In early May, the "Abai's Philosophy and Business Management" program was held in Astana and Almaty at Nazarbayev University. The program was developed and implemented by Nazarbayev University's Center for Entrepreneurship Research (NURCE) in partnership with the Association of Business Trainers.

The program brought together small and medium-sized business owners, as well as entrepreneurs with disabilities—all those who strive not only to grow their businesses but also to grow as individuals. It focused on the "Tolyk Adam" philosophy of the great Abai Kunanbayev as the foundation for sustainable and meaningful entrepreneurship.

Each day of the program was dedicated to one of the three components of a holistic personality:

• Heart (zhurek)—leadership based on empathy, ethics, and values;

• Mind (akyl)—strategic thinking, innovation, and knowledge;

• Will (kairat) – action, enterprise, and resilience.

The program included interactive workshops, business simulations, real-world case studies, and networking with mentors. Participants applied their acquired knowledge in practice – from the "Social Enterprise Tower" game to the "Investor of the Future" ESG simulation, from effectuation exercises to the "Beaver Dam" team challenge.

"I always thought that sustainable development, ESG, and social responsibility were something external, imported from the West. But during this program, I realized that all of this is already embedded in our culture. Abai's words of admonition embody the same meanings – honesty, service to society, and the development of mind, will, and heart. I just didn't attach any importance to this before, but now I see how deeply it connects with what a modern entrepreneur should be," shared a participant.

The program allowed participants to look at business from a new perspective—through the prism of personal maturity, social responsibility, and national philosophy.