Talent Network. Community of talented students
Background
In 2016, I started working on a project called Talent Network. At that time, KIMEP University had more than 2,000 students. I noticed that only a small group of them were truly active in student life. Not only they studied well, but also participated in various events, organized projects, and even started student clubs. After some observation, I found a clear pattern: only about 20% of students, or 400 people, were active in various projects and events. And from that group, only 20% – about 80 students – stood out as true leaders. They were talented, ambitious, and had great potential. My idea was to bring these 80 people together into 1 community. A network that would last beyond graduation, where members could motivate and support each other in their growth. That was the Talent Network.
Outcome
The project had 4 main outcomes:
1. The idea worked. Out of the first 80 members, almost all became successful in their careers or businesses. Many earned Master’s degrees or MBAs abroad. Some became top managers, directors, and even board members. Others launched businesses and made them grow.
2. The network existed through a VK community page, later Instagram, and a WhatsApp group. But over time, it faded. The community closed, because there was no real collaboration. Everyone acted more as individuals. Later, I understood the reason. It was not the people themselves, but a cultural issue. In Kazakhstan, there is no strong “win-win” culture in business, people are more inclined to compete. It correlates with our history: it was always hard to live in the steppe, with the harsh climate and the limited resources.
3. One surprising outcome was that I had managed to spot the most talented students years before recruiters did. Recruiters spend all their time in offices, searching through job sites like HeadHunter or LinkedIn. They cannot see students in action on campus. My success with Talent Network pushed me to build an online recruitment platform for students and fresh graduates. I’ve called it Everythink. I’ve built the landing page and started pitching various companies. You can read about this project on the corresponding page (links provided below).
4. After graduating from KIMEP, I joined Deloitte as a recruiter. There, I experienced the hiring problems firsthand. Even with all the online services available, we still couldn’t find the best young talent. We spent hours searching through thousands of online resumes. We spent weeks just to hire 1candidate. I realized the issue was in the systems we used. They were all relevnce-based search systems, working similar to Google, sorting candidates by relevance. After years of research, I designed a solution: an objective merit-based scoring system. A tool that can instantly highlight the best professionals in any industry and the most promising students in any school. This idea grew into a startup I later founded, called Talentli. You can read about this project on the corresponding page (links provided below).
List of members (in ABC order)
Abai Amantayev, Abil Kenzhegali, Adil Khan Dildabayev, Ahmad Helmi, Aibolat Khanat, Aidai Kazymbetova, Aidana Bergazdenova, Aigerim Akmaganbetova, Aigerim Kabysheva, Aigerim Tanatar, Aigul Nursultan, Ainur Bainazarova, Aisha Yerkebulan, Alfiya Sharipova, Alina Ryspekova, Alisa Kim, Alisher Alimov, Alisher Bastaubay, Alma Urustemova, Almagul Serikbay, Alnur Adambayev, Alnur Mukhtarov, Altyn Orazayeva, Altynay Yegemberdiyeva, Alvaro Lopes Donoso, Anara Omarova, Anel Meirembayeva, Anna Sevastyanova, Arailym Abetayeva, Arthur Kim, Aruzhan Bolatbayeva, Asel Bakytova, Askhat Orazayev, Assel Sarbassova, Assylay Sagynbayeva, Aziya Imanbayeva, Bakdaulet Polatuly, Bakytzhan Bolatuly, Batyrkhan Baimurzayev, Bauyrzhan Murzakhmetov, Bekmyrza Kulzhanov, Bekzhan Akbayev, Botagoz Koshanova, Botobek Botobekov, Damelya Karakulova, Damina Mukitanova, Dana Kenges, Daniyar Mukhtybayev, Daniyar Zhakulinov, Darrem, Daulet Arstambekov, Dayana Zhangeldina, Dias Bakhytkali, Dilyara Shoibekova, Dimash Kuanysh, Dina Ibrasheva, Dinara Shoibekova, Elvira Chuibekova, Ildana Ruzybayeva, Islam Ishmukhametov, Jiger Kairat, Julietta Lozovaya, Kabyzhan Abdildin, Kamila Lukpanova, Kamila Yessetova, Karakoz Ydyrys, Kirill Noskov, Kuanysh Naizabay, Kurmet Zaman, Lauriza Abildayeva, Madi Saken, Madi Tanatar, Madina Tolepbergenova, Magzhan Otanbayev, Nazira Berdybayeva, Nuriya Kalybay, Nursultan Azizbekov, Ramazan Auezov, Ruslan Bekmukhambetov, Rustam Kempirov, Rustam Rzayev, Rustem Yesnazarov, Sabina Sailaubekova, Safon Issak-zade, Saida Dagubayeva, Saltanat Mustafina, Saniya Saduakas, Sanzhar Assylbek, Sarytoka Amantay, Shadiya Makisheva, Shyryn Omarova, Sultan Kazakbayev, Sultanbek Botbayev, Teimur Shakirov, Togzhan Batalova, Tolebi Ibrayev, Ulpan Beisembayeva, Vladimir Tyo, Yersultan Arymbayev, Zarrina Saktaganova, Zhanat Temirova, Zhados Tungyshbayev, Zhibek Kozhakhmetova, Zhibek Kuzhubayeva, Zulfiya Urunova, and others
Links
Related
Everythink. Landing page for the recruitment platform
Talentli. Merit-based scoring system
Talentli. Landing page for the merit-based scoring system
Talentli. UI for the merit-based scoring system
Merit-based scoring systems as objective alternative to search people, Paper (currently in development)