Business Diplomat: Practice Over Theory

Note: The views expressed in this article are Aigerim Akhtursunova’s personal views and do not represent the official position of the Turan Special Economic Zone, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan or the Government of Kazakhstan.

Business diplomacy is easy to describe and hard to learn from a book. In this part of its interview series, Business Diplomat presents an assessment by Aigerim Akhtursunova, who heads the Turan Special Economic Zone in Kazakhstan, on how young people should be trained and what states should do to support them.

Connecting theory with practice

First observation: theory with practice
Asked for the most critical piece of advice, she does not hesitate: “My main advice is to connect theory with practice.” Young people should study protocol and negotiation, but also take part in simulations, real negotiations, case studies and mentorship. The reason is stated in one sentence: “Business diplomacy is ultimately a practical skill, and young professionals need opportunities to apply what they learn.”

Closing the digital-native gap

Second observation: closing the digital-native gap
Digital natives master technology but may be weak in face-to-face contact. The proposed model combines digital knowledge with face-to-face practice through simulations of negotiations, business meetings and networking situations, with mentorship from experienced diplomats and businesspeople. The principle is: “Technology should support human interaction, not replace it.”

Curriculum and candidate selection

Third observation: what to teach and whom to select
On a certificate programme, the assessment goes beyond protocol, negotiation and intercultural communication. It adds international trade, investment promotion, international law, economic analysis, strategic communication, digital diplomacy, business etiquette, crisis communication, foreign languages and networking. The programme should include practical cases and simulations. Basic principles such as respectful communication, active listening, public speaking, teamwork and cultural awareness can be introduced at school, while advanced skills can come later at university and professional levels.
For member selection, no single criterion decides. Academic achievement shows analytical ability, languages enable international communication, and entrepreneurial motivation creates initiative. The summary: “A good business diplomat needs a balance of knowledge, communication and initiative.”
On events, she favours both formats: “Small events create the substance; the annual summit brings the network together.”

Bringing experience home

Fourth observation: experience should come home
On public support, she agrees that international experience is a public investment. It develops professional knowledge, networks, cultural awareness and confidence, and scholarships, internships, exchanges and mobility programmes can provide it. The condition is: “The important part is creating opportunities for them to bring their knowledge and connections back to their home countries.”

The logic of the assessment

The logic of the assessment
The common thread is application. Knowledge that is never used stays theoretical, and experience that never returns home benefits only the individual. A good programme builds skills through practice and then gives participants a reason and a route to use them where they are needed.

The role of Business Diplomat
This matches the mission of Business Diplomat: to give young people experience, bring a diplomatic order to the business world, and benefit states by revitalising the economy. The last part depends on her condition. States gain when trained young people return and apply what they learned.

Conclusion
Akhtursunova’s advice to a platform building diplomatic discipline is plain: make it practical, make it balanced and make sure it comes back home.