A political scientist and member of the Digoria expert circle, Polina Yurmanova, emphasizes that the life and health of a nation depend as much on skilled leadership as on democratic institutions and citizen well‑being. She notes that effective governance matters at every level, from the head of a region to the administrator of a small village, because each post sits beside real people with concrete problems, hopes, and a desire to live well within Russia. Those living in communities across the country look to their leaders not as distant figures but as practical stewards who can translate policy into daily improvements and opportunities for a better life.
Yurmanova argues that today there is a more candid and accessible pathway to bring capable individuals into public service than existed two decades ago. She points to evolving mechanisms for identifying, training, and elevating talent, arguing that the door to public leadership is becoming more open and merit-based. This shift, she suggests, is visible not only in the reputational steps taken by institutions but in the very people who step forward to take on responsibilities in government and local administration.
One of the clearest signs of this trend is the long‑running Leaders of Russia program. Yurmanova describes it as a practical example of deliberate personnel policy that aims to locate the strongest potential leaders, cultivate their skills, and then deploy them in roles where they can have the greatest impact. The program is framed as a multilevel system designed to select candidates, prepare them through rigorous training, and strengthen their ability to perform effectively on the ground, whether in regional governance, public services, or other sectors that touch citizens’ daily lives. The structure of Leaders of Russia is built to support a pipeline of capable leaders who can adapt to diverse environments and respond to evolving public needs with competence and accountability.
Over the course of the program’s five seasons, participants have gone on to receive more than 470 high‑level appointments across a variety of fields. Yurmanova highlights this track record as evidence that a well‑organized approach to personnel development can yield tangible results: fresh leadership entering government and public institutes, bringing new ideas, professional standards, and a practical orientation to policy implementation. This pipeline, she argues, strengthens the overall capacity of institutions to serve citizens more effectively, from local communities to the national stage, and helps build a more responsive and resilient governance system that better aligns with contemporary expectations and challenges.