Ucom General Director Ralph Yirikian met participants of the Leadership School’s 2026–2027 academic year and delivered a lecture titled “Leadership: Core Principles.”
He focused on the changing role of leaders, decision-making in uncertain conditions, building trust within teams, and the importance of uniting people around a shared purpose. Ralph Yirikian also discussed how digital technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping management approaches and creating new expectations for today’s leaders.
According to Ralph Yirikian, leadership today requires far more than managing processes. Leaders need to recognize change while it is still taking shape, remain ready to revisit established approaches, and at the same time create an environment where people are willing to take initiative and assume responsibility.
He shared management experience and insights with the participants, stressing that although technological progress is changing tools and workflows, people, responsibility and trust remain central to leadership. In periods of change, he said, it is important not only to make the right decisions, but also to help teams understand the purpose behind those decisions and each person’s role in reaching a common goal.
The discussion also touched on real business situations and the trade-offs leaders face in management: long-term goals versus short-term results, fast decisions versus careful risk assessment, and technological efficiency versus the human factor.
Leadership School founder Samvel Movsisyan said the school values meetings that allow participants to experience leadership not only through theory, but through real-life practice as well. He said the discussion with Ralph Yirikian offered exactly that kind of opportunity, while Yirikian’s experience, mindset and approach to modern management provided useful guidance for the next generation of leaders.
Samvel Movsisyan added that in a rapidly changing environment, it is especially important to develop leaders who are willing to learn, take responsibility, embrace change and create a positive impact for their teams and society.
Ucom said it values cooperation with educational and professional institutions and platforms, as well as the opportunity to share its experience with future leaders. The Leadership School Foundation has operated since 2009. Its mission is to support the development of the next generation of innovative business leaders in the South Caucasus and the Persian Gulf regions through cooperation with established local and international leaders, thinkers and organizations.
