NU graduates make meaningful contributions.
They thrive in Kazakhstan and beyond — expanding research horizons, leading community initiatives, and embracing global opportunities.
Bakhytzhan Zhakazhanov
Education:
Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Arts in Economics (2017)
University of California, San Diego: Master of Science in Finance and Financial Management Services
Career:
- CEO ProductBee
- ex-Product Director of BI Group
- ех-Head of Product BCC Business
- ex-Senior Product Manager MyCar Group
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakhytzhan-zhakazhanov/
Other articles:
Instagram: bakigramm
Dauken Seitkali
Education:
Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2017)
Career:
- CTO and Co-Founder at ARLAN BIOTECH
- Forbes 30 under 30
- (https://www.linkedin.com/company/arlan-biotech/) – together with Bolat Sultankulov (see below 4)
- Ех – Chief Executive Officer at AgzaThera
- Ex – Senior Data Scientist at Ryte.ai
- Ex – Machine Learning Engineer at CEREBRA
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dauken-seitkali/
Other articles:
https://forbes.kz/articles/kak-kazahstanskiy-startap-pomogaet-priblizit-novuyu-eru-v-meditsine
Instagram: dauken.seitkali
Bolat Sultankulov
Education:
Nazarbayev University: Doctor of Philosophy in Science, Engineering and Technology (2021)
Career:
- CTO and Co-Founder at ARLAN BIOTECH (https://www.linkedin.com/company/arlan-biotech/)
- StartX S24 cohort – StartX
- Co-Founder/CEO of Astana Biomed Group LLP
- Founder/CEO of Kletochnaya terapiya LLP
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bolat-sultankulov-21121898/
Other articles:
https://forbes.kz/articles/kak-kazahstanskiy-startap-pomogaet-priblizit-novuyu-eru-v-meditsine
Aizhan Aimbetova
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2017)
- Nazarbayev University: Master of Engineering Management (2019)
Career:
- 7 years in entrepreneurship
- Helps small and medium-sized businesses get financing for 5 years – helped to attract $2,000,000
- Co-founder and CEO of FinTEx (2019 – present time)
- Co-founder and CEO of ToLegend creative studio (2024 – present time)
- Ex – Team Leader in IT/Finance, P&G, Moscow (2019-2022)
- Ex -Head of Product BCC Business
- Co-founder of the Skill Pro School of Robotics (2017-2019)
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aizhan-aimbetova-87028897/
Yerdaulet Absattar
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (2016)
- Nazarbayev University: Master of Engineering Management (2018)
Career:
- CEO & Founder of «ALPHA.TECH.EDU» & «ALPHA DESIGN»
- Founder of «Alpha Education» IT Academy
- Co-Founder of Oraclus.com blockchain project
- Co-founder of shai.pro
- Head of IT in Business program at Maqsut Narikbayev University
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yerdaulet-absattar/
Other articles:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNDacdYo98j/?igsh=Y2UyNTl4OXBhdXlu
Instagram: yerdaulet.absattar
Aisha Orymbayeva
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master of Science in Educational Leadership (2022)
Career:
- Коуч ICF
- Forbes 30 under 30
Instagram: orymbayeva
Meryert Bizhanova
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (Top student of the 1st cohort, 2023)
- The University of Pennsylvania: Master of Science, Educational Leadership 2025
- The University of Oxford: Doctor of Philosophy, Comparative and International Higher Education Development – present time
Career:
- During her studies at UPenn, she won a number of prestigious awards, including:
- The William E. Arnold Award
- Dr. Andy Binns Leadership Impact Award
- Penn Global Citizenship Award
- Laurie Wagman Award
- Pan-Asian Advocacy and Leadership Award
- At UPenn, she also led the Graduate Student Association, representing more than 20,000 students, a unique leadership achievement even by Ivy League standards.
Social network:
Assel Amangeldi
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (2021)
- Harvard University: Master of Education – MEd, Education Leadership, Organizations, Entrepreneurship
Career:
- Founder and Strategic Adviser of Tilu
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asselamangeldi/
Other articles:
https://toppress.kz/article/kak-devushka-iz-garvarda-hochet-izmenit-sistemu-selskogo-obrazovaniya
Instagram: asselya.a
Kamilla Rollan
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations (2016)
- Nazarbayev University: Master of Science in Educational Leadership (2018)
- University of Cambridge 2023: Doctor of Philosophy in Education
Career:
- Head of Department of Inclusive Education at Suleyman Demirel University
- Project Expert at Bantani Education
- Ex – Researcher Phd Candidate at University of Cambridge
- Ex – Founder of Education For All NGO
- Ex – Consultant/Expert on Inclusion and Child Protection at UNICEF
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamilarollan/
Instagram: kamilarollan
Aruzhan Meirkhanova
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations (2021)
- Harvard University 2023: Master of Arts – MA, Regional Studies (Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia)
Career:
- Senior Analyst at Outpost
- Member of the Advisory Board of Harvard Alumni Kazakhstan
Social network:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aruzhan-meirkhanova-281474159/
Laura Karabassova
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Doctor of Philosophy in Education (2018)
Career:
- University President (Rector) at Aktobe Regional State University
Social network:
Instagram: laura_researcher
Adil Kusmanov
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (2017)
- University of Oxford 2018 – MSc in Mathematical Modelling
Career:
- Chairman of the Board of JSC “Center for International Programs”, MSHE RK – present time
- Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC “Institute of Economic Research”, MNE RK (01.2023-11.2024)
Other articles:
https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=37249764
Instagram: adil.kusmanov
Zhusup Zhumagulov
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Public Administration (2020)
Career:
- Deputy Akim of the North Kazakhstan region
- Ex – akim of Nura district of Astana.
Other articles:
Instagram: zhusup_zhumagulov
Malik Olzhabekov
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Public Administration (2021)
Career:
- Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Former Deputy Chairman of the Aerospace Committee of the Ministry of Digital Development, Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Other articles:
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/maidd/about/structure/people/27
Instagram: malik.olzhabekov
Aziz Kali
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Arts – BA, Economics (2015)
- UCL School of Management: Master of Science – MS, Finance (2020)
Career:
- Director of Investments and Business Development Department at SAMRUK-KAZYNA
Omerbek Bashtay
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Public Administration (2022)
- Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business: Master of Business Administration – MBA, Private Equity & Venture Capital (2023)
- Università Bocconi: Private Equity & Venture Capital / Financing and Investing in Infrastructure , Financing and Investing in Infrastructure / Private Equity & Venture Capital
Career:
- Директор департамента по внедрению государственных услуг (QazPost)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bashtay/
Bauyrzhan Kudaibergenov
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Public Administration (2022)
Career:
- Ex-Vice Minister of National Economy
Other articles: https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=33335609
Aidar Ryskulov
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master of Business Administration (2015)
Career:
- Chief Financial Officer at SAMRUK-KAZYNA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidar-ryskulov-74748384/
Absadykov Aikozha
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Arts in Economics 2015
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Public Administration
Career:
- Директор развития проектов в АО “Казахтелеком”
Zhanseitova Akzhan
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (2016)
Career:
- Head of the Division of Internal Process Automation at Social Health Insurance Fund (JSC)
Daurenova Zhansaya
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (2020)
- UCL School of Management: Master of Science (2024)
Career:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhansaya-daurenova-156301124/?originalSubdomain=kz
Bakhyt Zhekey
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Public Administration (2019)
Career:
- Investment professional
Kankin Rauan
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Public Administration (2019)
- Boston University: Master’s degree, Program & Project Portfolio Management
- Nazarbayev University: PhD in Public Administration (active)
Makhmetova Alua
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Bachelor of Arts in Economics (2018)
- King’s College London: Master’s degree, Banking and Finance
- Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University: Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Economics and Finance
Career:
- Senior Analyst at the Department of Financial Stability and Research at The National Bank of Kazakhstan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alua-makhmetova/?locale=en_US
Umurzakova Madina
Education:
- Nazarbayev University: Master in Business Administration (2020)
- Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business: Master of Business Administration
Career:
- Head of business development at CEREBRA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madina-umurzakova/?originalSubdomain=kz
