Their contribution to GDP from the total volume of SMEs is almost 40%, this figure is slowly but surely growing. This is what Aizhan Bizhanova, First Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration, spoke about in her welcoming speech at the presentation of the book ““Trailblazers of the Steppe: Inspiring Narratives of Women Entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan” held at NU on April 18.
“This book doesn’t just inspire, it educates. On its pages, the reader can understand not only the basics of entrepreneurial activity, but also see stories of success, self-confidence, and belief in one’s business. I read all 50 stories in one sitting and thought: how much wisdom, how much resilience, how much strength these women have,” noted Bizhanova, who also wrote the foreword to the book.
The collection presents the stories of 50 women entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan who are dismantling stereotypes and gaining success in a variety of fields, from shoemaking to heat and power engineering. Among the heroines of the book are the famous producer and actress Bayan Maksatkyzy, TV presenter and blogger Dinara Satzhan, and dozens of Kazakh women whose names are not yet well known, but should sound louder. This collection, prepared by members of the NU Research Center for Entrepreneurship (NURCE), will help highlight the difficult journey and incredible success of these women.
The authors of the project – Shumaila Yousafzai, Nurlykhan Aljanova and Nurlan Kulbatyrov, NURCE Director and members – said that the book uncovers the problems women in business face and suggests ways to break down social barriers that hinder the development of entrepreneurship.
“Trailblazers of the Steppe” showcase the diversity and breadth of women’s entrepreneurial endeavours in Kazakhstan, highlighting their innovative ideas, leadership prowess, and commitment to excellence. It invites readers to witness the transformative power of women’s entrepreneurship in shaping industries, fostering economic growth, and driving positive change in society,” says book co-author, NU Graduate School of Business Assistant Professor and NURCE Director Shumaila Yousafzai.
Many heroines came from different parts of Kazakhstan to attend the presentation and hear inspiring stories of other women entrepreneurs, find points of joint growth and new opportunities. NURCE will send copies of the collection in three languages to the libraries of other universities, as well as to the National Library. In addition, at the end of the presentation, the authors shared news: they have already committed to writing a new book that will focus on women in fields that are largely dominated by men today.
