The Founders’ Alumni Excellence Award honors U.S.-CAEF founders Mr. Steven F. Shea and Mr. Stephen D. Weinroth for their contributions to the program. This annual award recognizes alumni for outstanding achievements, community service, and commitment to economic growth in Central Asia. It was formerly called The Steven F. Shea Excellence Award.
WINNERS
Meryem Karakhasanova
Meryem Karakhasanova, a 2018 graduate of AUCA from the Kyrgyz Republic, is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist who blends her business background with psychology expertise. She operates a practice offering various counseling services and has pursued extensive education, including certification from the Beck Institute in Philadelphia, promotion to a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist at the Nazaraliev Medical Center, and a level 1 professional certification from the Moscow Institute of Gestalt and Psychodrama, all obtained in December 2021. Beyond her therapy practice, Meryem was a Strategic Planning Specialist in the Strategic Development and Marketing Department at JSC Nurtelecom. Since 2023, her client base has grown by 30%, with 90% of her clients with anxiety and depressive disorders reaching remission. She also conducts group therapy sessions for the U.S.-CAEF fellows and AUCA, exemplifying her commitment to giving back to the community. Despite her business administration background, Meryem has always been passionate about psychology, and she is poised to achieve great things and help more people in the future.
Meryem Karakhasanova
Counseling Psychologist, Member of Kyrgyz Association for CBT & Gestalt Therapy
AUCA | Kyrgyzstan
Gulnaza Khalmanbetova
Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, a graduate of AUCA in 2017 from Kyrgyzstan, currently serves as the Program Coordinator at American Councils in Bishkek and is part of the MBA in One League program, which connects high-potential change-makers with world-class education and opportunities. Beyond her professional role, Gulnaza leads Mama Fest, one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest festivals for future mothers, and developed the Mama Space app for young parents. Her diverse experience includes roles as Marketing Manager at Galaxy in Bishkek, positions at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic, U.S.-CAEF Program Assistant, Program Assistant at the International NGO Mercy Corps, and Program Coordinator at American Councils for the USG Alumni Reunion and Engagement Program. A prominent servant leader, she organized an online fundraising campaign in December 2021, raising funds for gifts for over 300 vulnerable children across Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, Gulnaza has been instrumental in creating the “She Starts” program, which provides entrepreneurial opportunities for women and establishes business schools for vulnerable women.
Gulnaza Khalmanbetova
Program Coordinator, American Councils, Bishkek
AUCA | Kyrgyzstan
WINNERS
Aizharkyn Burkanova
Aizharkyn Burkanova, CEO of Boston-based Tengri Tech LLC, launched perimetr.app in March 2022 to promote economic and business growth in Central Asia. Within nine months of its launch, the app achieved remarkable success with over 250 partners, 35,000 unique users, and 200% month-over-month growth. Aizharkyn actively promotes knowledge of technological startups and IT product deliveries in the local community through speaking engagements and mentorship. She recently won first place in the Startup Battle organized by Technowomen.kg and second place in the final stage held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Aizharkyn Burkanova
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, perimetr.app (hyperlocal community management platform) within BSL.DEV IT Company
AUCA | Kyrgyzstan
Zulfiya Urunova
Zulfiya Urunova, Lead Business Expert at Magnum Cash and Carry, co-founded @takecare_mom, a free platform for young parents to learn about childcare from specialists. The platform features 30 online lectures, 8 live meetings, and covers topics such as children’s safety, prevention of abuse and trafficking, postpartum depression, medical treatment, and child psychology. The project has impacted over 3000 families and provides a supportive community for conscious parenting.
Zulfiya Urunova
Lead Business Expert, Magnum Cash and Carry
AUCA | Kyrgyzstan
WINNERS
Nargiza Zhakypova
Nargiza Zhakypova is a perfect example of how U.S.-CAEF alumni can leverage their scholarships and university experiences to achieve their career goals and impact their communities. Passionate about providing quality educational opportunities and equipping students with valuable skills needed in today’s fast-paced, hyper-digital world, Nargiza has co-founded two successful businesses: IT-RUN, a programming bootcamp with several branches in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Russia that employs close to 130 full- and part-time staff; and the American-European School (AES), a Western-style, full-day elementary school for grades 0-4 in Bishkek. Recently, a local company invested $265,000 in AES. With the help of the new funding, Nargiza hopes to offer classes for students in grades 5-11 starting next year. The school currently employs 40 teachers and staff and is rapidly growing; it is on track to enroll up to 400 students. Nargiza’s business successes have been recently acknowledged by the Kyrgyz government, which issued a recognition letter thanking her for her positive contributions to the development of women’s entrepreneurship in the country.
Despite her busy schedule, Nargiza finds time to support U.S.-CAEF. As a member of the alumni panel, she shared her expertise on cross-border business opportunities and challenges with the participants of the U.S.-CAEF alumni conference. She was one of the main funders of Idea Pitch 2021, a pilot program designed to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit among current fellows and younger alumni.
Nargiza Zhakypova
Co-founder, IT-RUN and American-European School, Kyrgyzstan
AUCA | Kyrgyzstan
Yulia Grinina
Yulia Grinina, Co-founder and General Director of GrinLab, has built a network of medical laboratories in Kazakhstan – five in Almaty and two in Nur-Sultan – performing four types of tests for COVID-19, with results provided in three languages, including English. GrinLab technicians can also provide home and office visits for coronavirus testing. Testing centers at Almaty and Nur-Sultan International Airports became key test-providers for travelers arriving in Kazakhstan. The company offers free tests for people in high-risk groups, and started offering COVID-19 vaccinations in March 2022.
Yulia also has several Invitro franchises in Kazakhstan conducting about 2000 types of blood tests. Currently, she is in the process of opening four additional Invitro diagnostic labs in Almaty and Nur-Sultan, and a large medical center in Almaty, offering not only comprehensive outpatient services, but home visits and nursing services as well. To ensure the new clinic provides high-quality services, Yulia’s team has developed a telemedicine platform called, which will provide online services including a portal through which patients can access and monitor their personal health information, securely message their doctors, order prescriptions, book appointments, and receive consultations.
Yulia Grinina
CEO, Euroconnection LLP, Grinlab LLC, and Medicon Medical Center
KIMEP | Turkmenistan
Irina Abasova
Using her background in the banking and financial services and entrepreneurship, Irina Abasova recently founded a private investors club Unimo, a community of business people willing to invest in early-stage and established businesses. To attract more people to the activities of the club, Irina started an informative Instagram blog where she invites entrepreneurs to share their experiences, and holds a series of interviews called “A Million in a Week” with investors who provide tips on how to begin investing.
Irina is also founder of a successful business manufacturing plastic products, Sci Company. During the peak of the pandemic, when protective gear was hard to find, Sci Company produced plastic face shields for front-line workers. Irina also assisted in the production of single-use protective combination suits that provided a full-body barrier to prevent exposure to COVID-19. U.S.-CAEF is greatful to Irina for her continued support of the program alumni and fellows. Irina has served as President of the KIMEP alumni chapter, and led several webinars, meetings and panel discussions to share her knowledge and experience with the members of the U.S.-CAEF community.
Irina Abasova
Founder and CEO, Sci Company and Unimo, Kazakhstan
KIMEP | Turkmenistan
HONORABLE MENTION
Paluan Rimov
Upon graduating from KIMEP in 2020, Paluan joined the deals team at PwC, where he worked on several Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) projects, including the largest deal in the banking sector for 2020-21.
This experience became helpful when Paluan joined the team at KPMG, where he closed over 20 deals, and sold distressed companies that were under a significant debt pressure. As a result of his team’s efforts, new hotels in Almaty and a metallurgic factory in North Kazakhstan received investments from international banks and created over 200 jobs. In Uzbekistan, several real estate, retail and oil processing companies received investments which helped them stay active, save many jobs, and generate revenue. For these accomplishments, Paluan received the Outstanding Performance Award from KPMG.
Despite his demanding job, Paluan mentored a senior fellow at AUCA who is grateful for his advice and credits his multiple successes to his guidance.
Paluan Rimov
Executive Consultant, KPMG, Kazakhstan
KIMEP | Kazakhstan