In April 2026, the “Anti-Manager” book series by Olesia Ulianova was presented at Knyzhkova Kraina — one of the largest literary festivals in Ukraine, traditionally bringing together authors, publishers, business audiences, and readers around contemporary Ukrainian literature.
The books were presented in collaboration with Verba Publishing, which publishes the “Anti-Manager” series and supports the development of modern Ukrainian non-fiction literature in management, soft skills, and leadership.
During the festival, visitors had the opportunity to explore the concept behind the trilogy, dedicated to modern management, leadership thinking, communication psychology, and the internal transformation of leaders.
The “Anti-Manager” series offers a practical and reflective perspective on real-world management without illusions: difficult decisions, emotional pressure, conflicts, responsibility, team dynamics, and the development of managerial maturity.
At the core of the trilogy is the idea that modern managers can no longer rely solely on control, processes, or formal authority. A new type of leadership is built through mindset, communication, psychological resilience, and the ability to work with complexity.
Particular attention during the festival was drawn to topics such as:
🔹 soft skills as the new managerial currency;
🔹 emotional maturity in leadership;
🔹 building trust inside teams;
🔹 leadership under uncertainty;
🔹 the leader’s internal transformation from “I” to “WE” and “THEY”.
Visitors also showed strong interest in the trilogy’s structure:
📘 “Anti-Manager. Level 1. I and Only I” — focused on the internal architecture of a manager, personal soft skills, and self-management.
📘 “Anti-Manager. Level 2. I and WE” — dedicated to communication, team dynamics, trust, and collaboration.
📘 “Anti-Manager. Level 3. I and THEY” — focused on leadership, systems thinking, and working within complex organizational structures.
For the author, participation in Knyzhkova Kraina became not only a presentation of the books, but also part of a broader discussion about how the role of managers is changing in the modern world — especially in IT, business, and high-uncertainty environments.
“Anti-Manager” is a series about people, systems, and decisions. About management without illusions. And about leadership that starts not with a title, but with a mindset.
