Darnytsia in the Conversation about the Future of People Management

Olena Sokolova, People Director at Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company, spoke about how Darnytsia combines business requirements with people’s needs. This and more were discussed at the 17th People Management Conference.

This topic is especially relevant today, as according to Gradus Research, 82% of women and 67% of men in Ukraine are experiencing emotional burnout. The main reasons are overload, uncertainty, and lack of support.

In the panel discussion “People of the Future Are Already Here. How to Develop, Motivate, and Retain Those Still Waiting for Their Chance,” Olena Sokolova and her colleagues discussed how to create an environment within the company where people work, grow, try new things, avoid burnout, and stay for the long term.

“Darnytsia is about people who find themselves in meaningful roles. We invest equally in the business and in team development. We have a transparent competency model built on values. Each value has clear behavioral examples — from humanity to the drive for success. When values have a practical dimension, the team becomes united and the culture becomes holistic,” said Olena Sokolova.

This is especially important today, when people expect flexibility, career development, a positive environment, and the opportunity to be seen and supported from their employers. According to the Gradus study, 83% of young people aged 18–24 want to grow in their careers, and every second person is considering quitting due to stress.

In this context, Darnytsia’s employer brand — “Being in your place is our way. Find yours” — sounds like an answer. It’s about the right to change, search, and move forward, and the company can help with that.

At Darnytsia, 43% of vacancies are filled through internal mobility. 47% of managers have grown within the company, and 11% of the team received new growth opportunities in the past year.

Olena Sokolova shared that participating in events like the People Management Conference is an opportunity to feel the pulse of the market, hear honest stories from colleagues, and rethink one’s own decisions.