Bridging theory and practice: an interview with Professor Natalia Leshchenko on the success of strategic management
Strategic Management is often considered the capstone of business education — a complex intersection of analysis, decision-making, and foresight. But how do you make such a rigorous subject accessible to students from diverse backgrounds while maintaining high academic standards?We sat down with Professor Natalia Leshchenko to discuss her highly rated course. From using digital tools like Miro to fostering cross-cultural collaboration in international teams, Professor Leshchenko shares the "secret ingredients" behind the course's high student satisfaction scores and her philosophy on interactive learning.
Strategic Management is often referred to as the pinnacle of business education – a complex discipline integrating analysis, decision-making, and forecasting. Natalia Leshchenko's course is meticulously designed to benefit both students with a bachelor's degree in management and economics, and those who are just begin to study the fundamentals of company management and business development in an international context. Practical classes are designed to help students deepen their knowledge of strategic management. When some students are already familiar with the field, they act as experts and mentors for those who are just beginning to explore the course content.
The course includes self-assessment tests to evaluate students’ theoretical knowledge, case analyses to develop strategic thinking and analytical skills, and simulation-based activities in which students learn to make decisions and actively collaborate within international teams. Students with prior experience often act as a jury or expert panel. Furthermore, if advanced students are interested in a deeper dive, they could be invited to participate in developing the interactive elements and practical assignments for the course itself.
One of the objectives of the course is to complete assignments in international teams. At the beginning of the course, this can be challenging for students; however, by the end, it usually becomes a natural and comfortable practice. The key element is trust.
Professor Natalia Leshchenko
“At the start of the seminars, I form international teams myself to help students get to know one another. Later, team formation may occur in different ways: randomly, alphabetically, or even based on who arrived late. I appreciate students’ willingness to accept these formats and actively engage in the process”, - told us Natalia Leshsenko. One of the goals of international teamwork is to recognize cultural differences and take them into account when assigning tasks and collaborating within groups.
"This year, we successfully tested three practice-oriented games with digital elements using the Miro platform. We received excellent feedback, which has given us a strong reason to Business games are powerful because they impact several theoretical areas simultaneously. To be successful in the game, teams need to know the theory behind the issue and understand how to apply it. A business game allows students to organize their knowledge by bridging the gap between theory and practice. It turns abstract concepts into concrete actions".
“The course has achieved very high student satisfaction scores and it is incredibly rewarding. Primarily, this motivates me to keep working and to keep inventing new ideas and formats for studying the course. When a course is genuinely engaging for both the lecturer and the students, and when there is an open dialogue to discuss ideas and nuances, this forms the foundation of a meaningful learning experience. Additionally, the insights we gain from communicating with students are extremely valuable — I truly appreciate those moments”.
Professor Leshchenko’s approach proves that Strategic Management is not just about textbooks; it’s about people, collaboration, and adapting to new digital realities.
