On December 11, 2025, a celebratory evening dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program was held at the Atrium Hall of AlmaU – one of the key programs in management education in Kazakhstan. The event brought together alumni and current students of the program, members of the Board of Trustees, university partners, professors, and business leaders, highlighting the strength and significance of the DBA community built over two decades.
The anniversary was held under the symbolic slogan “From Experience to Impact,” reflecting the core philosophy of the program – transforming managerial experience into real impact on business, society, and the economy. The atmosphere of the evening combined academic depth, professional dialogue, and a festive mood. 
The official part was opened by the evening host, Valikhan Ten. The welcome address was delivered by Assylbek Kozhakmetov, founder, president, and rector of AlmaU, Doctor of Business Administration. In his speech, he noted that over the past 20 years, the DBA program has created a strong professional community whose members hold key positions in business, the public sector, and international projects. He emphasized that the strength of DBA lies in uniting leaders ready for transformation and in creating an intellectual environment where new management ideas are born and responsible leadership is developed. 
The plenary speech by Aigerim Yelibayeva, PhD, Director of the AlmaU Leadership Institute, focused on the global significance of DBA and its mission in conditions of rapid change. In her report, she highlighted that leaders with a research culture, strategic thinking, and the ability to work with uncertainty become a key factor in the sustainable development of organizations and industries.
A special focus of the evening was the topic of Impact Intelligence – the intellectual influence of DBA leaders. During the panel discussion “Impact Intelligence: The Influence Created by DBA Leaders,” Alexander Khan, CEO of Toyota Insurance Management and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Autosan Kazakhstan; Meruert Kazbekova, Chairperson of the Union of Women Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan and Vice President of AlmaU; and Natalia Mishukova, Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Association of Continuing Education, discussed practical cases, management decisions, and the contribution of DBA alumni to the development of the business ecosystem. The speakers emphasized the importance of a research-based approach, leadership thinking, and social responsibility as the foundation of modern managerial impact. 
The international scale of the event was recognized through a video greeting from Himanshu Rai, Professor and Director of the Indian Institute of Management Indore, who highly praised AlmaU’s contribution to the development of management education in Central Asia and the impact of the DBA program in shaping a new generation of leaders. 
One of the most memorable and emotional moments of the evening was the ceremonial presentation of the two-tiered anniversary cake “20 Years of DBA,” decorated with images of program alumni. The culmination of recognizing the community’s achievements was the DBA Awards ceremony, during which the award in the category “DBA Impact” was presented as a symbol of the real managerial influence of alumni. 
The festive atmosphere was further enhanced by the anniversary lottery “20 Years of DBA – 20 Gifts,” an open microphone session with live stories and memories of alumni, and a final video compiled from congratulatory messages recorded by guests at the beginning of the evening. 
The DBA program anniversary was not only a celebration but also a moment to reflect on the journey – from accumulated experience to sustainable impact. AlmaU once again confirmed its mission: to shape leaders who transform management practice, develop intellectual capital, and create value for society.