrote this down. I'm just, you know, listening to you and in awe of you, andrew, um, thank you. So, yeah, thank you for sharing. Now. We've been together for many years and I I don't know if I've ever asked you this question. Um, at leader impact, we want to grow personally, professionally, spiritually. We ask all our people this as you continue to lead through your life, how does the spiritual make a practical difference in your life as a leader?
Speaker 1:quick story if you don't mind. Okay, no, I don't. After that, just a little bit of reflection on your question. So I just recently realized that you know, uh, imagine that uh, last, especially the last past years, we have a problem with smartphones when people spend lots of time kids, adults, spend a lot of time in smartphones and we have some kind of apps that restrict some content, time, screen et cetera. And I agree, actually it's addiction in some way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but just recently I was hooked up, especially because of my wife. So every time when she wakes up she takes her phone and I said, baby, you're probably scrolling Instagram, you know, just to relax, etc. And she says, no, the first app that I opened is your Version Bible App. And I was like, you know, uh, uh, so please, if this is inevitable, I mean I'm, if you're listening, I'm, I'm holding my iphone, uh, phone, right now. So it's inevitable. Uh, you, you cannot, I mean can technically, but it's difficult to restrict smartphones et cetera. So it's inevitable, guys, I'm telling you I'm from tech world, but you cannot eliminate, deduct or cancel whatever it is, but you can use that wisely. So show you, especially for you and your kids, that you can use that properly. And the first, please you, and I'll tell you the next one please use your phones just when you right, when you just like you woke up. Just take your phone, but use right apps. Yeah, you know, uh, so, because just holding the iphone means nothing. But if you like social media and whatever it takes, or you know, I mean, it's your choice. But if you open the right app, for example again, I'm sorry, this is not a new version of the Bible app Okay, just read the Bible on your phone, download into your brain and soul, through through your eyes and bring like the right god's information.
Speaker 1:So, uh, answering your question, so face is not just a private belief for me, I would say so, it's just a I mean, I call that, it's a compass for how I personally lead, I make decisions and build teams in different. Currently, by the way, as we speak, we are launching the second company, which is a US-based tech company as well and different projects also. So this is how I build my teams as well, and in moments of fear or uncertainty, I mean its me, the fate. The fate grounds me. So when making difficult decisions, I mean really difficult decisions. It reminds me to you know, prioritize that people first, values first and purpose, uh, over pride.
Speaker 1:Also, I want to quote a very new friend of mine. His name is Chuck Bentley. Chuck Bentley, he's the founder of the Crown Ministry and the Christian Economic Forum. I highly recommend you invite him to your podcast as well. I can make a personal intro, but this is the perfect quote he said and I just cannot miss that. He said that mission draws people, values draw right people. So I think faith is the source of right values. During the early days of the war, I had to decide whether to keep the company going or pause everything to focus on safety, simply safety. So, through prayers and reflection, I felt convinced that our team needed the company and it gave them stability. It gave them hope and purpose. Guys and I'm talking to you as a marketplace leader, a business leader yes, for those who run companies, businesses, please keep doing that despite anything. So, and that decision for me wasn't just strategic, it was spiritual and it made all the difference, my friends.
Speaker 2:Yeah, andrew, when you decided to start this second company and you talk a little bit about sharing the mission and the values, when you launch it to your staff, how did I mean? Okay, then we'll go right back to communication, communicating how passionate this is for you. How do you communicate your passion? Did they buy into your? Why? Right away, were they like yes, we're in, andrew, if you, if you believe, we believe. How did? How was that process?
Speaker 1:how was that process? Yes, how was that process? Yes, oh, good question, you know, I think that, yes, so people look at their leaders, right, and they kind of eat what they eat, but they will not always buy what they give or what they sell, right, yeah, um and uh, the passion to start the company new company, launched, the new company was my passion, my, my partner's passion, um, so we had, I mean, we had to communicate it properly with our teams. And, um, I think that, uh, you know, we have to know our teams. Someone, some people understand the language of emotions, some people understand the language of logic. So we have to know our people and communicate with them properly, to their hearts and brains, not just to hearts only or to brains only.
Speaker 1:Again, we're in the business and this is important to not convince, not to sell them, but to explain them, to share within your heart and in sincere meaning why your, why, yeah, and last thing, to be ready that not all your people are going to buy. We have to be ready for that. It's like a sales funnel, right? I mean, not all people or not all the potential buyers or leads or prospects were going to buy your goods and services. It's just normal world. So this is the way how we communicate and this is the way how we think, as for today, next year, maybe, I'm going to share something new with you, lisa.
Speaker 2:Well then, I can't wait. I love that you come back every year. That was a great way to end. It's like I don't know what's going to happen next year. But I do want to comment about not all people buy in. That is a great point to make in that you know you, andrew, sell with love and passion and heart and not everyone's going to want to be on the bus. We call it Andrew Sell with love and passion and heart, and not everyone's going to want to be on the bus. We call it. You know you got to get the right people on your bus and some people they choose to move off.
Speaker 1:You know it's a great concept. It's hard work, but this is what we have to do as leaders.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's okay too. There are opportunities out there for everyone and find the right ones for you. So, um, andrew, it is awesome to always have you back. Um, I can't wait for 2026, when we come back again and it's going to be great or maybe you're just you're going to meet one day in person. That is going to just thrill me, uh, to actually hang out with you one day. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Looking forward.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Any other comments before I end this podcast? You're talking to the world.
Speaker 1:First of all, lisa, thank you for doing this podcast To the listeners. Thank you for listening to these fantastic content, and I just realized that I want to and I repeat that to everyone that please, please, never get tired of changing this world.
Speaker 2:Oh, Andrew, you know how to end a podcast. Thank you for joining us. We just so appreciate it. Thank you so much. All right, thank you so much. Well, this ends our podcast and we hope you've enjoyed our time together. If our listeners want to engage with you, andrew, if they want to find you, they want to find out more about global tech vision anything. How?
Speaker 1:can they find you the best, lincoln? Of course, lincoln. I think this is the best. I'm there, I live there, I talk personally, not marketing team, so I apologize for possible delays, but please feel free to reach out to me there as well. And, of course, our corporate website, techvision Global. This is how we change the world as well.
Speaker 2:Good, all right, I know you do a great job on LinkedIn and it is personal and it is fantastic, so people can follow you there. Thanks again, andrew, for joining us. If you're part of Leader Impact, you can always discuss or share this podcast with your group, and if you're not yet part of Leader Impact, would like to find out more and grow your leadership, find our podcast page on our website at leaderimpactca and check out our free leadership assessment. You can also check out groups available in Canada at leaderimpactca or, if you're listening from anywhere else in the world, check out leaderimpactcom or get in touch with us by email info at leaderimpactca and we will connect you. And if you like this podcast, please leave us a comment, give us a rating or review. This will help other global leaders find our podcast. Thank you for engaging with us and remember impact starts with you.
