BE WOMAN ASIA 2026: International Forum on Leadership, Technology and the Future of Central Asia Opens in Almaty

From a Women’s Forum to an International Platform

BE WOMAN began in Tashkent in March 2024. The first Central Asian forum brought together representatives from nine countries and provided a platform for discussions on women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, gender equality, science, art and the media. In October that year, the forum moved to Almaty, attracting thousands of participants and international speakers, including entrepreneur and philanthropist Maye Musk, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim and Halyk Bank Chair of the Management Board Umut Shayakhmetova.

In 2025, BE WOMAN ASIA continued to grow as an international platform for exchanging experience and finding solutions at the intersection of business, technology, the environment, psychology, economics and politics. The programme featured more than 100 speakers from 20 countries, including journalist Vladimir Pozner, business coach Irina Khakamada and inDrive founder Arsen Tomsky.

This year’s forum builds on that work, broadening the conversation about leadership to encompass everything from personal development and entrepreneurship to artificial intelligence, cultural identity and responsibility for the region’s future.

At the opening ceremony of BE WOMAN ASIA 2026, guests were welcomed by Yevgeny Kochetov, Vice Minister of Culture of Kazakhstan, who read out a congratulatory message from Yerlan Karin, Vice President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The message highlighted the importance of platforms that enable women from different countries to exchange experience, build professional networks and launch new projects.

Ing Kantha Phavi, the Kingdom of Cambodia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, pointed out that technological change alone does not guarantee a fairer future. Much depends on who makes the decisions and whose interests are taken into account. Gayane Umerova, Head of the Department of Creative Economy and Tourism under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, drew on the tradition of suzani embroidery, a collective endeavour in which individual pieces come together to form a single textile. This became a metaphor for the mutual support and collaboration needed to enable women across Central Asia to play a more active role in important decisions.

“Why Am I Here?”: How the Forum Began

The forum is taking place across several venues. The main Umai Stage features talks and panel discussions on creative leadership, Central Asia’s cultural influence, women’s financial mindset and the role of technology in society. The Tomiris Stage hosts discussions on the competitiveness of Kazakh brands, ethics in fashion, inclusion, the film industry and the development of science.

The programme on 15 October opened with a talk by Dr Nadya Zhexembayeva, a scholar, founder of Reinvention Academy and creator of a methodology for reinventing business and leadership. In her presentation, “The Reinvention Code: What the World Can Learn from Central Asia”, she invited participants to begin the day by asking themselves, “Why am I here?”, engaging the audience in dialogue and practical exercises.

Highlights of the programme include the panel “Creative Leadership: Why Build More Than a Business?”, featuring inDrive founder Arsen Tomsky, philanthropist Madina Smagulova and representatives of the creative industries; a discussion entitled “The Power of Culture: How Central Asia Is Building Its Geobrand”; and a conversation about the women shaping the region’s scientific future.

Artificial intelligence is another key focus. The programme includes discussions on algorithmic ethics and cultural identity, practical workshops and talks on using AI in business and professional development. International guest Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, will speak about technology, business and women in tech.

Alongside the main stages, the forum features BE WOMAN Talks, with presentations and short talks, a Mentor Hub for meetings with experts, a podcast area, a business zone and a meditation space. The event offers more than an opportunity to listen to discussions: participants can also make professional connections, find mentors, exchange experience and develop their own projects.

16 October: BE WOMAN ASIA 2026 Continues at Gorky Park Residence in Almaty

While the first day focuses on international speakers and major discussions, the second puts the emphasis on practical work, professional networking and direct conversations with experts.

The programme includes workshops on women’s leadership, humanistic pedagogy, ethical business, public speaking and technology. A dedicated strand explores women in STEM and artificial intelligence, with participants discussing how technology is changing the professional landscape and why it matters for women to help shape it.

The programme also features Women in Tech and Women Empowerment panel sessions, alongside three round-table discussions on the role of women in education, inclusion in technology and the development of women’s business communities. Speakers announced for the second day include Titi Akinsanmi, an expert in AI and digital policy; Ayumi Moore Aoki, founder of Women in Tech Global; aerospace engineering expert Suad Al Shamsi; and other international speakers.