International Financial Expert

Assem Zhakipova has over 15 years of experience working in leading multinational and financial organizations. Her expertise spans financial analysis, risk management, strategic planning, and corporate governance.

She holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Cambridge and is currently pursuing the DBA program at the MNU.

Assem is a certified professional accountant (ACCA, Fellow) and a licensed auditor of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and she also holds international certifications in PMP and Six Sigma, underscoring her expertise in project management and business process optimization.

Professor of Economics and Business Administration

Assel Narymbetova is a p rofessor with over 15 years of experience in academic and research administration, higher education, and scholarly activities.

She holds degrees in DBA (Geneva Business School, Switzerland) and MA in Applied Economics (Duke University, USA). She serves as Visiting professor at leading business schools in Kazakhstan, including AlmaU, KazGUU, and the Atyrau University of Oil and Gas.

Assel supervises MBA students’ research, participates in international research ethics committees, and has led the development and implementation of research ethics standards at Nazarbayev University.

She is the author of publications on financial inclusion, corporate finance, and research ethics, and conducts motivational and professional development programs for students and professionals.

Marketing and Business Development Manager & Expert

Azamat Gimranov is a marketing and business development professional with over 15 years of experience in international and national companies.

He holds MBA degree in Marketing and an LLM in Intellectual Property Law. His expertise includes product management, marketing research, strategic branding, and intellectual property protection.

Azamat serves as Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the School of International Economics, MNU, and is a member of the BCB.

Scientific Leader and Management Expert

Leila Assylbekova has over 37 years of academic and pedagogical experience and 24 years in public service. She is the Director of the International Academy of Competencies, holds a Doctorate in Psychology, and is a Candidate of Medical Sciences.

She is an academician of the International Academy of Informatization of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MAI) and a professor at the Academy of Justice under the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Her authorship includes over 90 scientific publications, including 2 patents, 15 intellectual property certificates, 1 textbook, 4 monographs, and 3 methodological manuals.

Director and Expert in Emotional Intelligence Development

Assel Muratova is the Director of the International Academy of Emotional Intelligence, a partner of the “Baqytty El” Foundation, a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach (EACEIP), a professional trainer of Erickson International, and an HR specialist.

She has over 15 years of experience in human resource management and team development, as well as more than 9 years of successful practice as a business trainer.

She implemented leadership and emotional competency development projects for major national and international companies, including KEGOC, Eurasia Group Kazakhstan, Altynalmas, Kazminerals, ERG Service, and KTZ-Express.
Assel Muratova’s professional work focuses on developing emotional intelligence, building strong teams, enhancing leadership effectiveness, and implementing modern HR practices in the corporate environment.

Expert in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance

Alikhan Baidussenov is a highly qualified expert in strategic management, transformation, and corporate governance with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, consulting, and the public sector.

He holds an academic background in economics and management, including a Master’s degree from Kazakh State University, as well as executive education at the Naval Postgraduate School (USA) and London Business School.
He has an extensive practical experience in preparing companies for IPOs, leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives, and teaching strategic management and corporate governance.

Expert in Strategic Human Resource Management

Lyazzat Kozhakhmetova is an experienced HR executive with over 20 years of professional experience in strategic human resource management, corporate culture development, and leadership growth.

She has extensive experience working in large organizations, building HR functions from the ground up, and establishing effective people management systems.
She is a certified international coach and mentor. Her core professional motivation is building strong teams, sustainable systems, and achieving measurable results.

Professor of Economics

Vilmur Auken is Professor of Economics with over 30 years of experience in academia, higher education, and public institutions.

He holds PhD degree in Economics (Moscow State University; credential evaluation by WES, USA) and completed postdoctoral training at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

He held senior leadership positions at the National School of Public Policy, KBTU, and Almaty Management University, and has served as an expert in international projects funded by USAID, the World Bank, and the European Union.
He is the author of more than 90 academic publications and teaching materials in the fields of macroeconomics, international economics, and higher education quality assurance.

Expert in Strategic Management and Sustainable Development

Gulzhan Bekmagambetova is a highly qualified professional in strategic management, risk management, sustainability, and internal control with over 20 years of experience in both corporate and public sectors.

She has held senior leadership positions within JSC NC KazMunayGas and currently serves as the Regional Director of PRMIA Kazakhstan.

She holds an the Executive MBA degree and multiple international professional certifications. She completed executive education programs in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Kazakhstan.

She is a PhD candidate in Project Management at Satbayev University. Gulzhan actively contributes to expert and public initiatives, including collaboration with the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

She is the author of publications in the fields of sustainability and risk management.

Expert in Talent Development and Change Management

Gulmira Mukanova is an expert in talent development, lean manufacturing, and change management with over 20 years of experience in HR and consulting.

She has served as HR Director in large manufacturing and telecommunications companies, leading comprehensive transformation projects focused on process optimization, corporate culture development, and learning and development systems.

She has hands-on experience implementing Lean, Kaizen, Adizes methodologies, and managing organizational change initiatives.

She holds an MBA degree (Open University & MIM Link). Her academic background is in psychology. Gulmira is a certified business trainer and coach, and the author and facilitator of practice-oriented educational programs.

Lecturer and Researcher in Sustainable Development, Innovation Management, and Environmental Economics

Timur Kogabayev is an expert in sustainable development, innovation management, and environmental economics with over 5 years of academic and research experience.
He teaches courses on innovation management, sustainable development, and environmental economics, and supervises international research projects.

He has practical experience participating in international scientific projects, including INTERREG “Baltic Biomass 4 Value,” and works on the development and analysis of business models in bioeconomy and agriculture. He is an author and co-author of publications on innovation, sustainable business models, and rural development.
Timur holds Master’s degree in Economics (S. Seifullin University) and is currently pursuing a PhD at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.

He combines academic expertise with a practical approach to innovation and sustainable development and is the author and instructor of practice-oriented educational programs in innovation management and environmental economics.

Expert in Technology Commercialization and Innovation Management

Abdilda Shamenov is an international expert with over 15 years of experience in technology commercialization, the development of innovation ecosystems, and management of science and technology projects.

He currently advises the World Bank on science and technology initiatives, including the MUNIS and MUNIS 2 projects. In 2024–2025, he served as Advisor to the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, promoting the Startup Nation Kazakhstan initiative.

Previously, he led the JSC “Science Fund” (2022–2023), managing a portfolio of 220 projects and increasing sales of high-tech products from 17 to 34 billion KZT. He was CEO of NURIS Enterprise (2020–2022) and headed the Alliance of Technology Commercialization Professionals within the World Bank FPIP program.

Abdilda was instrumental in establishing technology commercialization offices in Kazakhstani universities, participated in OECD international missions, and contributed to launching the GCIP program with UNIDO. Under his leadership, numerous technologies were commercialized, licensing agreements concluded, and international sales secured.