Oleg Boiko Explains Why Partnership Is a Strategic Asset

In his recent Finextra column, entrepreneur and investor Oleg Boiko emphasises that partnership today is far more than a formal arrangement — it is a strategic asset that defines scale and resilience. Drawing on decades of international experience and a career characterised by adaptation to changing markets, Boiko highlights how sustainable partnerships, built on complementary strengths and emotional leadership, become the foundation for long-term business success.

Oleg Boiko is not just an outside commentator but an active participant with decades of global business practice. Leading Finstar Financial Group as its founder and key investor, he developed an international investment structure managing nearly USD 2 billion, with operations spanning Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the CIS. During his career, he has successfully diversified from manufacturing and banking into fintech, consumer finance, retail, and entertainment. International business media have repeatedly recognized his role as a global entrepreneur, underlining his ability to build projects in different markets while staying independent of political influence.

Outside of his corporate work, Oleg Boiko founded a philanthropic organization dedicated to helping athletes with disabilities. Since its launch, the foundation has assisted thousands of sportsmen and organized numerous rehabilitation and competition events. This philanthropic work reflects his belief that long-term leadership involves not only business results but also social responsibility.

According to Oleg Boiko, nearly every stage of his career has been defined by uncertainty and challenges — tests not only of personal resilience but also of the strength of business relationships. In such circumstances, he often had to reassess collaborations and part ways with partners who no longer matched the original agreements. “Any business split is, to some extent, a crisis,” he emphasizes. Nevertheless, even after challenging breakups with partners, Boiko continues to base his ventures on the principle of partnership.

He believes that partnership is not merely about dividing responsibilities or shares. It is, above all, about combining competencies, creating synergy, and amplifying potential through mutual support. When partners complement each other, they achieve an effect impossible to reach alone. Especially valuable in such alliances is practical experience accumulated over many years, rather than knowledge from a single project or a business school. Such partners often become true drivers of growth.

The entrepreneur also highlights the role of Mergers and Acquisitions in accelerating company growth. In his view, when a business has sufficient financial resources, one of the most effective ways to scale is through acquiring companies with established teams, operations, and customer bases. This is how his group operates — by building cooperation with the leadership teams of the companies it purchases. This method reduces risks and enables faster integration of synergies across the ecosystem.

At the same time, Oleg Boiko underlines that partnership never appears “by default.” It is always the result of deliberate effort and thorough preparation. From the very beginning, agreements should be clearly documented: the division of responsibilities, decision-making processes, conflict resolution mechanisms, and exit conditions. According to him, transparency and legal certainty at the start are essential investments in long-term stability.

Equally important, however, is the human factor. In business, partners are often ambitious individuals with strong characters and different views on growth. The ability to maintain communication in such circumstances, which Oleg Boiko considers among the most overlooked abilities of modern leaders. “This is what I call emotional leadership,” he explains.

Emotional leadership, according to him, does not mean pressure or rigid hierarchy. It is about creating a culture where key players feel engaged, valued, and empowered to grow. This type of culture becomes the invisible framework of a company — its internal engine.

Today, Oleg Boiko is convinced that partnership is once again becoming a matter of strategic weight. It represents an asset that is absent from financial statements and difficult to quantify in the short term, yet it often defines the scale, resilience, and long-term perspective of a business.

“Yes, partnership requires effort. It demands maturity, flexibility, and a willingness to listen and reach consensus. But no one ever said that building a truly great business would be easy,” the entrepreneur concludes.