‘We Gain a Toolkit for Decision-Making in Various Business Contexts’

Madina Yessimova

Photo courtesy of Madina Yessimova

Madina Yessimova, from Kazakhstan, is a fourth-year bachelor’s student of Business Administration at the HSE Graduate School of Business. In her interview with the HSE News Service, Madina talks about her drive to study abroad and how it led her to HSE, her research on entrepreneurial activity in Kazakhstan and Russia, and her experiences representing the Kazakhstani community in Russia. 

Choosing HSE University

I’ve always been someone who loves freedom and dreams big. Ever since I was a child, I knew that I would be studying abroad at a prestigious university, and I’ve always strived for that and had a thirst for knowledge. I graduated from school with a gold medal (an academic excellence award that grants benefits for university applications—Ed.) and was a school activist.

In eighth grade, I decided that I would apply to medical university; I was in a chemistry and biology stream and competed in chemistry competitions. However, in eleventh grade, I began to consider my future in more detail and decided to have some backup options in case I didn’t manage to get into a medical university in Kazakhstan. It was important to me to secure a state-funded place. 

My choice fell on HSE University quite unexpectedly. After reading the university’s introductory information, I realised that I wanted to study there and began to prepare.

I could not even have imagined that choosing HSE would become a turning point and one of the best decisions of my life—the reality exceeded all my expectations

Admission

I sat the entrance exams for international students. Each programme has its own admission requirements, and as of 2022, to enrol on the Business Administration programme, you were required to pass two subjects: mathematics and Russian. As it was important for me to confirm my gold medal from school, I prepared intensively for the state exams, which also required a high level of proficiency in mathematics and Russian.

Photo courtesy of Madina Yessimova

Studying Business Administration at HSE University

My degree programme is unique in its interdisciplinary approach to training managers.

The curriculum is structured to help us understand business as a holistic system and enable us to work with its key processes. That is why we study subjects ranging from critical thinking and business communication to strategic and financial management and data analysis

Essentially, the programme combines elements from the faculties of economics, computer science, creative arts, and psychology, fostering a comprehensive managerial mindset. Thanks to this, we gain not a narrow specialisation, but a broad toolkit for decision-making in various business contexts.

Strategic management, project management, risk management, and legal literacy were definitely among my favourite courses, as it was in these disciplines that we carried out the most memorable and extensive projects with my teams. Knowledge of these subjects has proved useful to me in real life, as they have given me a practical understanding of how to make informed management decisions in conditions of uncertainty and great responsibility.

The Graduate School of Business is staffed by highly capable, forward-thinking, and practice-oriented professionals with real-world experience in top-level management and international companies, which has a direct impact on the quality of teaching

Сomputer science proved to be the most challenging subject for me. As part of the programme, I studied ‘Fundamentals of Python Programming,’ ‘Introduction to Data Analysis,’ ‘AI and Business Analytics Technologies,’ and also sat a compulsory independent exam in programming. These subjects required significantly more effort and commitment from me.

Photo courtesy of Madina Yessimova

My Research

As I am an international student, my academic interests focus on the comparative analysis of the business environment in different countries, particularly in Kazakhstan and Russia. I am particularly interested in how institutional factors—such as the regulatory environment, the level of infrastructure development, and access to finance—influence the development of entrepreneurship.

This interest is reflected in my forthcoming dissertation on the topic ‘Developing a Methodology for Cross-country Research into Entrepreneurial Activity in Russia and Kazakhstan as a Methodological Alternative to the GEM Approach,’ in which I am developing a methodology for cross-country analysis of entrepreneurial activity as an alternative to existing approaches. My aim is to propose a more accurate tool that takes into account the specificities of national contexts and allows for a deeper analysis of differences in the development of entrepreneurship.

More than Studies

Extracurricular activities at university were a key part of my personal development. For two years, I led the HSE Kazakhstan Club—one of the largest national societies, bringing together over 600 students.

In this role, I didn’t just organise events, but built the club’s operational framework: I managed the team, coordinated inter-university cooperation and represented the interests of Kazakhstani students at an institutional level.

Under my leadership, the club expanded its activities—we implemented major cultural and educational projects such as HSE Unity Fest, The Whole World in One HSE, Nauryz, and the Kurultai of Kazakhstan Clubs in Moscow, bringing together hundreds of Kazakhstani students

Last November, we took part in an event attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia, representing the interests of the Kazakhstani student community.

I also provided support to students with adaptation issues, including migration and administrative processes. I consider it my duty to help my compatriots far from home. For me, this aspect of life outside my studies has been the most valuable part of my time in Moscow, because it was through the Kazakhstan Club that I made some great friends.

Speaking about hobbies, I really love music and art. I danced professionally for 14 years, so I love to dance, and I graduated from music school with a degree in piano, so whenever I have free time, I try to learn new pieces on the piano. I also try to read whenever I have free time. With the arrival of warmer weather, I’m gradually getting back into my morning runs, enjoying the beautiful views of Moscow and the spring air along the way.

Quick Questions

What subject at HSE you would strongly recommend never missing?

It’s best not to miss anything, but one thing that could really be useful to everyone is legal literacy.

What are the best and most challenging parts of studying at HSE?

The hardest part was the first semester of my first year; it was tough because of the adjustment and the feeling of loneliness. The best part is my Kazakhstani club.

Which book, film, or podcast has influenced your professional thinking?

• A book: The 48 Laws of Power
• A film: The Pursuit of Happyness
• A podcast: When Are the Wrong Decisions Made? by Timur Turlov, founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp, Kazakhstan, on the human condition, the ability to choose, and the benefits of fear

Name one skill that you believe future economists should definitely develop?

I don’t know about economists, but for managers, it’s confidence in themselves and their team.

If you had to describe HSE in a few words, what would they be?

Endless possibilities and deadlines.