Female Leaders: Kursiv’s First Among Equals Award Results

On December 10, the First Among Equals Award ceremony was organised by Kursiv Uzbekistan at the Hyatt Regency Tashkent Hotel. This annual event honours women leaders, entrepreneurs and activists while recognising organisations and projects promoting women’s leadership in Central Asia. Over 50 applications were submitted this year, indicating a growing interest in women’s leadership and their participation in economics, science and culture.

The importance of women’s leadership for sustainable development

Anastasia Novikova, the Editor-in-Chief of Kursiv Uzbekistan, highlighted the significance of women’s leadership in her speech. She stated, “Real leadership is not about striving for power or competing with men; rather, it is about the ability to inspire, foster the right environment, and make wise decisions.” Anastasia emphasised that coming together to promote the ideas of women’s leadership contributes to the prosperity of society, the economy, science, and the arts.

Our goal is to encourage women to engage actively in public and economic life, to develop innovative projects, and to foster a strong business culture. She emphasised the significance of such awards in supporting this initiative.

Recognising the efforts of women managers

Prominent figures from various industries were among the top award winners. Kamola Sobirova, Advisor to the Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, expressed gratitude for focusing on women’s leadership. She emphasized that the award serves as a reminder of women’s significant role in transforming society. “Your achievements set an example for young girls just beginning their journeys. Through your hard work and dedication, stereotypes are being challenged, making the world more equitable and just,” she stated.

Kamola also noted that the Ministry of Digital Technologies continues to collaborate with Kursiv Uzbekistan in this field.

Kanokpan Lao-Araya, the director of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) permanent mission, stated that the objectives of the First Among Equals Award align with ADB’s mission, which actively promotes gender equality and professional opportunities for women.

“We support Uzbekistan in fostering an inclusive environment where women can grow and thrive. We actively encourage women’s participation in the IT sector and other fields of science and technology, preparing them to tackle local and global challenges,” said Kanokpan. He emphasised the importance of women’s economic empowerment, which includes access to finance, training and entrepreneurship.

Women in business and technology

Nazi Aripjanova, the Director of Government Affairs and Communications for Coca-Cola Central Asia presented the First Among Equals Award in the Media category to Nodira Saidkarimova for her Bir Kun Podcast project. Aripjanova also emphasised the importance of providing equal opportunities for women in media and other industries.

“Profession has no gender. Men and women should have equal opportunities for work and professional development,” Nazi stated. She also mentioned that Coca-Cola has received a wage equality certificate, which confirms equal pay for men and women at its factories.

“The importance of female leadership in business and life cannot be overstated, and supporting initiatives to promote gender equality remains our top priority,” Nazi emphasised, highlighting the company’s commitment to promoting this message.

Projects promoting women’s leadership

This year’s award recognised women leaders and projects dedicated to promoting women’s leadership in Central Asia. One notable initiative is led by Nodira Vakhidova, who was acknowledged for empowering women in business. This project receives support from the International Business Women’s Association, Tadbirkor Ayol.

Nodira expressed, “Nowadays, society often portrays women as victims. However, it is essential to highlight different examples — women who, despite facing similar circumstances, choose to be active and successful. The more examples we present, the more public perceptions will change.”

This project aims to inspire women to become role models for others and assist them in achieving self-sufficiency.

Nargis Dustmatova, an award-winning contributor to the Women Entrepreneurs Fintech initiative, shared the outcomes of her project, which has trained over 1,200 women in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.

“This project not only fosters community but also provides women with access to funding and resources for their businesses,” Nargis stated. She highlighted the importance of support from the women’s husbands participating in the training for their success.

In the Best Corporate Projects category, the award was given to Payme/TBC and the Sogdiana Youth and Women’s Centre. Payme/TBC was recognized for its support of Nodira Shermatova, while the Sogdiana project was acknowledged for its contributions to the advancement of women’s leadership in Uzbekistan.

Women in construction and technology

Tahmina Turdialieva, the head of the Association of Young Architects of Uzbekistan, has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to the construction industry. “I have never encountered an award that so vividly highlights the achievements of women leaders, especially in fields that are often overlooked, like construction,” she stated.

She expressed her gratitude to the organisers for the opportunity to connect with colleagues and competitors, emphasising that this award is a significant step that inspires further accomplishments.

“The significance of women’s leadership in the construction industry cannot be overstated. We operate in a complex and competitive environment, and the success of women in this field not only serves as inspiration but also helps to challenge stereotypes, ultimately improving the entire industry,” Tahmina added.

Rano Sadykova, the general manager of Plug and Play Uzbekistan, won the ICT Category Award. She spoke about the importance of supporting women in the technology sector. “We create an ecosystem for startups, run accelerator programs and connect startups with corporations to foster innovation,” she stated.

Rano also emphasised her role as an ambassador for Google’s Women Techmakers initiative. She shared that her motivation began when she encountered a cultural barrier in IT while selecting courses for her daughter. “However, we are already seeing changes: more and more girls are entering IT companies in Tashkent,” Rano remarked.

Award Ceremony Environment

The ceremony was held in a warm and vibrant environment, featuring cultural and musical highlights. Guests enjoyed national Uzbek dances performed by the Karavan ensemble, which vividly showcased the country’s traditions.

The event featured a musical atmosphere created by the band K.U.K Choy. Their lively and energetic compositions provided a harmonious backdrop for communication and sharing impressions among participants and guests.

Sponsors and partners of the award

The Asian Development Bank, Coca-Cola, and Huawei are the sponsors of the award, supporting this initiative and various efforts aimed at women’s development and gender equality. The sponsors emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable environment for women in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.