About Me
A self-made international entrepreneur with experience and success in investment banking, private equity, media, and film, Daniyar Zhanbekov’s journey from Kazakhstan to the United States and back to his country is remarkable. His diverse and distinguished career and business ventures reflect his passion for building relationships, fostering innovation, finding and placing top talent, and driving growth. Daniyar has the insight and passion to bring his vision to life, whether seeing companies with growth potential or successfully turning around businesses.
Academic Excellence and Dreams Bring Daniyar to the U.S.
During Daniyar’s last year of high school, he had an opportunity to come to the U.S. on a full scholarship as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship recipient. The scholarship is given to high-achieving seniors looking to attend our nation’s best four-year universities.
Daniyar Zhanbekov’s drive, tenacity, and intelligence earned him a degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a top-tier engineering school in Atlanta. Before his stint at university, Daniyar was given the prestigious All USA Academic Team award, which recognizes exceptional college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.
His academic achievements and accolades earned Daniyar a spot at top management consulting firm Bain & Company. His pursuit of fulfilling his dream of landing on Wall Street eventually brought him to Lehman Brothers, where he worked with the company’s prestigious Technology Media and Telecom investment group. Daniyar experienced tremendous success with Lehman’s, working in New York and London until deciding to return to his homeland of Kazakhstan in 2007 to join Renaissance Capital.
Returning Home and Daniyar’s Continued Trailblazing Success
From the outset, Daniyar’s move back to Kazakhstan was met with success in each of his chosen and varied fields. At Renaissance Capital, Daniyar Zhanbekov worked on several landmark deals in Kazakhstan and was rewarded with leadership promotions for his success. He then joined a private equity firm as Director of Investments, where he closed several deals in the telecoms and retail sectors. He then established the Kazakhstan Hong Development Fund, a $400 million fund with top Hong Kong investors and families, including billionaire and philanthropist Li Ka-Shing and the Kazakhstan government.
Daniyar was a board member of a telecommunications and information technology company, KazTransCom, for nine years and was CFO of TV Channel 7.
With a solidified reputation in the market and an unbridled entrepreneurial spirit, Daniyar Zhanbekov decided to forge out on his own and established a television production company, Arai Media and Arai Production. Not surprisingly, Daniyar built one of his country’s largest private TV content producers.
He sold his television production business and purchased an insurance company, Basel Insurance, from a local fintech player, Kaspi. kz. He also partnered and recently successfully exited from Everest Capital Management, a fund focused on real estate development in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Since 2021, Daniyar is currently the sole shareholder of Basel Insurance. According to S&P Global Ratings, Basel Insurance Company “has demonstrated high capital adequacy ratios compared to the growth of insurance premiums. It has a balanced investment policy, continuing to expand and diversify its business.
Nurturing the Best and the Brightest
Never losing sight of the opportunity he had to come to the U.S. on a scholarship (with only $100 in his pocket), Daniyar continues to pay it forward. He loves to find and support young, talented people through mentorship, career advice, and educational and financial assistance training. He recruits them into his organizations to help them grow and become independent and successful.
Many of the bright, talented youth he helps are underserved and orphans. He first became involved in helping these kids at an Iftar dinner, the fast-breaking meal during Ramadan he organized at an orphanage. Realizing the orphans were hungry not for material possessions but for the knowledge and insight a role model outside of their environment could offer, Daniyar made it his mission to serve as an older brother figure. He provides direction in their lives, career advice, and opportunities to prove themselves and achieve dreams beyond their circumstances. Daniyar Zhanbekov saw that he could change a person’s life by simply mentoring, encouraging, and nurturing the possibilities within that person.
Daniyar regularly organizes Iftar dinners for orphans. In addition to his time, he also donates toys, clothes, and books to the orphanages he visits.
Bringing People Together
Following the September 11 terrorist attack in the U.S., Daniyar Zhanbekov created a student organization to promote religious understanding and tolerance among students, aligned with his life’s work of building bridges and relationships. The organization provided a platform and opportunity for religious guests, other experts, and students to discuss different spiritual beliefs and the need for tolerance toward all cultures and religions.
Daniyar’s Downtime: Family and a Few Hobbies
Daniyar enjoys spending quality time with his children and family. His outside hobbies include soccer, table tennis, hiking, and swimming.
