Guest of the week - Salkyn Ibraimova

January 16, 2013

How did you find yourself in this profession?

When I left school I didn’t have enough options to choose an occupation. There were only seven universities in Bishkek at the time.  I wanted primarily to be a  fashion designer. I started to seriously prepare myself for this creative profession: I began taking a lot of courses and my brothers were bringing me fashion magazines from each overseas business trip. I remember how in school I drew model dresses for an end-of-school party, chose accessories for school girls, and so forth. But there wasn’t a single university teaching fashion design in Bishkek. This kind of institute was only in Tashkent.  Since the 7^th grade I was telling my parents about my future profession, but at the last minute they changed their minds and told me to enter the university in our city. I selected the department of economics, and I don’t feel sorry about my choice.

 

Where have you previously worked?

I am lucky – I started working at the Academy of Sciences with representatives of the Kyrgyz scientific intellectual community. My first tutor and supervisor was Janybek Jeenbaevich Jeenbaev, the Director of the Institute of Physics and Mathematics, who later became the President of the Academy of Sciences. I would like to quote him: “If you do something – do it till’ the oil will leak” (a word-for-word translation from Kyrgyz, it means - put your heart and soul into every job).  He taught me methods of negotiation, how to solve various conflicts, to make business correspondences, to carry out analysis, and to prepare activities—in short  he taught me “Communications and Business Correspondence”.  By the way, at the Academy of Sciences I got acquainted with some of our outstanding teachers – Enver Ramazanovich and Elmira Tursunbekova.

After graduating I entered into a postgraduate course. Around that time in Kyrgyzstan a new area of area of mathematics began to develop called “Mathematical modeling”.  Both of my research supervisors had recently been invited to work overseas. I was invited to Bishkek’s October district executive committee office (at that time it was called “Akimiat”) as Head of the District Statistics Department. This offer was very advantageous for me due to the opportunity of career growth. Therefore I accept it. My supervisor was Akmatbek Kasymkulovich Nanaev. 165 organizations were working in the October District during that time.  This means that there were 165 managers and 165 staff. If Janybek Jeenbaevich had taught me to cooperate with the institute’s faculty, then it was Akmatbek Kasymkulovich who taught me the skills of working with managers and teams of an entire district. My job was very interesting and all statistical and analytic data were passed through my hands. In 1989 I directed all-USSR population censuses in the October District and was awarded a “Zhiguli” (a brand of car) for successful implementation of this work.

After the start of “perestroika” the government began to lift restrictions on age and private businesses in the Soviet Union. My brothers and I made the decision to start our own private business. We started from scratch, with only enthusiasm.  We have since made it.  My connections with factory managers were helpful for us and the business is still in force, being managed now by one of my brothers.

So after we successfully created our own business I wanted to do something new again. I received an invitation from the Chui regional administration to lead the Department of Indicative Planning and Prognostication. Indicative planning was absolutely new for Kyrgyzstan, which was at that period just making the transition to market economics. A lot of managers didn’t know and didn’t understand the difference between established and comparable prices, whereas these measures were being revealed in the picture of the country’s economy. Chui was the biggest region in Kyrgyzstan and was providing 60% of republic’s GDP, including gold. My job was very interesting: we were doing profit prognostications, drawing up a budget of the region, planning the economic sectors, etc. Teaching indicative planning for district managers was one of my duties.

At one of the seminars I met my research supervisor, who advised me to teach a course on “Budgets and Taxes”. After 5 years I decided to work as a teacher and to become involved in economic activities.  I currently have 20 years of experience in teaching and have developed and taught about 20 courses.  My practical experience in various economic sectors helps me to share my knowledge and experience with students. I remember my first classes – I proved with passion the necessity and significance of banking and insurance markets, especially during a period of transition. After one of the lectures several students approached me and said, in all seriousness: “Salkyn Arisovna, with your knowledge plus our funds we will open a bank or insurance company”. It happens that one of them successfully started his own business in the banking sector.

According to the theory of management, after 5 years an energetic specialist should think about his or her transfer to a higher position, or to another job altogether. Interest in one’s profession begins to wane, which is why changing your position important. One day I looked through my work record card and I noticed that I was changing my profession every 5 years.

 

Why AUCA?

I learned about AUCA for the first time from an article in “Vecherniy Bishkek”, and, if I remember correctly, the article’s title was: “Harvard of Central Asia”. Around that time my niece was leaving school and I advised her to enter this university.  She successfully applied to AUCA and was delighted to study there.  When I was working at the Chui regional administration, which previously was located at the eastern side of the modern AUCA building, I could look through the window at the happy faces of my students in the classroom.  Sometimes, when the weather was warm, classes were conducted near the monument. I have been working near AUCA since its first days, with its unique atmosphere and unusually talented students, faculty and staff. In the beginning, the university was located in AUCA’s modern library building, and after that the university took over the western wing of the regional administration building (later it also took over the eastern wing). I felt a special, new world near me, and seeing the happy faces of students made me want to be young again and be a part of this world!

As I said above, I successfully taught at several universities, but AUCA was always “in my field of view”. After seeing an advertisement about AUCA vacancies, I sent in my CV. I was then teaching MA courses at the Center of Postgraduates in the Kyrgyz National University.  One of my courses was “Human resources management”, an area I was researching at the time. The field of Human resource management was new for Kyrgyzstan and very interesting to me, which is why I wanted to work in the field.  A new system of personnel management came into play: a strong and adaptive corporate culture, a stimulating atmosphere of mutual responsibility between employee and employer, employee’s ambition to make an organization better at the expense of supporting the initiative at all levels of organization, constant technical and organizational innovations, and open discussion of problems. Human resources management is considered to be more than just the oversight of hiring procedures and employment contracts and salaries. It includes strategic approaches for development, like education, encouragement, evaluation and support of personnel advancement. At AUCA we already have transparent hiring procedures and concrete opportunities of career development!

While still working at the Kyrgyz National University I decided to take a part in a competition for the position of director of the office of human resources management at AUCA. I successfully passed through a two-stage interview and the hiring committee recommended me for the position. I have worked for 5 years at this post. A lot of work has been completed during these years with a view to create a system of human resources management in AUCA. I can say with confidence that AUCA’s modern office of human resources is at the heart of the big, united family of AUCA.  The office keeps personal data of all employees, and knows all the successes and achievements of the faculty and staff.  Human Resources is the most valuable resource of the university!  We are always glad to inform our colleagues about their achievements and significant events in their lives – this is a very pleasant mission for us!

After I was appointed as the Associated Vice-President for Administrative Affairs last year, my duties have become broader. Presently our team is working on the creation and adoption of an integrated automated management system (ERPSystem). AUCA, as always, will be a pioneer in this issue, although it is a big and laborious task.

 

Do you remember your first day of work at AUCA?

Of course! I remember this special day very well. The weather was sunny. I was going to work along “Dzerzhinka” and thinking that my dream had come true! I wanted to become a part of AUCA and I had made it! In the evening of that day in the lovely room #315 I got acquainted with our team. I remember my short speech: “I am honored to work at AUCA, the best university which has the best people!”  And now, after the years, at our traditional event in honor of the beginning of a new academic year, where we welcome our new faculty and staff, I say to them: “Welcome to the AUCA family!”, and then I remember my first day of work and I feel proud again and again due to the fact that I’m a part of AUCA! I am very grateful to destiny for having given me the chance to work at a great university with the best people!

 

Tell us about your parents and family.

I grew up in a big, tight-knit family. I am lucky.  I think my parents’ marriage is ideal. The rules and traditions of my parents continue in our family, and we are very close to each other.   All the children were born at the same time.  For example, the sons of my brothers were born on the same year with a difference of one month. We gave them the names Elgiz and Chyngyz. Next two girls were born – Ayganysh and Aysuluu—and after them were born two boys – Bekbatyr and Beksultan. Now our grandchildren are coming into the world as “pairs”. All of our children are growing up together. During our summer vacations, when we don’t see our children for weeks, I call my daughter-in-law and ask: “Is our son at your house?” She answers: “No, your son and our son went to our brother’s place”.  This is a good thing.  During the holidays we can’t even fit at one table. Recently our old mother underwent an operation, so I had to regulate attendance like a “traffic-controller” at the hospital.  We have big, tight-knit, great Kyrgyz family!

 

Which historical figures are interesting to you?

I really enjoy history and a lot of historical figures; however, this is a subject for another interview. I always like and remember unordinary people. I want to name a few of them:

 

Süymönkul Chokmorov – Our most talented compatriot, artist and actor. It is a thousand pities that he died early, but he left the most striking mark in our art and history. I grew up on his movies and pictures. I remember the episode of the movie “Poppies of Yyk-Köl”, in which people returned to the motherland, went to the lake, said hello to it and washed their hands, and all along the scene was accompanied by beautiful music.  I think it would be better if this episode were shown on TV frequently – we would value and care for our great lake!

 

Kurmanjan Datka – A fragile, but sagely women, she was well respected even by the strongest men.

 

Ed Deming – An American citizen who helped to realize “Japanese growth”.  He was 49 years old when he designed statistical methods of quality which improved and changed his profession! The Japanese, and not the Americans, took an interest in his methods. In 1950 he started to teach Japanese managers about high quality production. Emperor Hirohito awarded him the highest order of Japan, noting that the Japanese people owed Ed Deming to the revival of the Japanese industry and its worldwide success. The most interesting thing is that Ed Deming became famous in USA only after another 30 years, in 1980, when Americans watched the documentary “If Japan can… Why can’t we?” The documentary compares American and Japanese industrial production. Why was his doctrine accepted in Japan and not in the USA? Because Japanese understood their own economic and industrial crisis, while Americans didn’t know about theirs. In the 1990’s the USA became the biggest debtor in the world by trade and budget deficit and owed money to the ever-growing and rich Japanese. Deming said: “Quality is found in the company’s top-managers’ room, but everyone must participate in changes. Managers must learn to be responsible for quality and manage the process.  They mustn’t just give commands. They must desire that everyone participate in improvements and work together for the good of a company. A company must favor its employees’ education – a more educated employee is more beneficial to a company!”  

Cleopatra – She was only 18 when she occupied the Egyptian throne. She was the most educated women, spoke eight languages, and knew history, philosophy, diplomacy, and also the tactics of naval warfare, which is why she deserves the respect of the priestly top. Due to her efforts Egypt became powerful and influential. Egypt could even rival Rome. She was the first leader who drew attention to science. During her reign the famous Egyptian library was built. When Alexandria was on fire, her first order was rescuing the library.

 

Napoleon – A young man from a provincial and poor family who later became an emperor. I read in his memoirs that he commanded the removal of the word “impossible” from the French dictionary. He said this word was fatal. If something is impossible why should we live and try to do anything at all?  He had unusual charisma. When Napoleon was banished to the Island of St. Helene a lot of people wanted to escort him. But British military men didn’t want to risk it – they were afraid of his supposed warlord magic, and they thought that Napoleon was able to knock together a small group of people into a combat-ready detachment. A representative of the Russian czar wrote: “… French people tremble when they see him, but they are absolutely happy, because they are serving him, while Englishmen approach him with fear. Even guards were searching his gaze, waiting for at least one word from his mouth. Nobody dares to stay near him on an equal footing.”

 

Who are your favorite writers?

My favorite authors are Lev Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Chingiz Aitmatov and other classic writers.

Among contemporary authors I like Tatyana Ulitskaya and her real life stories.  Here is one episode from a story of hers: “I gave four classes in three different parts of the city.  Afterwards I stopped off at a store, waited in the longest line, and then left to get on a crowded minibus.  I carried a bag to my flat which grew heavy.  I found a key to the door, opened it and walked into the house.  I crept to the chair in the hall, sat down, relaxed, and breathed out.  Suddenly I heard my husband shout: “Who will feed me today???”

 

What is the best and most valuable piece of advice ever given to you?

As I said above, I started my adult life early and I’m very, very, very lucky because I met very good people, who were, and are still are, giving me advice. All of this advice finally formed the basis of my principles:

 

First: “If you do something – do it till the oil will leak” or put your heart and soul into all your work.

 

Second: “Always be a human”. Aphorism for this subject: In this day in age, when people have learnt to fly as birds, and to swim as fish, we still have to learn to live like humans”.

Third: “Get a job that you like and enjoy!” Finally I’ve found a job in AUCA!

 

What is the most unique gift you ever received?

The best gift I ever received was our children, our creation, our continuation, and our art! We are making a life for them! I appreciate the Creator for this miracle!

 

What is your favorite color?

I like diversity and I must always have a choice. My favorite colors are white and turquoise.

 

Which cuisine do you prefer?

I prefer fine cuisine. Dishes must be served beautifully. As my Dad taught me, making a tasty meal is half the battle; we must serve meals with elegance! I really like fish, mushrooms, steamed vegetables, and fruits. Meat should be sizzling, or, in the very least, it should not be boiled.

 

What are your hobbies?

They are reading and travelling.  As the Dalai Lama said: “Form a habit of opening new places – new countries, cities, rivers, and forests each year”.

 

How do you spend your free time?

I read a lot and watch my favorite movies. I love nature and I can look across a landscape for hours and dream. I guess I’ll start to paint and later try to write. Life is an interesting thing, and there is nothing more magical and stronger than the gift of dreaming!

 

People say that everything must be attempted in life. What will you never attempt?

Of course I wanted to do a lot of things. When we were young we were taken with the phrase “sink or swim”. We tried to attempt what we could do, but over the years we became “observers”. I envy those people who can dive. They say that at that depth it is very beautiful. It is so interesting at that depth, and under the thickness of water there is a huge and bright world! I believe it, but I’m afraid of darkness and depth.

 

How does your family celebrate the New Year?

New Year’s is the favorite holiday of our family. Because our grandmother lives with us, everyone usually comes to our home, but at the moment our house can’t accommodate all of our relatives, and therefore over the last several years we have celebrate the New Year at a restaurant with music, dancing, and lotteries. Last year almost all the lottery tickets were winners and we were able to use our winnings to renew almost all of our household appliances. In addition, a special prize was presented to our grandmother in honor of being the most elderly participant of the New Year’s party. It was wonderful!

 

What is a traditional dish that your family prepares for New Year’s?

Baked bird has become our favorite traditional dish in our family (every year we have different kinds of bird.  For example, last year we ate duck). We also cook a lot of salads.

 

What do you wish your colleagues and what advice do you give them?

My dear colleagues!

I wish you and your families good health, peace and prosperity! Finally, I wish for more presents for my colleagues and their families, because we (adults and children) love presents so much.

Give more time for yourself and those nearest and dearest to you, because they are the most valuable belongings in life!

Never stint for kind words! Be kinder and more attentive to each other!

Never fall out before leaving home.  If you have fallen out, then don’t say goodbye without being reconciled!

Don’t save life for tomorrow or a special time! Value every minute! Everyday life takes a big part of our time and we should take advantage of our free time. Fortunately we have a lot of technology to do this!

Dear colleagues, thank you for being here with us! Cheers! Live richly!

God willing, next year we will celebrate the New Year in the new campus! I wish good health, success and patience to our dear President Andrew Wachtel!

Long live and prosper our beloved AUCA!

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