MARK YOUR CALENDAR
ATTEND IN PERSON
Jannat Hotel
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Jannat Regency Hotel
21/2 Aaly Tokombayev St, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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SCREENING LOCATIONS
Dushanbe & Almaty
Tajikistan & Kazakhstan
Serena Hotel
14 Rudaki Avenue, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Dostyk Hotel
36 Kurmangazy Street, Almaty
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.
Opening & Closing Remarks
Sonata N. Coulter
Charge d’Affaires | U.S. Embassy
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Ms. Sonata N. Coulter began her assignment as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek in July 2021, and took up duties as interim Charge d’affaires in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic in September 2021. Immediately prior to this assignment, she served as Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia from September 2018 – June 2021. Ms. Coulter’s other overseas postings include Political/Economic Chief in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Senior Economic Officer in Monrovia, Liberia, as well as earlier assignments in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, Russia. In Washington, she worked as assistant coordinator for the Caucasus in the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, covered Iran sanctions in the Economic Bureau’s office of counter-threat finance and sanctions, and served as desk officer for Chad and the Central African Republic in the Office of Central African Affairs. Ms. Coulter is originally from Los Angeles, California. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and French from Columbia University, and a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University. She speaks Russian and French. Ms. Coulter enjoys exploring the Kyrgyz Republic’s natural beauty, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She is married with two children.
Veronica Elkins
Cultural Affairs Officer
U.S. Embassy, Bishkek
Kyrgyz Republic
Ms. Veronica Elkins began her assignment as the Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy Bishkek in August 2021. She previously served as a Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of State, she worked as an administrative assistant at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, DC, and taught English in France through a teacher exchange program. Ms. Elkins is from Falls Church, Virginia, and holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and French from the University of Virginia.
Margaret Grieve
Vice-Chair | U.S.-CAEF
Board of Directors
Ms. Margaret (Peggy) Grieve is the President of PMG Management, Inc., a private company, responsible for managing the Grieve family office. Before assuming this responsibility in 2012, she had a successful career as a financial services lawyer, most recently serving as Managing Director of Bank of America, N.A., with responsibility for legal services for its global asset and liability management business and strategic planning and acquisitions. Prior to that, she was Managing Director and General Counsel for Barclays Bank PLC’s North American operations. She has lived and practiced in London, Hong Kong, and New York. She serves on the boards of several charitable organizations, the U.S.- Central Asia Education Foundation, the Child Mind Institute, Inc., the American Friends of Turkey, and Landmark Cultural Center.
Paul Hamlin
Program Officer | Bureau for
Development, Democracy
& Innovation | USAID
Mr. Paul Hamlin has over twenty five years’ experience designing and managing economic and financial services development. Since 2019, he has been supporting USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures program including over twelve active grants in Africa and Asia. From 2014 until 2019, he served as a Senior Advisor for Economic Growth at USAID, the Kyrgyz Republic. Previously, Mr. Hamlin had managed customer research initiatives for FINCA International and subsidiary units including large scale quantitative household surveys to measure social performance indicators, customer segmentation and other ad-hoc research initiatives. For two years, he managed FINCA’s 17,000 client micro-credit deposit organization in Tajikistan. From 1998 until 2001, he was Vice President of CAAEF’s Turkmenistan office, managing both debt and equity portfolios.
David P. Patton
President & CEO
of American Councils
Mr. David P. Patton, PhD, became President and CEO of American Councils in August 2019, following his tenure as acting president since March 2019. Previously, Dr. Patton served as an executive vice president, with primary responsibility for the oversight of American Councils’ regional offices, higher education portfolio, and development efforts. In 1993, Dr. Patton joined American Councils to serve as the New Independent States (NIS) regional director in Moscow. He was named the vice president for field operations in 2002, overseeing more than 50 field offices in 15 countries in Europe and Eurasia. Earlier in his career, Dr. Patton served as deputy director of the NIS Exchanges and Training Project, a major USAID-funded program for short-term professional development for NIS citizens. He also worked as the assistant director of The Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies. Dr. Patton also serves as the president of the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research. He has studied and worked in the NIS region and Central Europe since 1983. He completed his PhD in Slavic linguistics at The Ohio State University. His dissertation is on analytic development in the modern Russian language. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Russian studies at the University of Oregon.
Olesia Gardner
Country Director
American Councils
Kyrgyz Republic
Ms. Olesia Gardner’s career focus has been on leading programs that focus on building the capacity of civil society and media to bolster democratic development. After receiving a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the Central European University, Olesia joined American Council’s Washington office to work on civic education programs before moving to positions with the US government– at the U.S. embassies in Tbilisi and Kyiv, and at USAID in Washington– where she received multiple awards for meritorious service. By 2014, Olesia had completed a second master’s degree in Sustainability, Development and Peace from the United Nations University. She enjoys working at the intersection of democracy and technology to identify and track disinformation narratives. Olesia is an alumna of AC’s FLEX program (1996) and became AC’s Country Director in 2020.
Sevara Tadzhibaeva
President | U.S.-CAEF
Alumni Association
Ms. Sevara Tadzhibaeva is the current President of the U.S.-CAEF Alumni Association. Sevara graduated from AUCA in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Prior to her time as a U.S.-CAEF fellow, she participated in the FLEX Program, where she spent one academic year in Clinton, Missouri living with a host family. After committing countless volunteer hours to the U.S.-CAEF alumni community, Sevara was elected as the President of the Alumni Association by her peers. While she has most recently served as the U.S.-CAEF Regional Alumni Conference coordinator, she has implemented various additional projects aimed at boosting alumni engagement during her time as President of the Association. Sevara has supplemented her professional experiences by actively participating in different programs such as the ProKG Leadership Program in 2017 and the AmCham Mentors Club in 2019.
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
Mr. Ramil Mukhoryapov is CEO & founder of the first online marketplace in Kazakhstan that expanded to become Chocofamily Holding, the country’s leading eCommerce company with ten brands covering services such as online payments, health, travel, and food delivery. The average annual growth rate of the company is about 100%. In 2017, the Chocofamily holding was recognized as the best employer in Central Asia – it received the Grand Prix of the HR Brand of the Year award.
In addition, Mr. Ramil Mukhoryapov is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Kazakhstan, and a trustee of the iQanat educational project.
Daniar Amanaliev
Mr. Daniar Amanaliev is a prominent Kyrgyz entrepreneur and co-founder of the ololo group of companies that spearheaded the co-working space movement in Bishkek, Osh, and Issyk-Kul. Skilled in business planning, banking, education, hotel management, and arts & design, Mr. Amanaliev is a recognized leader in the leisure, travel, tourism, and entrepreneurship space. In addition, he is a member of the International Council at Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, co-founder and supervisory board member of KG Analytics Intellectual Fund, and a member of the Governing Board at the Bishkek International School.
Sayasat Nurbek
Mr. Sayasat Nurbek is one of the most prominent national-level experts on education and labor market analysis and policies in Kazakhstan. He is a creator of milestone education projects in the region, CEO and Founder of BTS Education, one of the leading EdTech companies in the country. A UNESCO certified Foresight and Future Studies Expert, Mr. Nurbek is a multilingual public figure, speaker, lecturer, and educator with over 1,000 public lectures and talks.
Alyona Koshkina
Ms. Alyona Koshkina currently serves as the head of the Media Literacy Program at the MediaNet International Center for Journalism in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She has been an advocate of incorporating media literacy into school curriculums for many years and serves as the country manager of QLEVER.Asia, an educational gaming platform intended to increase the level of critical thinking skills among youth in Central Asia. An alumna of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in 2018, Alyona also serves as a coordinator for the Azamat Bol information campaign aiming to reframe narratives around non-governmental organizations. Additionally, Alyona is one of the founders of the Eurasian Fact-Checking and Media Literacy Network (EFMN). She also works as a trainer and organizer for courses and workshops on fact-checking, media, and digital literacy for educators, students, journalists, and activists across Kazakhstan.
Rada Islamova
Ms. Rada Islamova is the CEO and Co-founder of Wonder Women Community, and a long-time expert in e-commerce, customer service, and professional team building. A champion of women’s empowerment and development, Rada has been a force in the Central Asian business community for several years. From 2010 to 2015, she served as a member of the organizing committee for numerous large-scale events, including the 2014 Universiade in Kazan, the Sochi Olympics in 2014, and other World and European sports championships in Russia. In 2015, she began supervising the ticket program for the EXPO 2017 International Exhibition in Astana, Kazakhstan. Prior to working on Wonder Women Community, Rada also worked at Chocofamily, the largest e-commerce holding in Kazakhstan where she held the position of director of online optics in the country.
Jamilya Imankulova
Ms. Jamilya Imankulova is a leader in HR and management consulting in Kyrgyzstan and a staunch ambassador of women’s entrepreneurship. In 2003, she founded her own company called El Group Consulting, which helps local and international organizations in the business and nonprofit sectors with recruiting senior management, designing and implementing performance management systems, and developing HR best practices and educational courses.
Jamilya is also a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York, which inspired her to co-found EcoFarm, a chain of organic shops in Bishkek that sell produce from Baitik Village. In addition to providing customers with healthy, organic produce, the shops also support small- and medium-sized farms that focus on agricultural production.
In addition to these ventures, Jamilya conducts classes, speeches, and coaching on how to lead a healthy, nutritious lifestyle. Using these skills, she launched the educational and personal development platform www.liveyourlife.pro in 2020.
Jamilya is also a co-founder and Advisory Board member of the Bishkek International School, a co-founder of Green Alliance KG, and a mentor for Women’s Forum Kurak and Wonder Women Society.
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.
Speaker Panels
Central Asian Alumni Community: Integration & Opportunities
Mr. Abai Iliiazov began his professional career as a part-time translator for Molbulak Finance. He later moved to the Middle East to work for the largest chain of supermarkets in Iraq, where he gained extensive experience in sales and customer service. In 2010, he received a job offer from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and spent one year serving as a non-immigrant visa assistant at the Consular Section. Upon returning to his native Kyrgyzstan, he joined the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Center in Bishkek as a Program Assistant. Currently, Abai coordinates alumni-related programs at the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.
Abai holds a BA in Arabic from Eastern University and a Master of Science in Economics from the Presidential Academy of Public Administration, Kyrgyz Republic. He also studied in Egypt on a one-year scholarship to attend Al Azhar University’s preparatory institute. He is fluent in Arabic, English, Kyrgyz, Russian, and Turkish. Abai is also an alumnus of the FLEX Program, where he spent one year in Gardendale, Alabama with a host family. Outside his professional endeavors, Abai enjoys playing soccer, singing, playing guitar and komuz, and visiting his hometown of Tokmok.
Ms. Aizhamal Dzhanibekova is a project manager with over 10 years of professional experience in the humanitarian and private sectors, including such organizations as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Danish Refugee Council, and ITF – Enhancing Human Security. She has a proven ability to grow a business from scratch and has attracted investments in business development. Currently, Aizhamal works as the Head of the Alumni Relations Office at the American University of Central Asia where she is responsible for implementing comprehensive and diversified activities to promote active alumni endorsement.
Opportunities with Astana International Financial Centre
Mr. Timur Onzhanov currently serves as the First Deputy CEO of Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Business Connect Ltd. Prior to beginning his current position, he held other roles at the same company where he oversaw international programs, asset management, and private banking. Before joining AIFC Business Connect, he gained extensive banking experience in the corporate and investment division of Deutsche Bank, where he was responsible for providing advisory services and organizing mandates for finance projects around the world, with a particular focus on emerging markets. Earlier in his career, Timur completed several internships in the banking center in Central Asia. He holds a master’s degree in Banking Finance from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Bern.
Ms. Madina Abdibayeva is a Senior Manager at Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Business Connect Ltd., where she is responsible for overseeing international programs and projects, maintaining multilateral cooperation, and establishing relationships with international partners, governmental bodies, and financial institutions. Before starting at AIFC, she worked in the audit field, serving as a member of the assurance division of PriceWaterhouseCoopers Kazakhstan. Also at PWC, she worked as a methodologist of financial reporting for the private sector. Madina also gained experience in government, having completed internships with the Parliament of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Economy and Trade. With a master’s degree in International Business from the Grenoble Graduate Business School in France and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from KIMEP University, she possesses a wealth of general knowledge and experience in the fields of management, strategic consulting, strategic development, and policy implementation.
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:
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Alexey Yan: Fundamentals of Taxation
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Rustamjon Vakhobov: Employment and Goal-Setting
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Nasiba Nurmatova: Tourism Industry in Central Asia
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Dinara Atantayeva: Building a Successful Career After University
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Zhamilia Klycheva: Pursuing a Graduate Degree in the US
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Irina Abasova: Personal Investments
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Meryem Karakhasanova: How to Deal with Ambivalence
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Gulnaza Khalmanbetova: Tips on Improving the Online Shopping Experience
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Didorali Anoyatbekov: Pursuing a Career in Tourism
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Asel Kaldybaeva: Tips on Applying for UGRAD
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Jamshed Umarzoda: All About CFA
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Asel Raiymbekova: From CEU to Morgan Stanley
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Kamila Bekbaganbetova: How to Build Your Personal Brand
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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:
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Askar Sydykov, Executive Director of International Business Council (IBC)
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Eric Abdykalykov, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Fitjab, President of Rotaract Club of Nomad, TEDx speaker
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Shamil Ibragimov, Executive Director, Soros Foundation
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Nikita Ryjih, CEO and Founder of EFIS Products, Inc.
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Babur Tolbaev, CEO, Mol Bulak Finance Kyrgyzstan
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Dilbar Ashimbaeva, Founder and Creative Director of the fashion house DILBAR
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Alibek Ismankulov, Consultant, Bain & Company
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Aziz Satarov, Founder of e-commerce marketplace Veevva
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Nargiza Chaikozova (U.S-CAEF Alumna), Co-founder, Chekiroff Consult | Financial Manager, Fit & Go
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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
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
Senior Finance and Administrative Associate, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland
Karimkhon Bukhadurov
Founder, Ogoz (data analytics and bookkeeping services for businesses), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Aizharkyn Burkanova
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, perimetr.app, Moscow, Russia
Nargiza Chaikozova
Freelance Accounting Financial Consulting, Moscow, Russia
Valentina Khomenko
Business Development Officer, Lund, Sweden
Maria Tsvetkova
Software Engineer, NDA, the United Arab Emirates
Yelena Vorobey
Funding Manager, E.ON, Essen, Germany
lhan Yollyyev
Consultant, KPMG, Moscow, Russia
Nargiza Zhakypova
Co-Founder, IT-RUN & American-European School, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Kalys Zhumakadyr
Head of Business Processes Change Implementation and Automation, Tele2, Almaty, Kazakhstan
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.
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.