Volodymyr Silchenko

UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business

“Resilient entrepreneur turning crisis into opportunities, fostering inclusivity and community spirit in Ukraine’s darkest hours.”

Hometown: Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played in one of the oldest high school football rivalries (since 1901) in the American South (yes, American football) while in high school in Virginia. I bulked up 60 pounds in six months to switch to linebacker and was the only international student on a 100-player team.

Undergraduate School and Major: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv: Bachelor and Master of International Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Capital Food: Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Berkeley Haas is founded on four Defining Leadership Principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. Which principle resonates most with you and why? Beyond Yourself resonates deeply with me. While many fled during Ukraine’s 2022 invasion, I chose to stay and transform my restaurant business into a sanctuary for displaced employees (just like me), refugees, and the LGBTQI+ community. Together with my team, we organized over 80 charity events, raising funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and provided essential services like shelter, meals, and internet during blackouts and missile shelling.

This experience taught me the power of ethical leadership and putting larger interests above my own. At Haas, I look forward to continuing this spirit of selflessness and community service, driving social impact and resilience in entrepreneurship.

What excites you about earning your MBA in the Bay Area? Throughout my life, I’ve believed that the goal for any human is to create and build. I’m confident that, in the Bay Area, I will have unparalleled access to the tools needed to achieve my goals. The dynamic environment offers unique opportunities to collaborate with leading tech companies and startups. As the world’s starting point for innovation and entrepreneurship, the Bay Area, specifically Berkeley Haas, provides full access to resources like the Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program, Launch Accelerator, and StEP. The opportunity to engage with leaders like Scott Shenker, co-founder of Databricks, and to utilize platforms like Berkeley SkyDeck, will enable me to fully leverage this comprehensive innovation ecosystem.

What was the key part of Berkeley Haas’ MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The key part of Berkeley Haas’ programming that led me to choose this business school is its deep focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. I am constantly looking at things from the prism of entrepreneurship, always seeking ways to improve, optimize, and solve problems for consumers. Haas’ reputation as the No. 1 school in the world for creating venture-funded startups (source: Pitchbook) while advancing its core mission of producing long-term societal benefits aligns perfectly with my entrepreneurial experience in Kyiv.

As someone who thrives on the idea of “what’s next,” I am particularly excited about the StEP program. This 10-week experiential program offers UC Berkeley students the opportunity to find co-founders and start companies, with access to UC Berkeley’s talent, mentors, advisors, investors, and top-notch experts guiding them step-by-step in building their dream companies. This comprehensive support system is exactly what I need to pivot and innovate successfully.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Berkeley Haas? Food@Haas. Their mission to strengthen community through a mutual love of food resonates with my journey in the hospitality industry. Sharing food with friends and loved ones has always been an act of care and love. Being displaced from my home in Crimea taught me the importance of a safe place, which led me to the hospitality industry. Keeping my restaurant open every day during the war was about creating a second home for my guests and team, a place of comfort and stability. Food@Haas’ focus on community and inclusivity aligns perfectly with my values and professional aspirations.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: During the war, I turned my restaurant business into something more than a gastronomic hot spot: We served hot meals during blackouts, leveraged a rare optical internet fiber, and linked all emergencies when other networks failed. An 11-year-old once relied on our power supply to charge his inhaler. At my venue, stand-up comedians offered humorous refuge, and soldiers performed “I Will Survive.” Receiving the “Unbreakability Point” honor and a certificate of appreciation from the 43rd Artillery Brigade, which played a pivotal role in defending Kyiv during the full-scale invasion in February 2022, stands as my proudest accomplishment. These honors symbolize the resilience, solidarity, and unwavering spirit we fostered in the face of adversity in the darkest times.

At this point, what do you hope to do after graduation? After graduation, I aim to leverage my MBA to find “what’s next” in entrepreneurship, focusing on identifying pressing problems and creating innovative solutions. I aspire to use the instruments and knowledge gained at Berkeley Haas to launch and scale ventures that drive positive change and address real-world challenges. My goal is to build impactful businesses that embody resilience and inclusivity.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Berkeley Haas’ MBA program? My advice is to be authentic and introspective. Reflect deeply on your experiences, even if it means revisiting difficult or emotional moments, as these insights will help you present a genuine and holistic picture of yourself. Take the time to understand the school’s culture and values by engaging with current students, alumni, and faculty. If you find that you connect with the questions, application process, and overall vibe of the school, it’s a sign you belong there. For me, this connection was evident with Haas, making it the right choice for my MBA journey.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE BERKELEY HAAS MBA CLASS OF 2026