What's happening at BGA

The updated Mini MBA Executive consists of five modules — Leadership, Business Planning, Finance, Human Resource Management and Strategic Management. Every cohort begins with Leadership; classes run on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00, and the programme ends with a project defence before a panel.

Faculty: Leila Assylbekova, Assel Narymbetova, Assem Zhakipova, Lyazzat Kozhakhmetova and Dana Magauina. The first cohort starts in Astana on 24 October and the second in Tashkent on 31 October 2026. An open masterclass for prospective participants takes place on 1 October at 18:30 at Talan Towers.

In late September and early October the BGA team will hold a series of meetings in Dushanbe with banks, companies, industry associations and development organisations. An open presentation of BGA programmes for owners and executives is scheduled for 8 October 2026 at 18:00; the venue will be announced separately.

Tajikistan is being considered as the next market after Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

BGA is opening enrolment for its Foundation programme in Chinese for business people. The programme lasts one year and is delivered with experts from Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). Classes are held in small groups of up to 15; the programme starts on 5 October 2026 in Astana.

Enrolment and enquiries: +7 707 180 5041.

The Corporate Finance module took place on 5–6 September at Modera Towers. The lecturer was Assem Zhakipova, FCCA, MFin, PMP.

The module's four lectures covered the time value of money and investment appraisal (NPV, IRR, WACC), dividend policy and buybacks, risk and return (portfolio theory, CAPM, the Gordon model) and business valuation — from the market approach to DCF, with a case study.

On 4 September 2026 in Tashkent, BGA and the Marketing Association of Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of cooperation. The parties agreed on a joint Mini MBA in marketing, expert exchange, joint events and the promotion of BGA programmes among the Association's members.

The partnership roadmap covers one year.

BGA and the Public Catering Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan have signed a memorandum of cooperation. Together with the Association, BGA is preparing Mini MBA Hospitality for owners and managers of restaurants and HoReCa businesses: restaurant management, unit economics and gastronomy.

A one-year calendar of joint events has been approved, and BGA is in talks with international hospitality schools about co-delivering the programme.

On 26 August 2026 in Astana, BGA founder Rafkhat Bozbaliyev and Steppe Tech Lab head Zhanar Sabazova signed a memorandum of cooperation.

Its directions: AI monitoring of the information field (media, social networks, Telegram) on the Steppe Vision platform, AI Enablement programmes for executives and teams, including AI modules within BGA programmes, and the development of AI assistants and agents for companies. The memorandum runs for two years; specific projects will be set out in separate agreements.

On 24 August 2026 BGA and the Qazaq Independent Directors Association signed a strategic partnership agreement. It covers joint programmes on corporate governance and independent-director education, joint events, expert exchange and mutual client referrals.

QID will certify BGA participants who complete the Corporate Governance module of the Executive MBA. BGA has received the exclusive right to develop the corporate-governance and corporate-secretary directions on behalf of QID in Uzbekistan.

On 15 August 2026 Modera Towers hosted BGA Welcome Day — a meeting of BGA participants and partners in Tashkent. Guests met the team and learned about the autumn intake and the learning format.

In August 2026 BGA presented the study “Perceived Usefulness of AI Tools in Financial Planning Among SME Owners in Kazakhstan”. 145 owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses took part in the survey.

The study was carried out by Executive MBA participant Ivan Kononov (SITE Geneva — BGA Kazakhstan) under the supervision of Rafkhat Bozbaliyev. The key findings have been published on LinkedIn and in business media.

At a kick-off meeting in August 2026, BGA and the Astana research company Data Hunters Research agreed on a strategic partnership on a parity basis. Data Hunters conducts the joint industry studies; BGA handles briefings, press conferences, media coverage and distribution of the results to government bodies and development institutions.

The first study — on entrepreneurs' awareness of state business-support measures — will conclude with a round table with the relevant ministries, the Damu Fund and the Atameken Chamber.

On 19 June 2025 the private company Business Growth Academy Ltd. was registered at the Astana International Financial Centre. The academy was created as an international executive education institution for owners and executives in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

Its headquarters are at Talan Towers in Astana; an office at Modera Towers in Tashkent and a representation in Baku followed.