Today networking is a powerful tool for career development, expansion of the range of

contacts, and acquisition of new opportunities for personal and professional growth. This essay
will analyse how my experience in networking aligns with the goals and values of Chevening
Scholarship program.
I have always adhered to the words of Nathan Rothschild who said, "He who has the
information, has the world." There are people in my environment who share the same interests as
I do and place great importance on personal growth and career advancement. I highly value
friendship with more experienced individuals and seek out any opportunity to learn from them.
To showcase the tangible benefits of networking, I want to mention one person who has greatly
influenced me. I was really lucky to meet Natalia Ospanova, the president of KAPIOR
(Kazakhstan Association of Professional Public Opinion and Market Researchers) and a market
research expert. We had been collaborating on market research projects for two years. Last year
she offered me to participate in joint projects as an expert. Through this relationship I gained not
only valuable knowledge but also actively contributed to market research projects and became
recognized as an expert in my own right. Furthermore, my involvement in conducting
sociological surveys, studying consumers’ behaviour, and providing recommendations to
companies was an invaluable source of knowledge and created unique personal development
opportunities for me. I view our collaboration with Natalia and the insights I gained from her as
a form of international exchange of knowledge.
Additionally, I always try not to miss the opportunity to actively participate in various
seminars, conferences and make new acquaintances with professionals from diverse fields. These
experts willingly share their experience and help me broaden my outlook and gain invaluable
experience. One of the recent events which I attended was the Change Makers Summit/Central
Asia conference at Narkhoz University, where such important issues as global trends in business
management and transformation, key transformation projects in Central Asia, the ecosystem of
educational, career and networking opportunities were discussed. This allowed me to establish
connections with professionals who had faced significant challenges such as the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on their business. I believe that building a professional network can indeed
offer deeper insights into various trends in the professional world, create opportunities for
collaboration and knowledge exchange, and provide a support system for future endeavours.
I would like to give another vivid example of the importance of networking for
professional growth. While I was preparing to apply for the Chevening Scholarship, I met
Jamiliya, Chevening 2022 Scholarship alumna, who is now working for McKinsey & Company
in Uzbekistan. Jamiliya supported my desire to pursue my academic and career goals and gave
me valuable tips.
Through my personal experience, I can conclude that networking helps build valuable
connections and gain new insights into various trends in the professional world. It also creates
great opportunities for collaboration and exchange of knowledge, and all this is incredibly
important for me in the future.