Our guest for this episode is Valentyn Zadorin. He is a private equity investor at Siguler Guff and is responsible for deal evaluation and execution for Siguler Guff’s Global Emerging Markets platform. Prior to joining Siguler Guff in 2022, he was an Investment Banker at Barclays Investment Bank covering the technology ecosystem. Previously, he was a Co-founder and Partner at a full-service 3PL provider in Ukraine and an investor in emerging markets.

We get to know more about Val as he talks about his background, growing up in Ukraine, and his reasons for coming to Haas to pursue an MBA. 

Val was also recently featured in Poets&Quants about his views and experience on the Russian aggression in Ukraine. In this episode, he shares a little bit about what started the war, what's currently going on, and the actions people can take to help Ukraine win.

Episode Quotes:

Why Haas?

"I didn't have an emotional connection to Berkeley, to be entirely honest. But I knew two things. The first one is that I felt big potential in technology, so I wanted to start in the right field, in the right market. And what's the best place to do that other than the Bay area? And the second thing, I actually could relate to the four defining principles. It's funny because, usually, you think it's just a marketing tool of some sort. But in reality, some of those are indeed what I have been trying to be as a person. My favorite one is confidence without attitude. And to me, it fits my personality really well. I believe, after my experience of working with different graduates from different schools, Berkeley and Haas is really distinguished by incredibly smart and hardworking people who are modest and have the confidence without attitude at the same time.

When I got to the school, it turned out that it was actually an amazing fit. I realized only after being at Haas how lucky I got, essentially. It was challenging, but the environment is just incredibly supportive, and starting from my classmates to the faculty, I got a lot of support in the school. And I'm glad I ended up in Berkeley and I made the right choice in the end."

On what could be the end result of the war for Ukraine

"So, by starting this war, Russia not only just blew up their economy. They not only united all the Ukrainians together. I believe, really, after the war ends, Ukraine is going to be more united than ever. And it's going to be an incredibly prosperous country because this aggression just changed our moral compass inside the country. And at the same time, it brought the attention of international organizations to the issues. I think, with international support, after the war ends, the best way to actually change something within Russia is to show that Ukraine is going to be prosperous and successful. And hopefully, after Russian people see that, they will realize that they have to do something on their own within their country."

Action items for people to help support Ukraine

"I think it's really important to talk about it. And we probably are at the point where people are just getting tired of negative news and the war. They're trying to move on. But in reality, it's important for all of us, as I mentioned. It's really a war against freedom and the war against Western values. 

There are a few action items. So, first of all, it's probably most important. Please, use your rights as citizens and appeal to elected representatives. Just move this top on their agenda, essentially. Let them know that it's important for you and let them know that, if they want to be elected for the next term, they should be helping Ukraine. I think that's a really important thing.

Secondly, Ukraine needs weapons. We have been winning. The problem is there are five Russian soldiers and one Ukrainian, and there are three tanks on one Ukrainian missile launcher. So, to really fight back, Ukraine needs weapons.

The third thing, and it's really important. I recommend donating. I've received so many donations for the Ukrainian cause. And it's like tens of thousands of dollars that were channeled through me to NGOs who are helping victims of war, who are helping soldiers now. I really appreciate that."

How can businesspeople and entrepreneurs help the cause?

"As businessmen, as graduates of Haas, we are making purchasing decisions, all of us. At some point, we either will be or we are. Don't buy Russian products, because by buying Russian products, you are paying companies who are going to pay taxes in Russia that, in turn, going to be used to finance the war. And it's a vote that we are making with our wallets. So, be mindful of that. And please, check your channels."

Show Links:

• Valentyn Zadorin LinkedIn
• Razom for Ukraine
• Lost Kingdom by Serhii Plokhy

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