Meeting with Yermakhan Ibraimov
On July 20th of 2011 Astana Alumni Association held a Discussion Club meeting with the legend of Kazakhstani boxing, the gold medal Olympic champion in Sydney in 2000, silver medal Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, and world champion in 1997 and 1999 – Yermakhan Ibraimov.
It is still in our memory, the summer day of 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, when Kazakh boxers Yermakhan Ibraimov and Bekzat Sattarkhanov, by winning the final match brought, two gold medals for our country. In the final round, Yermakhan Ibraimov met face to face with a strong opponent from Romania Marian Simion. As he shared his experience during the meeting, that victory didn’t come as easy. Right tactics, patriotism and feeling of responsibility for the country helped him to win the final match.
Almost everyone was curios of how to become an Olympic champion. Based on his personal insight, we can conclude the following: first off preparation and hard work take 90 percent of all success, whereas the rest is left for the talent and psychological training of the sportsman. His phrase “to win yourself” was the key phrase for success. This is the reason why Yermakhan Ibraimov is training young students now from the national boxing team. In order to become a champion, first and foremost, one must overcome own fears and laziness, and only then with this victorious attitude start moving towards the goals.
Everyone appreciated with the sympathy and respect for his wisdom, sincerity, enthusiasm, and energy he possessed. Those kind of people, like Yermakhan Ibraimov, literally make us overcome ourselves and inspire us for the highest possible goals. Thank you very much, Yermakhan aga!
It is still in our memory, the summer day of 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, when Kazakh boxers Yermakhan Ibraimov and Bekzat Sattarkhanov, by winning the final match brought, two gold medals for our country. In the final round, Yermakhan Ibraimov met face to face with a strong opponent from Romania Marian Simion. As he shared his experience during the meeting, that victory didn’t come as easy. Right tactics, patriotism and feeling of responsibility for the country helped him to win the final match.
Almost everyone was curios of how to become an Olympic champion. Based on his personal insight, we can conclude the following: first off preparation and hard work take 90 percent of all success, whereas the rest is left for the talent and psychological training of the sportsman. His phrase “to win yourself” was the key phrase for success. This is the reason why Yermakhan Ibraimov is training young students now from the national boxing team. In order to become a champion, first and foremost, one must overcome own fears and laziness, and only then with this victorious attitude start moving towards the goals.
Everyone appreciated with the sympathy and respect for his wisdom, sincerity, enthusiasm, and energy he possessed. Those kind of people, like Yermakhan Ibraimov, literally make us overcome ourselves and inspire us for the highest possible goals. Thank you very much, Yermakhan aga!
Our DC
We are looking forward to see our club an effective dialogue platform between young generation and national establishment. The AAA keynote speakers are interesting, successful and respectable people presenting government agencies, business and diplomatic organizations, NGOs and all the others able to share exclusive knowledge and to support young people initiatives in Kazakhstan. Announcements are also might be found at our Facebook profile, just follow - Astana Alumni Association. Everyone interested to attend our meetings or having any suggestions about the “Discussion club” project, please, CONTACT US.
DC meeting with Chairwoman of Kazakhstan Taxpayers Association – public advisor of the Prime-Minister of the RK
10.11.2010 DC was visited by The Chairwoman of Kazakhstan Taxpayers Association, public advisor of the Prime-Minister of the RK & anchor-person of “Professional conversation” TV-show on 7 Channel, Doctor of Economics Zhannat Yertlessova.Kazakhstan and its economic ratings was an agenda topic.
Guest’s BIO: Zhannat Yertlessova graduated from S.Kirov Kazakh State University in 1978 with degree in Math Science. She holds a Doctoral degree in Economics, professor, she is an author of more than 50 academic works. She started her career in 1978 at the position of research officer of Scientific-Research Institute of Planning and Norming at StatePlan of Kazakh SSR.In 1993 she was appointed a Department head of the Ministry of Economics of the RK, later – First Deputy Minister of Economics of the RK. In March of 1997 she was assigned Vice-Minister of Finance of the RK, after a year – First Vice-Minister of Finance. From December 1999 to May 2000 she has been Vice-President of JSC “Kazakhtelecom”. In May 2000 she was offered to the position of Deputy Chief of RK President Administration, and in June 2001 she became Vice-Minister of Defense of RK. In December 2001 she left into business world and became a chief of “Sana Consulting” company. From July 2003 to July 2004 first Deputy Chairwoman of the RK Agency of Regulation of Natural Monopolies and Competitiveness Protection. From December 2004 she worked as Director of Corporate Development of JSC NC “KazMunayGaz”. In July 2005 she was assigned a Chairwoman of Kazakhstan Taxpayers Association. From February 2007 she combines her primary work with the position of Public Advisor of Prime-Minister of the RK.
The discussion was vivid. People with fervor discussed the state’s going down in WEF rating and possible measures to improve situation. The participants agreed that we are bad at results estimation and taking control over state programs’ execution. We so love in Kazakhstan to make plans and cannot tell the same about execution.
Second part of the meeting devoted to success-story of the guest was enjoyed by the audience as well. Zhannat Yertlessova, who has many years of government service at very high-ranked positions, for sure had a lot of stories to tell. Concluding the meeting, Zhannat Yertlessova said that she would not mind to go back to the government as Prime-Minister if this position will be put on elective base and said that she thinks about writing a book about all the men whom she dealt with at different times of her life. And she even promised to mention in that book about the leader of AAA Discussion Club Asset Abdualiyev.
Dinara Tussupova
Pics: Samat Panov, Asset Abdualiyev
Speaker talks
PROJECTS or “PROJECTS”? Why do we have much more projects and plans rather than what-have-been–done-so-far info? Listen to the interview…
DC meeting with ex-Minister of Economics & Trade of Kazakhstan
20.10.2010 DC was visited by Managing Director of Kazakh Institute of Oil & Gas of Kazakhstan, candidate of Economics, Mr. Zhaksybek Kulekeev. Discussion topic was innovation development of Kazakhstani Economy.
BIO: Mr. Zhaksybek Kulekeev graduated in 1979 from Math Science faculty of S.Kirov KazSU. From 1979 to 1995 he practiced teaching. He started government service career from the position of Deputy Chair of Government Committee of RK of Statistics & Analysis, and continued as the Head of the RK Statistics Agency in 1995-1999. After that Mr.Kulekeev worked at different high-level government positions: he was Minister of Economics & Trade (1999-2002), Chair of Accounts Committee for control over execution of the republican budget (2002-2003), Minister of education and science (2003-2004), Rector of Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2005-2006), First Vice-President of NC KazMunayGas JSC (2006-2007), President of NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC (2007-2008). Currently Zhaksybek Kulekeev is Managing Director of Kazakh Institute of Oil & Gas.
Mr. Kulekeev presented his way of vision of national reforms in innovation area. He was quite skeptical regarding current government programs in innovation development spheres, considering the government to forget about quality results in the gain for quantity indicators. According to the opinion of ex-politician, the main impediment for economic development of Kazakhstan is corruption. And Zhaksybek Kulekeev foresights successful development of the state via increasing the educational level of Kazakhstanis. Education is the main power, believes the guest.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Samat Panov
Mr. Kulekeev presented his way of vision of national reforms in innovation area. He was quite skeptical regarding current government programs in innovation development spheres, considering the government to forget about quality results in the gain for quantity indicators. According to the opinion of ex-politician, the main impediment for economic development of Kazakhstan is corruption. And Zhaksybek Kulekeev foresights successful development of the state via increasing the educational level of Kazakhstanis. Education is the main power, believes the guest.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Samat Panov
Speaker talks
INNOVATION COUNTRY KAZAKHSTAN - do we have this chance? Listen to the interview
DC meeting with H.E. Ambassador of Lebanon to Kazakhstan
06.10.2010 DC hosted H.E. Ambassador of Lebanon to Kazakhstan, Head of Diplomatic Mission, Mr. Vazken Kalvakian. The discussion went on Lebanese-Israeli conflict and beyond.
BIO: Mr. Vazken Kavlakian was appointed to Kazakhstan in 2007. H.E. is a visiting professor on Organisations & Management at University of Balamand. Before joining the diplomatic mission, H.E. was working in a consultancy business with TUV Rheinland and CSP Middle East. H.E. is a board member and a head of the publishing and communication committee at the Lebanese Society of Quality. And board member at the Ste. Financière et Immobilière du Port de Beyrouth. H.E. Kavlakian holds BA from Haigazian University, Beirut and MBA from the American University in Beirut.
Mr. Kalvakian told about origins of Lebanese-Israeli conflict, described current situation in his home country and hold a deep and thoughtful discussion about peace in Middle East region. DC attendants asked a lot of questions going beyond the main topic. People were very interested to know more about modern life in Lebanon, lifestyle of Lebanese youngsters. Interesting point from a guest: Mr. Ambassador considers Lebanon as Switzerland of Middle East and Beirut as M.E. Paris. The speaker and other attendants agreed that Astana urgently needs a restaurant of Lebanese cuisine. In an interview (podcast is available) Mr. Vazken Kalvakian noted that in comparison with his home country there are a lot of active working females in Kazakhstan.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Alibek Nurbekov
Mr. Kalvakian told about origins of Lebanese-Israeli conflict, described current situation in his home country and hold a deep and thoughtful discussion about peace in Middle East region. DC attendants asked a lot of questions going beyond the main topic. People were very interested to know more about modern life in Lebanon, lifestyle of Lebanese youngsters. Interesting point from a guest: Mr. Ambassador considers Lebanon as Switzerland of Middle East and Beirut as M.E. Paris. The speaker and other attendants agreed that Astana urgently needs a restaurant of Lebanese cuisine. In an interview (podcast is available) Mr. Vazken Kalvakian noted that in comparison with his home country there are a lot of active working females in Kazakhstan.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Alibek Nurbekov
Speaker talks
KAZAKHSTANI and LEBANESE people: common traits and differences. What about youngsters & females? Listen to the interview.
DC meeting with Director of State Borrowings Department of the Ministry of Finance
08.09.2010 DC dialogue room was visited by Director of State Borrowings Department of Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Kuat Akizhanov. The Club ‘medical council’ diagnosed “Dutch disease” in Kazakhstan and discussed possible ways of treatment.
BIO: Mr. Kuat Akizhanov has been holding a position of Director of State Borrowings Department of Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan since March of 2010. Before joining the Ministry he has been a President of State Insurance Company for several years. He also workd at President Administration and Ministry of Justice. Mr. Kuat Akizhanov has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Manchester University (the UK) and Master’s degree in Law from University of Virginia (the US).
Mr. Kuat Akizhanov said that Kazakhstan has already got a partial dependency on oil revenues and showed his concern about getting hooked on “oil needle” . At the same time the speaker positively evaluated measures of Kazakhstani government in counteracting “Dutch disease”: creating National Fund (However, many countries acting in a same way did not succeed) and developing alternative sectors of economy (the best world example for us is Norway). However, Mr. Akizhanov noted that diversity of national economy industries is still weak and Government needs to work harder to treat all of us from “resource curse”.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Samat Panov
Mr. Kuat Akizhanov said that Kazakhstan has already got a partial dependency on oil revenues and showed his concern about getting hooked on “oil needle” . At the same time the speaker positively evaluated measures of Kazakhstani government in counteracting “Dutch disease”: creating National Fund (However, many countries acting in a same way did not succeed) and developing alternative sectors of economy (the best world example for us is Norway). However, Mr. Akizhanov noted that diversity of national economy industries is still weak and Government needs to work harder to treat all of us from “resource curse”.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Samat Panov
Speaker talks
“DUTCH DISEASE” in KAZAKHSTAN: whether the patient is sick, whether there is a treatment. Take a listen to the interview with the speaker.
“DUTCH DISEASE” in KAZAKHSTAN: whether the patient is sick, whether there is a treatment. Take a listen to the interview with the speaker.
Meeting with Managing Director of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan
28.07.2010 Discussion club hosted managing director of JSC “Development Bank of Kazakhstan”, Mr. Gairat Salimov. Club participants discussed effectiveness and perspectives of social contract institution in Kazakhstani society.
BIO: Mr. Gayrat Salimov started working in the Development Bank of Kazakhstan in 2009. Formerly he was the Director of Analytic Research Department in “Samruk-Kazyna” National Wealth Fund and Renaissance Capital Central Asia, Partner of Troyka Dialog (Moscow), Analyst in Global Securities Kazakhstan. Mr. Salimov is a graduate of Tashkent State Economic University and MBA at INSEAD (France).
Drivers “blinking” to each other as a warning of a road police patrol ahead, an old lady living nextdoor and actively encouraging neighbors to clean-up the yard together, people with common goals getting together – all of that is a social contract described by Philosophy thinkers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.
Why sometimes social contract doesn’t work? Why we are used to have messy streets, unregulated queues and disappearing bulbs in our porches? Different reasons were suggested: from cultural peculiarities of Kazakhstani people to the economy that still needs to be strengthened. At the same time success of social contract was assumed to be determined by ineffective work of municipal departments and civil independence of the people.
Second part of the DC-meeting involved a success-story of the guest. Gairat Salimov considers study abroad experience to drastically change his life, graduation with MBA degree and going back home was a turning point in his career. Our guest is most of all proud of his family. In 30 years he is looking forward to be a millionaire who earned his money in a legal way. Followed by the tradition of the Discussion Club, informal communication and contacts sharing part ended up the meeting.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Samat Panov & Aidar Beybarys
Drivers “blinking” to each other as a warning of a road police patrol ahead, an old lady living nextdoor and actively encouraging neighbors to clean-up the yard together, people with common goals getting together – all of that is a social contract described by Philosophy thinkers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.
Why sometimes social contract doesn’t work? Why we are used to have messy streets, unregulated queues and disappearing bulbs in our porches? Different reasons were suggested: from cultural peculiarities of Kazakhstani people to the economy that still needs to be strengthened. At the same time success of social contract was assumed to be determined by ineffective work of municipal departments and civil independence of the people.
Second part of the DC-meeting involved a success-story of the guest. Gairat Salimov considers study abroad experience to drastically change his life, graduation with MBA degree and going back home was a turning point in his career. Our guest is most of all proud of his family. In 30 years he is looking forward to be a millionaire who earned his money in a legal way. Followed by the tradition of the Discussion Club, informal communication and contacts sharing part ended up the meeting.
Dinara Tussupova, pictures by Samat Panov & Aidar Beybarys
Meeting with Vice-President of Nazarbaev University
24.06.2010 Discussion club launched its first meeting. The first guest of the club was Vice-President of Nazarbaev University, Mr. Yerden Kussain.
BIO: Mr. Yerden Kussian received his undergraduate degree from Kazakh State Law Academy, LLM at Duke University (Bolashak scholarship) and MS in Public Administration at LSE (Chevening scholarship). Before joining the University, he worked at Grata and KMGC law firms, Administration of the President and Chancellery of the Prime‐Minister. At his current position of a Vice-President of Nazarbaev University Mr.Kussain manages legal and organizational issues of the school. He is 29 years old.
Mr. Yerden Kussain talked about benefits of being a Nazarbaev University student, discussed the uniqueness of the school and explained the organizational structure of this new educational entity. Discussion participants had an opportunity to ask questions and provide their own suggestions for the university. The discussion was informal. Participants also got familiar with a success story of Mr. Yerden Kussain. The speaker gave some tips about careership and shared with Discussion club participants his personal experience. Mr. Kussian mentioned that all the necessary information is available at the official web-site of the university, WWW.NU.EDU.KZ. Everyone also can post his/her question or leave his/her own suggestions at the section INFORMATION CENTER as well. The meeting finished with a networking part.
Dinara Tussupova
Mr. Yerden Kussain talked about benefits of being a Nazarbaev University student, discussed the uniqueness of the school and explained the organizational structure of this new educational entity. Discussion participants had an opportunity to ask questions and provide their own suggestions for the university. The discussion was informal. Participants also got familiar with a success story of Mr. Yerden Kussain. The speaker gave some tips about careership and shared with Discussion club participants his personal experience. Mr. Kussian mentioned that all the necessary information is available at the official web-site of the university, WWW.NU.EDU.KZ. Everyone also can post his/her question or leave his/her own suggestions at the section INFORMATION CENTER as well. The meeting finished with a networking part.
Dinara Tussupova
