History as a Source of Leadership Inspiration

As part of the International Leadership Academy, implemented by the Kazakh-American Free University in collaboration with the international organization Co-Serve International (Portland, Oregon, USA), participants of the program visited the East Kazakhstan Regional Museum of History and Local Lore on June 5, 2025.

This museum is one of the oldest in the country and the largest in eastern Kazakhstan. Its collections include over 140,000 exhibits, encompassing archaeological artifacts, ethnographic materials, rare documents, and photographic records. Immersing themselves in the region’s history allowed the academy participants to view leadership more broadly — as the ability to preserve, understand, and transmit values from generation to generation.

The museum visit was part of an educational program aimed at developing leadership through service. Participants discussed how knowledge of the past helps shape resilient thinking, make informed decisions, and take responsibility for social change.

“A leader is not only someone who leads forward but also someone who understands where they come from,” the academy participants noted in discussion.

The museum tour became not just a journey into the past, but a deep reflection on the values that unite leaders around the world: respect, awareness, and a willingness to serve.