What we learned from building a diverse hybrid community to support Ukraine – the story of MovED
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a small group of professionals in Finland felt a calling to act. This grassroots motivation led to the founding of Voices for Freedom ry and the launch of the MovED collective – a platform for cross-border collaboration in education, innovation, and mentoring.
From the very beginning, MovED was more than just a project; it became a living example of a diverse and international hybrid work community, united by purpose and built on values of inclusion, trust, and psychological safety.
1. Inclusion starts with safety
In hybrid teams, especially when members are volunteers, from different countries, and working across time zones, building psychological safety is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. From the start, we focused on creating shared expectations, clear communication, and digital spaces where everyone could feel safe, seen, and heard.
Our team ranges from students to retirees, from entrepreneurs to jobseekers, and spans cultures from Finland to Ukraine and beyond. Without formal contracts or salaries, the glue that holds us together is meaning, shared vision, and mutual respect.
2. Leading Without Hierarchy
MovED runs as a flat, flexible organization. We created an "Essentials" document at the outset to define our core practices and principles such as “do no harm,” "better done than perfect," and "everyone is welcome as they are."
Leadership here isn’t about titles. It’s about enabling, coordinating, and inspiring. The voluntary nature of the work requires a leadership style rooted in empathy and adaptability. We’ve had to accept that participation levels will vary and that’s okay. Even a small contribution matters.
3. Collaboration Across Cultures
One of the more eye-opening lessons was navigating cultural differences, especially between Finnish and Ukrainian work styles. Where Finns might prefer flat hierarchies and autonomy, Ukrainian team members sometimes sought more directive guidance. Understanding this wasn’t a clash—it was an opportunity to grow cultural competence and adapt our communication styles.
4. Hybrid Work as the New Normal
MovED functions fully in a hybrid environment—remote teams, asynchronous work, digital platforms, and occasional face-to-face meetings. This format allowed us to engage a wide network of experts and volunteers who might not have been able to participate otherwise. However, it also meant we had to invest time in building trust, clarifying roles, and ensuring no one felt left out.
5. Impact Through Mentorship and Community
One of MovED’s first concrete achievements was a mentoring program for Ukrainian startups in 2022. It raised over €50,000 in donated services and brought together Finnish professionals and Ukrainian entrepreneurs in the middle of a war. In 2023-2024, we piloted MovED by Mentoring, matching Ukrainian educators with peers in Finland. These programs show how meaningful support can be built through shared knowledge and human connection, even in the darkest times.
Final Thoughts
Leading MovED has been like growing a startup—with no roadmap, no funding security, and lots of uncertainty. But it’s also been one of the most rewarding learning journeys of our careers. We’ve learned that inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and shared purpose are not just theories—they are the foundation for resilient, impactful teams.
We hope our learnings inspire others building hybrid, multicultural communities—whether in business, education, or humanitarian work.
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This blog post is based on the article by Reija Anckar and Hannele Mennala titled “A Diverse Hybrid Work Community Supports the Reconstruction of Ukraine.”
The article was published in Tulevaisuudenkestävä bisnes – inhimillistä johtajuutta, inhimillistä työelämää (Sustainable Business – Human-Centered Leadership and Work Life) in 2024 and presented at the related conference on April 24, 2024.
You can access the full publication here: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-328-436-4