Q of love

Tell us about yourself and your career aspiration

My name is Zarina Abdenova, I am from Kazakhstan, but for the last 6 months I have been living in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). I had a freelance project before quarantine started.

My last job was a global American company, Amway. I was the chief marketing Manager for Amway Kazakhstan.

You know now, when the fight against the coronavirus is going on all over the world, my career vision has changed, I have realized that I am the citizen of our Planet, and I do worry about every country and wish health to humankind and the situation improvement.

Often I can hear from my friends that they are dreaming to open their own business, but in my case, I had my own business before (PR agency in Kazakhstan), which I successfully sold. And I'm kind of person who wants to work in a global company, different countries, communicating with diverse groups of people. This is my career aspiration. I want to be a global person (associate).

I believe that in the near future there will be a world government. Remember, before states appearance there were tribes that united to confront enemies. Today we are somehow in the same scenario when countries should come together to confront the virus and other world issues. I suppose (consider) global companies could be good example of how global government can exist.

Talk about your strength and improvement

I suppose my strength is that I am a really creative person with strategic thinking. Sometimes my ideas seem to be kind of crazy or too brave, but everyone who believes them makes a profit as a result.

I am a positive person who finds something good everywhere. I can inspire people. Because my secret is a kind heart. As Jack Ma says, you can succeed in business with IQ and EQ, but to lead a company to world success you need to have LQ (Q of love).

I want to improve my English so that I could inspire anyone on this planet.

One more of my strengths that I can predict the behavior of people and society in different situations. That is why at my previous company we together with my team have achieved 30% sales increase.

I would like to improve in myself to stay calm and positive in any situation, even now the virus teaches me to be more humane, to be more positive and believe in a better tomorrow.

I believe in the near future there will be a digitalization of all types of services and products and I would like to work for the further business digitalization.

Explain the time when you were to lead the team

I suppose that the difference between female and male leadership is that a woman leads a team as a friend. Among your friends there is always someone whom you want to follow and who motivates you. This leadership approach I chose many years ago and I believe that friendly relationship helps to achieve greater results in work.

At my previous work, I led the organization of three large events at the same time, and I chose a strategy where all colleagues could share their ideas and finally I took the last decision on my own. Because when you are responsible for the project, it is important to hear all your colleagues, but at the same time to follow the chosen line which will lead to success.

It happens that someone in the project team is already a leader, in such case, I think it is important to support the person and motivate him to achieve the project’s goals.

I am open for a discussion, but there will be always some situations where you need to be strong and take the final decision. But I believe you can do it only if you have a strong experience and vision.

The most important skill as a leader and why

I suppose the leader’s important skill is to be human in all situations, to be able to speak with your colleagues and to listen to them. Sometimes it could happen your associate shows lack of motivation, and in such moment you need to have an open and deep conversation with him. And then you must act so that your colleague (associate) believes that he can trust you.

I think that after nowadays quarantine and the global situation with the coronavirus, the management approach will change globally. In the near future, a team will succeed if there is a family atmosphere among the team members, where everyone takes care of each other. When they can be sincere. People will more appreciate personal communication.

I think that the most important skill of a leader is an open heart, a clear mind, a positive attitude and the ability to inspire people. It is important for a leader to inspire people to do their best and then to step aside and allow the colleagues to express themselves and believe in their talent.

I believe that I am such kind of a leader, and I am eager to work in a company where humanity, talent and self-realization are highly valued.

What makes you the best candidate for this role?

I suppose that now there are no experts of the future (No one can know exactly what will happen in the future), I can say that I have an experience in the past and I am ready to change the Future. That is what makes me the best candidate.

I feel trends, I appreciate team work, I can make decisions, follow a plan and bring the result. I have a vision for the future, and I believe that it is important now to create and develop a team of experienced employees and young specialists as well so that the company’s activities would be successful.

I consider myself as a person who believes in young talents and respects the experience of mature colleagues.