Nurtas Agaidarov

Howdy, everyone! My name is Nurtas Agaidarov, and if I had to describe myself in three words, they would be: Excited Learner, Resilient, and Problem Solver.

I’ve always loved learning. I get genuinely excited when I discover something new, whether it's how to throw a football or how to solve differential equations. That passion for learning has guided me throughout my life. In Wisconsin, I pursued three undergraduate degrees, driven by my curiosity and enthusiasm for new subjects. When searching for an MBA program, I applied the same mindset and was drawn to Texas A&M because of its dual Master’s program, which aligned perfectly with my academic goals.

This passion for learning proved invaluable during the global health crisis in 2019 when I returned to Astana to support my family. My father experienced a serious health complication, and I stepped up to manage the household and our family business in his absence. I immersed myself in understanding the business operations and culture, investing long hours in research. Within my first week, I was able to run the business efficiently, streamline our inventory system, and develop pricing models that led to a 35 percent increase in profits. My father was proud of how I handled the pressure and told me I was resilient.

Even after his recovery, I continued to contribute to daily operations, driving efficiency and solving problems as they arose. My passion for problem solving has been a constant throughout my life. From finding "X" in elementary school to completing a 20-week renovation project in just six weeks as Business Manager at QSI International School of Astana, I have always embraced challenges. The project was particularly challenging because of the organization's prior negative experiences with construction vendors. I had to convince our head office that the timing was right and that the vendors I selected were capable of delivering results.

The vendor selection process was rigorous. I became well-versed in the construction industry, met with multiple vendors, analyzed their invoices against market averages, and assessed their credibility by comparing announced timelines with actual completion dates. Through this diligence, I identified a vendor who not only completed the project successfully but also saved the organization over 600,000 dollars. This was especially notable given that the second-lowest bidder quoted no less than 1.1 million dollars.

I embraced every aspect of the project, including the challenges, uncertainty, team conflicts, and coordinating across a 12-hour time difference. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and the joy it brought to students and staff made it all worthwhile. I learned a great deal about myself through that experience. I love learning from solved problems, and I consistently demonstrate resilience when faced with setbacks. That is who I am.