EM NED Navigator: Exploring Board Opportunities – Central Asia Edition

Explore the dynamic landscape of board membership in Central Asia in this insightful online event for Impact Boards EM members. Designed for aspiring and current board professionals, this session will unpack the region's unique challenges and opportunities while offering practical guidance on securing a board position.

Key topics

• Understanding the landscape: Legal, economic and cultural factors influencing board roles in the Central Asia region.

• Navigating risks: Governance, compliance and political dynamics in the region.

• Embracing opportunities: Driving impactful decisions and leveraging growth potential.

• Finding a board position in Central Asia: Leveraging on professional networks and recruitment platforms, using direct approaches, establishing your personal branding, etc.

Moderator

Olga Pascault

Co-Founder & Chair, Impact Boards EM

Speakers

Mantas Šukevičius

Member of Supervisory Board, Business Development Bank, Uzbekistan

Chairman & Board Member in Lithuanian and Ukrainian entities

Mantas is a professional INED and former executive with strong international banking background, proven track record transforming a number of organisations in emerging markets.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mantas-%C5%A1ukevi%C4%8Dius-34329548/

Sevada Baghdyan

Partner, Boyden Leadership Consulting & Executive Search (Armenia & Georgia)

Sevada is a Partner at Boyden, a global leader in executive search and leadership consulting. He leads the firm’s operations in Armenia and Georgia, providing strategic advice, leadership consulting and talent solutions – including executive, non-executive and advisory board member search – to clients across various sectors and industries.

In addition, he is the Co-Founder of Menu Group UK LTD which was a UK-registered food delivery service operating in Armenia, Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine, where it became a market leader. The company employed over 1,000 people across these four countries and raised approximately $10 million in investments over the course of its development. In 2025, Menu Group was acquired by an international corporation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sevada-baghdyan/

Ardak Mametzhanova

Partner & Co-Founder, People Consulting (Kazakhstan)

Ardak is an executive search consultant and leadership advisor with over 10 years of experience in HR and talent strategy across Kazakhstan and Central Asia. She is a Partner and Co-Founder of People Consulting, where she helps companies build strong leadership teams.

Prior to launching People Consulting, Ardak worked at WE Partners, a leading executive search firm, where she led senior-level recruitment projects and supported clients on leadership and organisational development. Her expertise includes C-level recruitment and culture transformation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardak-mametzhanova/