The President of the Astana Group Holding. Graduated from Kirov Kazakh State University with the degree - «Biology and Chemistry» in (1990). He was born on June 2, 1965 in Alma-Ata. By decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he was awarded a Certificate of Honor for his contribution to the cultural development of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2006), the Order of «Kurmet» (2007), the jubilee medal «10 Zhyl Astana» (2008), «Person of the Year» according to the magazine «Esquire Kazakhstan» (2007). «Entrepreneur of the Year» in Kazakhstan according to the international auditing company Ernst&Young (2008). The name of Nurlan Smagulov, a successful businessman and philanthropist, is well known in Kazakhstan, but few people know about the early stages of the formation of such a bright personality, which occurred in the 80s of the last century and are closely associated with the Kazakh National University. In 1983, Nurlan entered the student environment of the Faculty of Biology of KazGU easily and rapidly... What was the reason for this? Was it some kind of Moscow charm, as Nurlan had studied for a year at the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, or perhaps his personal charisma? But the biology department graduates immediately noticed this slightly short, always kindly smiling, and fiercely debating young man. He has entered the lives of many and has remained with some of his fellow students for more than twenty-five years. During the academic year, Nurlan firmly joined the student elite of the Biological Faculty and an unplanned turn of fate. In the first half of the 80s, against the background of the agony of «Developed Socialism» and at the peak of the Cold War, students began to be called up to serve in the armed forces of the USSR. And so Nurlan, bidding his classmates farewell with a broad smile, set off to fulfill his military duty at a radio location point in the Betpak-Dala desert. In two years, the country has undergone tremendous changes – la «restructuring» broke out. After military service, Sergeant Nurlan Smagullov continued his studies at the University. In the ichthyologist expeditionary team from Kazakh State University, conducting research in the waters of the Ili River, he proved himself to be a true man. In the middle of the river, he spotted a pelican desperately struggling against the strong current, inexplicably unable to fly away. It turned out that the curly pelican, a rare bird for the fauna of Kazakhstan, had a broken wing. A week later, the Almaty Zoo gratefully accepted the rescued rarity into its collection. And again, more adventures... This time, maritime ones. Nurlan, a student ichthyologist, with his persistence, managed to secure an internship at the Pacific Fisheries and Oceanography Research Institute (TINRO) in Vladivostok. Over the course of six months, he traveled on various types of ships across the waters of the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Pacific Ocean. He visited the Kuril and Kamchatka volcanoes. Everywhere he went, he encountered interesting people, displayed character, and demonstrated persistence in the challenging situations that characterized Smagulov's Far Eastern «Odyssey». It is impossible not to recall the history of writing a thesis. Without computers and the Internet, the work was written during evening and nighttime hours, ultimately recognized as one of the best among students. Interestingly, according to Nurlan himself, the methods of mathematical calculations, searching for patterns, and logic in conducting ichthyological research laid the foundation that helps analyze and make decisions in modern conditions. The student years passed quickly... In 1990, Smagulov was assigned to work as a fish culturist at a production and acclimatization station. Several years later, when business became the primary sphere of Nurlan's endeavors, the Station Director lamented: «It's a pity this guy left us. He was such a talented fish culturist!». Truly, It is not the places that grace the men, but men the places! And again, Kazakh State University. The first business projects within the university walls. Nurlan Smagulov persuaded the faculty leadership of the need to introduce new forms of financing scientific research and established a small scientific-production enterprise called «Nurbulak», which lasted for almost ten years. It's hard to imagine now that the «Generals» of Kazakh business - Nurlan Smagulov and the untimely departed Erzhan Tatishchev - took their first steps in business at their native biology faculty. But within these walls, the ambitious Nurlan felt constrained. The next stage was the creation of the small enterprise «Madina». And then it continued to grow! The first commercial TV channels aired advertisements: «For the New Year - in a new car!» So, in 1992, the Kazakh Motor Company «Astana Motors» first made itself known. Today, it's a full-fledged brand in Kazakhstan, a leader in domestic retail in terms of quantity and quality of services provided. «Astana Motors» boasts a wide network of its own and dealership outlets across Kazakhstan's regions. But even this wasn't enough for self-realization as a businessman. In the early 90s, Nurlan noticed the somewhat non-proprietary attitude towards one of the republic's main assets - grain. And yet, on the flag of Kazakhstan, the sun's rays represent precisely the grains of that ear of wheat, which today has placed our country among the largest wheat exporters. In 1996, the country's leadership entrusted Nurlan Smagulov to head the State Food Contracting Corporation. It was then that the first major contracts for grain export were signed, private structures were established to control the entire cycle - from grain production and storage to its sale and processing. Founded by Smagulov in 1996, the group of companies «Grain Industry» now holds a strong position in the market. The liberalization of land legislation gave Nurlan new ideas for business development - construction. Smagulov became the author and implementer of the popular network of shopping and entertainment centers «MEGA». Ask any resident of Almaty, Astana, or Shymkent: «Where is the best place in their hometown for their family to spend their leisure time?» The answer will be unequivocal – «MegaCenter». In late 2005, Nurlan Smagulov brought together automotive, grain, and construction divisions under the reliable umbrella of the parent company «Astana Group». Nurlan Smagulov is a bright and unique personality, an incurable romantic. A person to look up to.