The Central Eurasia Leadership Alliance (CELA) today launched its CELA'19 Academy at the Graduate School of Business of Nazarbayev University in Astana, opening a two-week intensive program for 42 leaders drawn from countries across Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Mongolia.
Participants in this year's cohort come from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Mongolia, reflecting CELA's mission to build a connected network of leaders across a region.
Running from July 13 to July 22, 2026, the Academy will be delivered by an international faculty combining classes, workshops, simulations, and peer-to-peer learning. Drawing on expertise from the United States, India, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom, this year's faculty includes Adelia (Dee) Rejante-Nicholls, Ashok Mittal, Bill Starnes, Michael Kouly, and Dr. Umar Taj.
Facilitating alongside them is a group of alumni and colleagues from across the CELA network and its sister organizations: Abdul Samad Khan (SEALA'5), Alexandre Jejelava (CELA'9), Ernst W. Bruderer (SIBF), Elza Ibrahimova (CELA'11), Jarkyn Samanchina (CELA'13), Jon Whetsell (SIBF), Meade Sutterfield (SIBF), Merey Toktarbaikyzy (CELA'14), Nuraim Manapbaeva (CELA'15), Sherrie Myers (SIBF), Susan Sutterfield (SIBF), Sulaiman Al Hadhrami (MELA'11), and Talgat Imangaliyev (CELA'7), extending the program's reach well beyond Central Eurasia and into a broader constellation of sister regional leadership networks.
"Hosting the CELA'19 Academy reflects exactly the kind of role we want the Graduate School of Business to play, as a meeting point for leadership and ideas from across the region and beyond. We're proud to open our doors to this year's cohort," said Jozef Konings, Dean of the Graduate School of Business at Nazarbayev University.
"The program is designed as an inner journey of leadership, helping participants take their leadership to the next level. Much of the value comes from tapping into the collective intelligence of the participants themselves, through peer-to-peer learning, small group discussions, and late-night conversations," said Bill Starnes, Head of CELA Faculty.
In the program's final days, the current cohort will be joined by more than 20 CELA alumni for a reunion, turning the Academy's closing stretch into a gathering of the network across generations, where this year's participants sit alongside the leaders who came through the same program in years past.
This year's Academy is supported by the Firuza Foundation as our Platinum Partner. The Firuza Foundation is an Amsterdam-based foundation focused on helping people build a prosperous, healthy, and sustainable future for themselves, with strategic areas spanning climate action, health and medical technology, education, science and research, and poverty reduction.
CELA also extends its thanks to the individual supporters whose personal contributions helped make this year's Academy possible: Zhanar Sagimbayeva (CELA KZ), Chingiz Kanapyanov (CELA KZ), Anar Huseynov (CELA AZ). Special recognition goes to Meade and Susan Sutterfield (SIBF), Vickie Neighbour (SIBF), and Paulette Pidcock (SIBF), all long-standing supporters of CELA.
Central Eurasia Leadership Alliance (CELA), founded in 2002, is the premier network for Central Eurasia's leaders to consistently expand their leadership skills, grow their professional network, and enhance the positive impact they make on their families, businesses, and communities. With 18 academies, 697 alumni, more than 30 Annual Reunions, and 2 Global Network Summits under its belt, CELA has demonstrated its effectiveness in developing partnerships among our members for business, professional, altruistic, and personal purposes.
SIBF (Society of International Business Fellows) is the parent organization of CELA, SEALA, MELA, NALA. Formed in the United States 45 years ago by a group of CEOs, corporate executives, and leading entrepreneurs, SIBF was established to foster international connections that bridge gaps between regions through leadership and business networks.
MELA (Middle East Leadership Alliance) was launched in 2010 by SIBF and a group of Arab business leaders, modeled after CELA. MELA draws its members from across the Middle East annually for its leadership masterclass, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and regional growth.
SEALA (South East Asia Leadership Alliance) is a not-for-profit initiative launched in 2013 by SIBF. SEALA draws its members from across South and Southeast Asia their annual leadership programs.
NALA (The North American Leadership Alliance) is an intensive, five-day immersion program. It brings together leaders from Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Firuza Foundation operates under the motto "From Charity to Change," with a particular focus on Climate Action, Health for All, Quality Education, and Poverty Reduction. Registered in Amsterdam under Dutch law, the Foundation was granted ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) status in 2024.
Founded by Nasib Hasanov, the sole owner of NEQSOL Holding and Inviglob Family Office, Firuza Foundation builds on Hasanov's longstanding philanthropic commitment and the social investments of his companies. Between 2019 and 2023, NEQSOL Holding and its subsidiaries invested approximately US$50 million in social impact initiatives across Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Türkiye, and Georgia.
Since its establishment in 2024, Firuza Foundation has supported academic research and other initiatives at leading universities in the United States and Europe. The Foundation has also contributed to the work of the World Health Organization Foundation, the UN World Food Programme, the UN Population Fund, and UNICEF, as well as Islamic Relief Worldwide, World Vision International, the American Red Cross, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Wildlife Conservation Society, among others, while making donations to emergency relief operations for communities affected by floods, earthquakes, and conflicts.
Media Contact: Dina Iglikova, dina@celanetwork.org
Participants in this year's cohort come from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Mongolia, reflecting CELA's mission to build a connected network of leaders across a region.
Running from July 13 to July 22, 2026, the Academy will be delivered by an international faculty combining classes, workshops, simulations, and peer-to-peer learning. Drawing on expertise from the United States, India, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom, this year's faculty includes Adelia (Dee) Rejante-Nicholls, Ashok Mittal, Bill Starnes, Michael Kouly, and Dr. Umar Taj.
Facilitating alongside them is a group of alumni and colleagues from across the CELA network and its sister organizations: Abdul Samad Khan (SEALA'5), Alexandre Jejelava (CELA'9), Ernst W. Bruderer (SIBF), Elza Ibrahimova (CELA'11), Jarkyn Samanchina (CELA'13), Jon Whetsell (SIBF), Meade Sutterfield (SIBF), Merey Toktarbaikyzy (CELA'14), Nuraim Manapbaeva (CELA'15), Sherrie Myers (SIBF), Susan Sutterfield (SIBF), Sulaiman Al Hadhrami (MELA'11), and Talgat Imangaliyev (CELA'7), extending the program's reach well beyond Central Eurasia and into a broader constellation of sister regional leadership networks.
"Hosting the CELA'19 Academy reflects exactly the kind of role we want the Graduate School of Business to play, as a meeting point for leadership and ideas from across the region and beyond. We're proud to open our doors to this year's cohort," said Jozef Konings, Dean of the Graduate School of Business at Nazarbayev University.
"The program is designed as an inner journey of leadership, helping participants take their leadership to the next level. Much of the value comes from tapping into the collective intelligence of the participants themselves, through peer-to-peer learning, small group discussions, and late-night conversations," said Bill Starnes, Head of CELA Faculty.
In the program's final days, the current cohort will be joined by more than 20 CELA alumni for a reunion, turning the Academy's closing stretch into a gathering of the network across generations, where this year's participants sit alongside the leaders who came through the same program in years past.
This year's Academy is supported by the Firuza Foundation as our Platinum Partner. The Firuza Foundation is an Amsterdam-based foundation focused on helping people build a prosperous, healthy, and sustainable future for themselves, with strategic areas spanning climate action, health and medical technology, education, science and research, and poverty reduction.
CELA also extends its thanks to the individual supporters whose personal contributions helped make this year's Academy possible: Zhanar Sagimbayeva (CELA KZ), Chingiz Kanapyanov (CELA KZ), Anar Huseynov (CELA AZ). Special recognition goes to Meade and Susan Sutterfield (SIBF), Vickie Neighbour (SIBF), and Paulette Pidcock (SIBF), all long-standing supporters of CELA.
Central Eurasia Leadership Alliance (CELA), founded in 2002, is the premier network for Central Eurasia's leaders to consistently expand their leadership skills, grow their professional network, and enhance the positive impact they make on their families, businesses, and communities. With 18 academies, 697 alumni, more than 30 Annual Reunions, and 2 Global Network Summits under its belt, CELA has demonstrated its effectiveness in developing partnerships among our members for business, professional, altruistic, and personal purposes.
SIBF (Society of International Business Fellows) is the parent organization of CELA, SEALA, MELA, NALA. Formed in the United States 45 years ago by a group of CEOs, corporate executives, and leading entrepreneurs, SIBF was established to foster international connections that bridge gaps between regions through leadership and business networks.
MELA (Middle East Leadership Alliance) was launched in 2010 by SIBF and a group of Arab business leaders, modeled after CELA. MELA draws its members from across the Middle East annually for its leadership masterclass, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and regional growth.
SEALA (South East Asia Leadership Alliance) is a not-for-profit initiative launched in 2013 by SIBF. SEALA draws its members from across South and Southeast Asia their annual leadership programs.
NALA (The North American Leadership Alliance) is an intensive, five-day immersion program. It brings together leaders from Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Firuza Foundation operates under the motto "From Charity to Change," with a particular focus on Climate Action, Health for All, Quality Education, and Poverty Reduction. Registered in Amsterdam under Dutch law, the Foundation was granted ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) status in 2024.
Founded by Nasib Hasanov, the sole owner of NEQSOL Holding and Inviglob Family Office, Firuza Foundation builds on Hasanov's longstanding philanthropic commitment and the social investments of his companies. Between 2019 and 2023, NEQSOL Holding and its subsidiaries invested approximately US$50 million in social impact initiatives across Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Türkiye, and Georgia.
Since its establishment in 2024, Firuza Foundation has supported academic research and other initiatives at leading universities in the United States and Europe. The Foundation has also contributed to the work of the World Health Organization Foundation, the UN World Food Programme, the UN Population Fund, and UNICEF, as well as Islamic Relief Worldwide, World Vision International, the American Red Cross, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Wildlife Conservation Society, among others, while making donations to emergency relief operations for communities affected by floods, earthquakes, and conflicts.
Media Contact: Dina Iglikova, dina@celanetwork.org