Over a  thousand female entrepreneurs from across Kazakhstan gathered in Astana for the IX Forum of Women of Kazakhstan, "UMAI-Ana," El.kz reports.

Entrepreneurs, public figures, and experts from various fields ranging from the restaurant industry and medicine to AI and media shared their experiences with the participants.

Representatives of the restaurant business, Askar Kanapin and Dias Nurgozhin, spoke about team building and business development. According to Askar Kanapin, one of the main challenges today is that employers often expect to hire fully-formed specialists without investing in their professional growth.

"It’s like raising a child. You cannot immediately get an educated person - first, you must invest knowledge, attention, and time," the entrepreneur noted.

Gulbanu Maigarina spoke about female leadership, the internal fear of success, and the importance of "soft power" in management.

"True leadership is about influencing the system. Scale begins at the point where your influence extends beyond yourself," the entrepreneur emphasized.

Special attention at the forum was devoted to artificial intelligence and its applications in business. Participants learned how modern technologies help automate processes and increase competitiveness.

This year, 11 speakers took the stage, including Laila Sultankyzy, Bota Abdiramanova, Aigul Eshmatova, and Ekaterina Smyshlyeva.

The central themes of the forum were the development of female entrepreneurship, adaptation to modern realities, and the search for new growth opportunities. The organizers noted that it is crucial for women not only to create their own businesses but also to remain flexible in the face of change, implement new technologies, and build a supportive community.

The forum also featured an exhibition titled "Made by My Mother's Hands" where 73 female artisans and producers from all over Kazakhstan presented their products.

The event was organized by the "UMAI Community of Bright Female Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan" Private Fund. Entry to the forum was free; as the organizers pointed out, the project is designed as an open ecosystem for the support and development of women.