Leadership, Technology & Transformation: Highlights from IT Wave 2025

Once again, Odesa became the hub for vital discussions in tech. Over 300 participants came together for the 11th annual IT Wave 2025 conference to explore the future of the IT industry, digital transformation, and leadership in a fast-changing world.The conference brought together top IT companies, product managers, recruiters, educators, marketers, PR professionals, and developers — all eager to share insights and real-world solutions. A long-time partner of the event, Hillel IT School, continues to actively support the growth of IT education and the development of the wider tech ecosystem.

“Partnership with IT Wave is more than just an opportunity to share expertise. Every participant brings experience and ideas that can help solve today’s most pressing challenges. Events like this foster collaboration and inspire new approaches to driving progress in the industry,” said Vadym Dromov, CEO and Co-founder of Hillel IT School, speaker at the event.

“Conferences like IT Wave are crucial for strengthening Ukraine’s tech ecosystem. They create a space for new ideas and practical solutions that can help the industry thrive,” added Kateryna Solovey, CEO of Odesa IT Family.

Panel 1: The (un)scripted leader

How do you lead teams through constant uncertainty? How do you retain both clients and colleagues across generations X, Y, Z, and Alpha? And what leadership approaches still work in the age of AI? This panel explored some of the most important challenges in leadership today — from managing people and expectations to avoiding burnout in the age of non-stop change.

Leaders from global tech companies, the education sector, and product-based businesses shared their experience and vision, including representatives from SoftServe, Luxoft, EPAM, AIR Institute of Odesa Polytechnic, and Hillel IT School. The result was an open, dynamic conversation about real-world leadership and business resilience.

“Whether you’re a CEO, an HR lead, a trainer, or a sales director — you need to keep up with everything. Constant turbulence has become the norm. And today’s generational diversity — in teams and among clients — requires us to rethink the way we lead. During this panel, we broke it all down with real-world cases: how to adapt, stay human, and build systems that actually work for business,” said Alina Pervushyna, panel moderator and PR Director at Hillel IT School.

Panel 2: Communication with purpose

How can we stay honest, impactful, and responsible in the post-truth era? PR leaders from Netpeak, Capgemini Engineering, EPAM, UKRSIBBANK, UK Comms, and Velyki Istorii shared their thoughts on what modern communication really requires. It’s not just about reach anymore — it’s about meaning, empathy, crisis management, and long-term trust in marketing and communications.

The conference also featured expert-led sessions that offered practical perspectives on today’s tech trends. Oleksandr Krakovetskyi, CEO of DevRain, spoke about the real-world applications of generative AI in education, business, and everyday life. Oleksandr Bodalevskyi from Capgemini Engineering shared powerful case studies on agent-based systems and how they’re transforming business processes.

What Made IT Wave 2025 Stand Out? Two content tracks. Four hours of insights. Dozens of real cases. Countless new connections.The 11th edition of IT Wave proved once again: when people, ideas, and action meet — real change begins.