Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Baku, Azerbaijan

In April 1992, I was about to graduate from the Institute of Foreign Languages in Gorky, Russia. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, and Azerbaijan had become independent. I wanted to enter the foreign service of this independent country. I came back to Baku to look for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After multiple attempts, I was hired. With a small group of Azerbaijan’s first diplomats, I implemented multiple tasks including scheduling, protocol, public relations and interpreting for Foreign Minister. I also travelled with Foreign Minister and participated in international meetings, as a full-fledged delegation member, including the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Conference, etc. My work in the Foreign Ministry lasted for a few months only. Thanks to Iron Lady.

Office of The President                                                                                                
Baku, Azerbaijan                                                                                                                                           

In September 1992, Lady Margaret Thatcher visited Baku. I ended up interpreting her speech at Gulustan Palace. A few days later, I was invited to work in the Office of President. They were establishing the first-ever Department of Public Relations in President’s Office. I was hired to help build and work in that office. We were trying to administer public relations campaign of the President, while also learning about public relations itself. There were only a couple of people who spoke English in the President’s Office. I was one of them. And I ended up interpreting President’s meetings with heads of state and visiting delegations. It was a unique experience for a youngster who was witnessing the birth of a country and a government, while also working restlessly to be able to help as much as he could.

Embassy of Azerbaijan                                                                                                                       
Washington, D.C.                                                                                                                                          

In April 1993, I came to the United States as one of Azerbaijan’s first diplomats. We had come to open Azerbaijan’s first Embassy in the United States. With a diplomatic rank of Second Secretary, I was in charge of multiple tasks. On policy issues, I was Embassy’s liaison with Departments of State and Defense, as well as National Security Council. I had a chance to work extensively with the US Congress and got exposed to workings of the legislative branch of the US Government. On commercial issues, I worked with Departments of Commerce and Energy, helped engineer commercial affairs, facilitate trade and promote investments. In April 1996, I completed my diplomatic service and moved onto a new chapter in my life.

One Azerbaijani, whom I respect tremendously, gave me a scholarship to study at a world-class university in the United States. My education at Emory Business School changed everything in my life. At some point, I came back to Azerbaijan to pay my “debt”.

I helped build a truly world-class university in Azerbaijan. A university which will create opportunities for more Azerbaijanis like myself and will keep transforming the landscape around it for many years to come.

ADA University has been my greatest passion. Here, I cared less about my title or size of my office. Rather, I have dreamed of and helped build not just buildings, but spaces, which enhance innovative teaching; programs which expand minds; faculty who return the true meaning of “muellim” back to it; library which combines intellectual pursuit with social interaction; technology which demolishes patterns of traditional behavior; environment which fosters new spirit, culture, thinking, citizenship; lifestyle which builds appreciation of aesthetics, boosts self-esteem and enhances drive to become a first-class citizen. My belief in the power of education has translated into restless pursuit of helping to create something better in this world.

I joined ADA in 2006, as a consultant to help put together a feasibility study of it. Since then, I have been part of launching Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) and later, expanding it into ADA University. I helped develop ADA’s strategy, design and supervise construction of its state-of-the-art campus, oversee launch of degree programs, grow student enrollment, expand partnerships with schools elsewhere in the world, raise funds for operating and endowment purposes and much more.

When I left it, ADA University had 5 schools, some 2500 students, 120 faculty, students from more than 40 countries, state-of-the-art campus in downtown Baku, and a presence in the United States. It had become a flagship university in Azerbaijan and a showcase of success in higher education. In just a few years, we had managed to build a world-class university in Azerbaijan from scratch. Throughout, I served in executive positions of ADA University, i.e. Vice Rector of Strategy and Development first, and lastly, as its Senior Vice Rector.

In 2018, after 12 exceptionally meaningful years, I left ADA University in pursuit of a new passion. I have decided to dedicate the next chapter of my life to bringing up my son and my daughter. They fill in my life with joy and laughter every day. And I did not want to miss a moment of it. 

Having completed my MBA at Goizueta Business School in 2004, I decided to launch my own business. Since then, I own and manage a limited liability company with an office in Washington DC.

For the last semester of my MBA, I moved to Milan, Italy and studied fashion management at SDA, University of Bocconi. I also interned at Giorgio Armani. From dressing windows in its newly opened boutique in Atlanta, Georgia, I moved my way up to work with the Vice President of Marketing in New York. Armani has never stopped being my passion. Here, I worked with talented, creative and passionate individuals who taught me much.

I decided to walk away from high fashion though. Rather, I used the network I had developed in Italy to launch my own business. And a very successful one. I lived in Italy for almost 3 years and used it as a base to work with numerous companies in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, United States and Azerbaijan. Majority of these companies have ended up either investing in Azerbaijan or developing it as a market for their sales and operations. Our firm has played a key role in conceptualizing, planning, designing and operating these investment and trade opportunities. 

One of our first projects was to develop a tourism strategy of Azerbaijan, which was made possible by a grant from the US Trade and Development Agency. Today, Azerbaijan has become a tourism destination, while also hosting major international events in Baku. 

My initial experience in government was later enhanced with the launch and management of a major bilateral trade organization in the US. At USACC, I learned much about workings of multinational corporations. Having received a solid business education, then, lived in Italy and Argentina, I became convinced that entrepreneurship and small business ownership was the right choice for me. Network developed at Giorgio Armani simply put me on a different height of it.  

Throughout these years, our firm has supported multiple clients at every stage of strategic planning, project management, sales, market development and operations. We have a track record of success in taking an idea from concept to design, build and operate.

US-AZERBAIJAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (USACC)             
Washington, D.C.      

In May 1996, we established USACC to promote trade and investments between the United States and Azerbaijan. I became its Founding Executive Director, managed day-to-day activities, developed membership, raised funds, led trade missions, organized investment conferences, oversaw public relations.

I launched USACC with $5,000 seed money and expanded it into an organization with over 70 corporate members and annual budget exceeding $1 million. We facilitated entry of some 50 corporations into Azerbaijan and provided strategic counseling for their acquisition of multi-million-dollar contracts.

At USACC, we raised more than $1 million and established The Caspian Studies Program at Harvard University. A significant component of that program was a scholarship for Azerbaijan’s public service officers to study at Harvard’s Kennedy School. Those graduates went on to become Azerbaijan’s Ambassadors and prominent government officials later on.

Another significant contribution at USACC was its Humanitarian Mission. We managed to create awareness about the importance of education among refugee children in Azerbaijan. Together with Relief International, we raised funds and built some 22 classrooms in Azerbaijan’s refugee camps.

I left USACC in 2002 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia to study MBA at Goizueta Business School of Emory University.

AZERBAIJAN TRADE AND CULTURAL CENTER  (ATCC)
Washington, D.C.

In 2000, I developed the concept of Azerbaijan Trade and Cultural Center (ATCC), then, established the only ATCC in the U.S. This multi-functional facility in prestigious neighborhood of Georgetown housed Azerbaijan Gallery and USACC offices.

We raised capital in less than 3 months and devised strategy to purchase a four-floor historic mansion to host ATCC. For many years, Azerbaijan Gallery showcased famous rugs and paintings from Azerbaijan, promoted cultural ties between the United States and Azerbaijan. I administered ATCC, including acquisition and sales of exhibits, design and organization of cultural and commercial programs.

ADA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
Washington, D.C.

The ADA University Foundation was established in 2007 to become an endowment building arm of ADA University and to develop ties with universities in the United States. I have managed the Foundation part-time as its President since then. Today, it has a four-floor building located in downtown Washington, DC, which has become a significant extension of ADA University and its activities in the USA. We manage a modest endowment on behalf of ADA, assist ADA in its capacity building initiatives, administer educational programs and promote cultural activities. 

As of 2020, it will become ADA International offering an opportunity for students of ADA University to study in the US for a semester, while also joining efforts with major US universities to help develop faculty for ADA University. ADA is the only university in Azerbaijan with an endowment fund. ADA is also one of few universities in the world with a presence in the United States. 

Located just steps away from Dupont Circle and Philipps Collection, ADA University Foundation is also a charm of Washington DC’s Gallery Row. Taking advantage of our location, we host an exhibition of Azerbaijani art and sculptures throughout the year and try to advance cultural ties and understanding between the United States and Azerbaijan.