Roundtable Discussion “AI & Innovation: Challenges for the Modern Manager”

On October 24, 2025, a roundtable discussion entitled “AI & Innovation: Challenges for the Modern Manager” was held at the Kazakh-American Free University. The discussion was organized as part of the September 8, 2025, Address by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, entitled “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Current Challenges and Their Solutions through Digital Transformation.” The speakers were Olesya B. Leiman, Senior Lecturer in the KAFU Business Department, and Evgeniya E. Sumareva, Senior Research Lecturer in the KAFU Business Department.

Fourth-year students from the programs “Tourism,” “Management,” “Finance,” and “Accounting and Audit” participated in the roundtable discussion.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the rapid development of artificial intelligence and innovative technologies is impacting the professional environment, the opportunities opening up for young professionals, and the key competencies for the manager of the future.

During the event, students presented their own presentations and mini-studies on the application of AI in management, service, financial analysis, and the tourism industry. In their presentations, participants touched on issues of process automation, the ethics of technology use, digital business transformation, and managers’ adaptation to new labor market conditions.

The discussion was lively and rich. Participants noted that artificial intelligence does not replace humans, but requires specialists to have a higher level of analytical thinking, creativity, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Following the roundtable discussion, all participants received certificates.

Department of Business