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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Oct 2-3, 2021

ATTEND IN PERSON

Jannat Hotel

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

JOIN ONLINE WORLDWIDE

Live Stream

SCREENING LOCATIONS

Dushanbe & Almaty

Tajikistan & Kazakhstan

Regional Alumni Conference 2021 (RAC21) welcomes U.S.-CAEF alumni and industry leaders from Central Asia to take part in the first-of-its-kind hybrid conference! Aimed at cultivating the exchange of experiences and ideas between program alumni, U.S. Embassies, and key business communities in Central Asia, the conference will serve as an impetus to expand regional and international economic cooperation and advance the professional growth of U.S.-CAEF alumni. U.S.-CAEF is grateful for the support from the U.S. Department of State for making this historic moment possible.

Creating a healthy and safe environment for the RAC 21 attendees is our top priority. To maximize the experience and safety of all participants, please follow our COVID-19 attendee safety protocols.

Wear a mask over your nose and mouth.

Stay two meters away from other people.

Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds and use sanitizers.

Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Do not enter the event space if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

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Opening & Closing Remarks

Sonata N. Coulter

Charge d’Affaires | U.S. Embassy

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Veronica Elkins

Cultural Affairs Officer

U.S. Embassy, Bishkek

Kyrgyz Republic

Margaret Grieve

Vice-Chair | U.S.-CAEF

Board of Directors

Paul Hamlin

Program Officer | Bureau for

Development, Democracy

& Innovation | USAID

David P. Patton

President & CEO

of American Councils

Olesia Gardner

Country Director

 American Councils

Kyrgyz Republic

Sevara Tadzhibaeva

President | U.S.-CAEF

Alumni Association

Keynote Speakers

Guest speakers will engage alumni in a broad range of discussions related to business, innovation, professional development, networking, disinformation/ misinformation, and other relevant themes critical to young professionals.

Ramil Mukhoryapov

Co-founder & CEO, Chocofamily Holding

Daniar Amanaliev

Co-founder, ololo

Sayasat Nurbek

Founder & CEO, BTS Education

Alyona Koshkina

Program Manager, MediaNet

Rada Islamova

CEO & Founder, Wonder Women Community

Jamilya Imankulova

Co-founder & Co-owner, EcoFarm
Inspiring keynote speeches
In-depth panel discussions
Live Q&A sessions
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Alumni Panel Groups

To ensure the conference is impactful, alumni will lead panel discussions on topics pertaining to post-graduate education, entrepreneurship, and opportunities in the age of COVID which are relevant to their concerns and interests.

Keep Calm & Apply for Chevening

Tangulu Duishakhmatova

Master of Public Policy, London School of Economics & Political Science

Erasmus Mundus: Before, During & After

Yelena Vorobey

Funding Manager, E.ON, Essen, Germany | Master in Economic Policy and Analysis, Sorbonne Paris Cité | Master of Commerce in Development Theory and Policy, University of Witwatersrand

What to Consider When Applying for Erasmus Scholarships

Ulukbek Abdubaliev

Sr. Planning & Coordination Officer, OSCE Master in Strategic Project Management, Heriot-Watt University, Polytechnic University of Milan, & Umea University

How to Become a Fulbright Scholar

Talgat Kadirov

CFO, Republican Central Headquarters of Professional Militarized Emergency Services, LLP | Co-Founder, IPEC Energy MBA, University of Tulane

How to Grow a Company Through Third-Party Investments

Irina Abasova

Entrepreneur, Sci company

International Franchise: Challenges & Opportunities in Central Asia

Yulia Grinina

Founder and General Director, Euroconnection

Cross Border Business in Education: Potential Challenges & Recent Success

Nargiza Zhakypova

Co-founder, IT-RUN & American-European School

Why Startups Fail: Personal Experience & Lessons Learned

Kalys Zhumakadyr

Head of Business and Automation, Tele2

New Opportunities & Trends in Finance & Accounting in the Age of COVID-19

Nargiza Chaikozova

Co-founder, Chekiroff Consult | Financial Manager, Fit & Go

Remote Work Model as Innovation in the IT Sphere

Alisher Mamunov

Software Engineer, ItechArtGroup

E-commerce: Before, During & After a Global Pandemic

Timur Azizov

E-commerce Entrepreneur

How the Global Pandemic Shifted Recruiting Processes and Skills Requirements for Big Tech Corporations

Firuza Khasanova

Project Manager, Microsoft Corporation, Seattle, the USA

In October 2020, a group of active alumni created a strategic planning committee to develop an action plan to ensure continuity of the U.S.-CAEF Alumni Association following the end of the initial program’s funding in 2022. Since the committee’s inception, its members have created mission, vision, strategic goals, and transition plan in the hope of establishing a self-sustaining alumni organization.

c o m m I t t e e  m e m b e r s
Anisa Atalova

AUCA’16

Malika Pulotova

KIMEP’14

Arystan Moldabekov

KIMEP’11

Kalys Zhumakadyr

AUCA’14

Adel Sultanbekova

AUCA’16

Aidana Odeichuk

KIMEP’12

U.S.-CAEF alumni represent some of the most energetic, innovative, and successful young businesspeople in the region. Many now hold key positions as financial managers, investment advisors, marketing professionals, auditors, IT managers, and business consultants at leading companies. Several have launched successful start-up businesses that contribute significantly to the region’s economic health.

U.S.-CAEF alumni represent some of the most energetic, innovative, and successful young businesspeople in the region. Many now hold key positions as financial managers, investment advisors, marketing professionals, auditors, IT managers, and business consultants at leading companies. Several have launched successful start-up businesses that contribute significantly to the region’s economic health.

Expand your opportunities
to make a difference.
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Speaker Panels

Central Asian Alumni Community: Integration & Opportunities

Abai Iliiazov

Alumni Coordinator

U.S. Embassy

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Aizhamal Dzhanibekova

Head of Alumni

Relations Office

AUCA

Opportunities with Astana International Financial Centre

Timur Onzhanov

First Deputy CEO

Business Connect Ltd.

AIFC

Madina Abdibayeva

Senior Manager

Business Connect Ltd.

AIFC

Stream RAC21 speakers and alumni panel discussions anytime, anywhere!
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Pre-conference Activities

While COVID-19 separated us physically, such social media activities as #CAEFWorld have strengthened the virtual interconnectedness between the members of the U.S.-CAEF community. Participants of this fun challenge were asked to tag the alumni affiliated with the countries posted on Instagram and Facebook. Check out the U.S.-CAEF alumni map below.

We picked out some of our most memorable events and put together a video slideshow. The project turned into a vibrant mosaic representing 11 cohorts, 306 alumni of diverse ethnic backgrounds from five Central Asian countries.

On March 14, the Alumni Association launched a six-month alumni mentoring program to foster a collaborative learning relationship between different generations of U.S.-CAEF fellows and alumni across borders and connect them with industry leaders who can help guide their careers. Of the 70 program participants, 55 were U.S.-CAEF alumni and fellows, while 15 were external mentors comprising Central Asian business leaders and representatives of  U.S. Government-sponsored programs such as the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Program, FLEX, UGRAD, and Peace Corps.

Alumni Talks are designed to help alumni exchange their knowledge with each other and current fellows on a variety of topics pertaining not only to professional development but other subjects of interest as well. Some of the examples from recent sessions are as follows:

  • Alexey Yan: Fundamentals of Taxation

  • Rustamjon Vakhobov: Employment and Goal-Setting

  • Nasiba Nurmatova: Tourism Industry in Central Asia

  • Dinara Atantayeva: Building a Successful Career After University

  • Zhamilia Klycheva: Pursuing a Graduate Degree in the US

  • Irina Abasova: Personal Investments

  • Meryem Karakhasanova: How to Deal with Ambivalence

  • Gulnaza Khalmanbetova: Tips on Improving the Online Shopping Experience

  • Didorali Anoyatbekov: Pursuing a Career in Tourism

  • Asel Kaldybaeva: Tips on Applying for UGRAD

  • Jamshed Umarzoda: All About CFA

  • Asel Raiymbekova: From CEU to Morgan Stanley

  • Kamila Bekbaganbetova: How to Build Your Personal Brand

  • Nargiza Chaikozova: Be Your Own Accountant

Initiated by Kalys Zhumakadyr and Anisa Atalova in 2019, Business Breakfast Meetings promote professional development and encourage networking and creativity among alumni and current fellows. To keep the atmosphere intimate, each meeting is attended by a small group of participants, joined by an inspiring business leader. Following in the footsteps of their predecessors, the new alumni officers arranged several meetings with the following business experts in the recent months:

Check out Issue#28: LAUNCHING BUSINESS BREAKFAST

  • Askar Sydykov, Executive Director of International Business Council (IBC)

  • Eric Abdykalykov, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Fitjab, President of Rotaract Club of Nomad, TEDx speaker

  • Shamil Ibragimov, Executive Director, Soros Foundation

  • Nikita Ryjih, CEO and Founder of EFIS Products, Inc.

  • Babur Tolbaev, CEO, Mol Bulak Finance Kyrgyzstan

  • Dilbar Ashimbaeva, Founder and Creative Director of the fashion house DILBAR

  • Alibek Ismankulov, Consultant, Bain & Company

  • Aziz Satarov, Founder of e-commerce marketplace Veevva

  • Nargiza Chaikozova (U.S-CAEF Alumna), Co-founder, Chekiroff Consult | Financial Manager, Fit & Go

  • Tamirlan Seidakmatov, Senior Audit , Ernst & Young

Caffè 21 informal alumni meetups are designed to foster greater interaction between alumni of different cohorts. Alumni moderators prepare icebreakers, topics for discussions, and other fun activities to keep alumni engaged.

21 Questions– Short videos hosted by current fellows feature 21 alumni answering one of the 21 questions posed by fellows. Alumni answered questions and provided helpful tips on a variety of topics related to their academic pursuits, career paths, personal growth, and values.

Social media activities have been organized by alumni and fellows to create an engaging virtual environment and help foster a sense of cohesion and unity among all members of the U.S.-CAEF community. One such activity was #CAEFFACES, a game where pixelated faces were posted on Instagram stories for viewers to guess the right alumni.

Fun, interactive events help alumni get together, communicate, forge new relationships, and maintain existing connections. Organizing them during the pandemic was not easy, but our alumni and fellows exceeded all expectations. The wide variety of photos and videos on the alumni’s Instagram page reflects the organizers’ hard work and creativity. Here are just some examples:

  • Letters to my 18 year old self
  • Snow Leopard Run 2021
  • Toyboss Night Run 2021
  • Let’s Yoga! 
  • U.S.-CAEF Cooking Challenge
  • U.S.-CAEF Marathon
  • #caefbooks 
  • U.S.-CAEF Adventure: Trip to Ak Tyuz
Embrace the “new normal”
Create long-lasting partnerships
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Idea Pitch

Sponsored by older alumni, IDEA PITCH is a pilot project designed to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit among current fellows and younger alumni. Participants will make business presentations to a panel of alumni-investors. The winners will be announced during the conference.

ALUMNI INVESTORS

Aigerim Almazova

AUCA’16

Karimkhon Bukhadurov

KIMEP’17

Aizharkyn Burkanova

AUCA’14

Nargiza Chaikozova

AUCA’11

Valentina Khomenko

AUCA’15

Maria Tsvetkova

AUCA’11

Yelena Vorobey

AUCA’14

Ilhan Yollyyev

KIMEP’16

Nargiza Zhakypova

AUCA’12

Kalys Zhumakadyr

AUCA’14

Sevara Tadzhibaeva

Regional Alumni Conference Coordinator

WhatsApp: +996700198840

stadzhibaeva@americancouncils.org

Regional Alumni Conference 2021 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by American Councils for International Education.

1

REGISTERED

Sevara Tadzhibaeva

Regional Alumni Conference Coordinator

WhatsApp: +996700198840

stadzhibaeva@americancouncils.org

Regional Alumni Conference 2021 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by American Councils for International Education.

Sevara Tadzhibaeva

Regional Alumni Conference Coordinator

WhatsApp: +996700198840

stadzhibaeva@americancouncils.org

Regional Alumni Conference 2021 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by American Councils for International Education.

1

REGISTERED