Tajikistan, Tajikistan
•Speaks English, Persian, Russian, Tajik, Uzbek
American entrepreneur with multi-sector experience in Central Asia. Speaks Russian, Persian and a little Turkish.
Work experience in private, government, NGO, business association and academic/university (teaching and admin) sectors. Includes almost 10 years in Central Asia, with 2 stints in Kyrgyzstan in the 90s and now Tajikistan.
Entrepreneur specializing in service businesses in developing countries, particularly Central Asia, and particularly in the education and tourism sectors.
Have served 6 years on the Board of Directors of AmCham Tajikistan (American Chamber of Commerce), during which time it has seen explosive growth due to me finding the current Executive Director and recruiting a number of members.
Founder and Host of Global Entrepreneurship Week Tajikistan. Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.
Country Pricing Agent for Mercer, the world's largest HR consultancy. Research consumer-price and housing-price trends.
Born and raised in NYC.
BA U of Michigan.
MBA and MIA degrees from Columbia University GSB and SIPA/Harriman Institute.
TESOL Certificate from SIT.
Certificate from Bogazici University Global Leadership Development Program.
Speak Russian, Persian and some Uzbek and Turkish.
Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft (HR software), computer-based financial accounting, transaction processing and reporting software systems.
Sectors: SME, Energy, MNC, Education, Consumer Goods/Real Estate/Quality-of-Life Trends;
Issues: Regional Trade and Cooperation, Foreign Investment, Anti-Corruption and Transparency, Country Political Leadership and Succession, Entrepreneurship and Startup Success; Aid and Development;
Functions: Market Entry, Market Research and Surveys, Business Planning and Business Plan Writing, Administration and Management, Association Management, Grant Management, Government Administration and Relations, Event Planning, Teaching and Training.
Entrepreneur specializing in service businesses in developing countries, particularly Central Asia, and particularly in the education and tourism sectors.
Have served 6 years on the Board of Directors of AmCham Tajikistan (American Chamber of Commerce), during which time it has seen explosive growth due to me finding the current Executive Director and recruiting a number of members.
Founder and Host of Global Entrepreneurship Week Tajikistan. Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.
Country Pricing Agent for Mercer, the world's largest HR consultancy. Research consumer-price and housing-price trends.
Born and raised in NYC.
BA U of Michigan.
MBA and MIA degrees from Columbia University GSB and SIPA/Harriman Institute.
TESOL Certificate from SIT.
Certificate from Bogazici University Global Leadership Development Program.
Speak Russian, Persian and some Uzbek and Turkish.
Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft (HR software), computer-based financial accounting, transaction processing and reporting software systems.
Sectors: SME, Energy, MNC, Education, Consumer Goods/Real Estate/Quality-of-Life Trends;
Issues: Regional Trade and Cooperation, Foreign Investment, Anti-Corruption and Transparency, Country Political Leadership and Succession, Entrepreneurship and Startup Success; Aid and Development;
Functions: Market Entry, Market Research and Surveys, Business Planning and Business Plan Writing, Administration and Management, Association Management, Grant Management, Government Administration and Relations, Event Planning, Teaching and Training.
Questions I can answer:
General situation in Central Asia and the Caucasus in many sectors, and more specifically, political, business, development, investment opportunities, events, government relations
Keywords
Other
Experience
Mercer • Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Country Pricing Agent
2015 - Present (9 years, 2 months)
Mercer is the world's leading HR consultancy and is a subsidiary of the Marsh & McLennan Companies. They have a network of expats in 300 cities who conduct consumer price, housing price and quality of life surveys. I am the representative for Dushanbe. www.mercer.com
Global Entrepreneurship Week Tajikistan • Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Founder and Country Host
2013 - Present (10 years, 6 months)
Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. Meanwhile, world leaders and local elected officials alike have embraced the campaign as they look to fuel the economic engine of high-growth startups in their own countries and communities. GEW is more than just an awareness campaign. It is a platform for connection and collaboration—engaging all players along the entrepreneurship spectrum in strengthening ecosystems around the world. • Pioneer in setting foundation for technology entrepreneurship in Tajikistan by lobbying for appropriate policy changes, digitalization of traditional sectors of the economy and attracting investment into the IT sector. In a matter of two years institutionalized Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW takes place in 170 countries) on a country-wide level by connecting minister-level government decision makers with tech businesses for dialogue. Co-authored Tajikistan Startup Eco-System Map Methodology, white paper on development of entrepreneurship, and presented to the government. Over the years, we have had a live interactive video hookup between entrepreneurs and students of Tajikistan and of the Anderson School of Management of the University of New Mexico, GIZ-funded training courses for professors and startups and seed money for the best startups, US Embassy-funded guest entrepreneur speakers from the US, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Speed Mentoring, webinars that have reached the whole country, including remote Murghab in the Pamirs, startup competitions and exhibitions of AmCham members. GEW Tajikistan 2014 campaign was nominated for Best Rookie Country at the annual Global Entrepreneurship Congress in 2015. www.genglobal.org/tajikistan … see more
Knowledge Across Borders • Dushanbe, Tajikistan
General Director/Founder
2007 - Present (16 years, 9 months)
Sending students abroad for study. Organizing international education fairs.
AmCham Tajikistan • Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Member, Board of Directors
2010 - 2018 (7 years, 8 months)
American Chamber of Commerce · Personally found and led hiring process of new Executive Director during a time of crisis. Mentored new Executive Director. • There are 140 AmChams around the world. AmCham Tajikistan has an annual administrative budget of $100K with a membership base of 55 US and international companies who in total have invested $3B+ in Tajikistan. AmCham Tajikistan is the only international and the strongest business lobbying organization in the country and is part of the US Chamber of Commerce, consisting of a network of over 100 American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) globally. • Helped lead growth of 20% in budget and 30% in membership by developing innovative products and recruiting new members, such as Air Astana, Zeppelin - Caterpillar, RSM International, Komatsu Ltd, Birches Group and General Electric. • Co-led the first-ever US Business Delegation to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (2017), lobbying for the New Silk Road program for investment on a regional Central Asian level. Co-organized 2nd and 3rd UK Trade Missions (2016, 2017) led by UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) and UK Ambassador. Co-led recruitment, provided research and analyzed different sectors of the market for companies such as AGCO, GE, Coca Cola, VISA, De La Rue and Regus. Co-led direct negotiation with the government and organized meetings with key ministers and the President of Tajikistan, as well as the heads of international financial institutions, such as ADB, EBRD, WB/IFC and USAID. Helped plan the first-ever foreign investment conference in Tajikistan, which is now a yearly event and which led to the founding of the Foreign Investors Club under the State Committee on Investment. • Co-launched and edited “Invest in Tajikistan”, the only such English-language publication of its type in Tajikistan. www.amcham.tj … see more
CUNY Bronx Community College • Greater New York City Area
English Instructor
2007 - 2007 (6 months)
In Bronx, NY • Taught English to both beginning- and intermediate-level recent immigrants at Bronx Community College. http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/Community-Workforce-Development/?p=ABE … see more
CAMEDA • Greater New York City Area
President and Founder
2005 - 2007 (2 years, 12 months)
• CAMEDA incorporated in State of NY in 2006. • Start-up consulting firm that aims to organize and implement an array of investment and development projects in the greater Central Asia region. • Briefed Richard Stegemeier, former CEO of Unocal, and current Business Advisor to the Kyrgyz Prime Minister, on business climate in Central Asia, at inaugural U.S. Kyrgyz Business Dialogue in Washington, D.C. at invitation of U.S. Department of Commerce (10/06). (http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/bisdoc/0610KGEvent_Agenda-Background.htm) • Shipped used English-language books to rural schools in Central Asia. • Consulted to and edited book, Cultures and Customs of Central Asia, Abazov, Rafis, Greenwood Press, 2006. • Assisted team from Columbia University in drafting a report on governance efficiency in Kyrgyzstan for a UNDP project in conjunction with the President’s and Prime Minister’s Offices of Kyrgyzstan. … see more
Indiana University Bloomington • Bloomington, Indiana Area
Assistant Director
2003 - 2005 (2 years, 12 months)
Assistant Director, Center for Languages of the Central Asian Region (CeLCAR) • Oversaw US government (Department of Education,US Army/National Defense University) grants of over $4 million for developing language-training materials for Pashto, Uzbek, Uyghur and Tajik at CeLCAR, a Title VI Language Resource Center and at the Title VI Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center. • Wrote grant reports using EELIAS (Evaluation of Exchange, Language, International, and Area Studies) Reporting System and performed effort reporting and calculation of cost shares and indirect costs using Indiana University’s proprietary computer-based financial accounting, transaction processing and reporting systems. • Recruited and supervised over ten personnel, including field staff conducting student overseas language study programs in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Created job descriptions and performed other HR functions using PeopleSoft (HR software). http://iub.edu/~celcar/main.php … see more
Education
MBA, Business Administration
Columbia Business School
1997 - 1999
Wrote marketing plan for global Internet startup in Silicon Valley with business founder. Won competitive CORPS Fellowship from Columbia Business School for internships with non-private sector entities.
Columbia University Business School/SIPA dual degree
1996 - 1999
MIA (Master of International Affairs), International Affairs/Harriman Institute
Columbia | SIPA
1996 - 1999
Coursework included: Iranian Foreign Policy with former Iranian Ambassador to United Nations.Law in CIS class: Formulated recommendations for Kyrgyz government on board formation of largest state concern.Prepared briefing book with case vignettes of business behavior based on ten-variable cultural orientations model for executives visiting Eurasia.Concentrated at the Harriman Institute, and also took courses at the East Asian and Middle East Institutes.