My first boss: Alexander Sobolenko, CEO of Releaf Paper, the Ukrainian green start-up
The people who helped shape business leaders
Releaf Paper is the first in the world to manufacture paper, packaging and bags from fallen leaves. Launched during the pandemic by businessman Alexander Sobolenko and biotechnologist Valentin Frechka, 21, Releaf then made a move to export sustainable packaging in Europe despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It currently produces 10,000 tonnes of paper per year, while Fast Company listed Releaf as one of the world’s most innovative companies for 2023.
In 2010, I was a young manager in consumer electronics and decided to change company to Lenovo (0992.HK), the Chinese technology company. At the time it wasn't that well known in Europe.
XuePeng Wang came to Ukraine to interview me for a service operations manager role. I understood him to be a very professional manager but he realised and trusted my expertise of the Eastern Europe market.
Read More: My first boss: Hannah Lewis, Amex UK country manager
There was no structure; I like to build from scratch and XuePeng gave me the opportunity to do this. Working in an international company brings benefits and challenges. He was close to me in good and bad times when big changes came around.
Yet, XuePeng told me to continue doing my job no matter the circumstances — and this experience helped me in running later companies as well as during the war in Ukraine.
He later told everyone in my team that, one day, I won’t be 'Alexander the Ukrainian but the international Alexander.'
Read more: My first boss: Hugo Barclay, Affordable Art Fair UK director
It was kind of prophetic when I left Lenovo after six years as all my business focus was now with an international focus. For Ukrainians it’s hard to move to external markets. But I work without borders and XuePeng changed my mindset.
He never taught me this but I always analysed what he said. He gave me direction and it was always passive learning. He made me think confidently about going global and seeing new opportunities which big corporations couldn’t implement. I absorbed it all and it was a powerful form of teaching.
Watch: Ukrainian student turns leaves into paper
In a challenging environment it’s hard to stay positive, I motivate myself with some small wins. We are doing lots of things at Releaf Paper and it’s hard to get significant achievements, especially with start-ups.
Leadership for me means to be the example and to motivate the team. For six months, all we heard was that no one wants to work with a Ukrainian start-up especially with the war.
But Google awarded us a start-up nomination and that was a success. It was instant recognition and it gave us energy. Despite several achievements we are still experimenting with our multi-functional business.
We are always testing production in paper, cellulose and packaging. We are learning every day and feedback from the likes of Nestle (NESN.SW), L’Oreal (OR.PA) or McDonald’s (MCD) is crucial for our direction.
Leaf paper is fully recyclable and has a biodegradation period of only 60 days. Secondly, carbon dioxide emissions when using such raw materials are 78% lower. And thirdly, Releaf Paper contributes to forest conservation by saving 17 trees for every ton of its paper produced.
In 2022, we beat more than 6,500 competing companies and received coveted funding of €2.5m (£2.2m, $2.6m) from the European Commission. We know that one big customer will help to increase the volumes several times. Now we're on our way to build the first pilot production line in Europe that is financed by the European Commission.
Read More: My first boss: Anna Lundstrom, CEO of Nespresso UK&I
It's always crucial to have someone like XuePeng guiding you. I invited him to my wedding and he turned out to be the best dancer of the night. All the attention turned to him and I later asked him to be godfather to my first daughter.
As a wise man, I knew he would take responsibility. He took one month to consider, asking me lots of additional questions before he said ‘yes’ and he came over to Ukraine with all his family.
Watch: Is it financially worth going to university?
Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
