Interview with Alexey Letunovsky, Head of the Project Consulting and Data Management Department at CMWP Uzbekistan

In the format of an internal interview, we introduce our clients, partners and colleagues to the experts of the CMWP team • December 16 at 14:53

How long have you been working in the CMWP team?

I have been working at CMWP since 2022.

How did you end up in real estate?

My journey into the real estate industry began during my undergraduate studies, but then I found myself on the side of a contractor on a construction site. I was in charge of the finishing team. After a year of working in this field, I moved to the procurement and cost estimate analysis department. Although I remained in the context of construction processes, my role expanded and I began to understand documentation and work organization more deeply.

However, the more I delved into the profession, the more I felt the need to think strategically, not tactically. This desire prompted me to obtain a master's degree in spatial development management at the Higher School of Economics. Already during my first year, I started working on a project basis in an architectural bureau and won a case championship for creating a tourism cluster as part of a team from the faculty. The year 2022 was a time for me to explore Central Asia when I joined the CMWP strategic consulting team as an intern.

At that time, I did not realize that this region would soon become a key object of my professional and research interest.

What does the new appointment to the position of head of project consulting and data management mean to you? What are these types of activities in general, and how are they related to each other?

For me, this appointment is a unique opportunity not only to realize my ambitions, but also to significantly expand the horizons of knowledge, improving the quality of real estate consulting services throughout Central Asia. Together with the country, we are on the path of rapid growth, and in order to keep pace with development, we need to strengthen our expertise in the major cities of the region. However, this cannot be achieved without well-organized analysis processes, which become the basis for making accurate and effective decisions. Next year, our team plans to conduct cross-country studies covering various segments of the real estate market, which will help open up new horizons for business and investment in this developing region.

Project consulting is an activity related to the analysis, planning and implementation of various projects in the field of real estate, urban infrastructure, IT or others. The main task of consulting is to provide expert recommendations based on a comprehensive study of the project, the application of international experience, which will help in optimizing management and commercial processes and solving complex problems, which helps to achieve successful results within specific projects.

Data management is the process of collecting, analyzing, and using data to improve operational efficiency and decision—making accuracy. It is important that data management allows not only to process information, but also to turn it into a valuable tool applicable to solving specific tasks and improving project results.

The connection between these types of activities lies in the fact that project consulting requires reliance on accurate and up-to-date data to develop effective strategies and solutions. Data management provides consulting activities with the necessary information resources for risk assessment, forecasting and monitoring of projects, which makes them more transparent and successful. In this role, I will strive to integrate best data management practices to effectively lead consulting projects and provide maximum value to clients.

When you introduce yourself, you often say that you are an urbanist. What do you mean by this concept in relation to yourself? How much urbanism is in your work now?

For me, urbanism is the clearest example of an interdisciplinary industry where architecture, economics, construction and social processes intersect. If you cannot determine exactly which of these is most interesting to you — to design, build, develop concepts or analyze the economics of projects, but at the same time you are burning with all this at the same time, then urbanism is your way. For me, an urbanist is a kind of translator who understands the processes of each of the related industries (such as architecture, construction, economics) and helps to find common ground and interaction.

My work today is the analysis of real estate markets and the development of concepts for future territories, which is an integral part of urbanism. Although urbanism is often associated with benches and bike paths in the "popular" understanding, in fact my specialization is much broader and more multifaceted. This is a deep work to create a comfortable, functional and economically sustainable environment for people to live and work.

Does it happen that your urbanist background gets in the way of solving your problems?

Yes, there are times when urban thinking, with its versatility and broad view of processes, can interfere with a specific project. For example, sometimes there is a misunderstanding due to the need for deeper and more specific knowledge that can change the perception of the territory, but which I, as an urbanist, do not possess. Also, due to my versatility, I can sometimes "interfere" with the work of narrow specialists. For example, I try to make versions of facades to help architects, without having an architectural vision. I try to avoid it, but these situations happen. Fortunately, the professionals in the team stop such initiatives in time.

How does your urban education and approach help in practical work?

Versatility is not only an important characteristic of urbanists, but also the main force that helps to effectively solve a wide range of tasks. The creation of maps, the calculation of economic models, analysis and forecasting — all this becomes possible thanks to a multifaceted approach in urban studies. Moreover, a deep understanding of the processes taking place inside architectural and urban planning bureaus allows me to find optimal solutions for the company, formulate the best proposals and ensure the successful development of projects. This approach provides an opportunity to look at the task from different angles and find the most effective ways to implement it, taking into account both strategic and operational aspects.

Please tell us in one paragraph which project in your portfolio or your team's portfolio you are most proud of and why.

One of the most significant projects for me over the past two years is the development of a concept for the development of the Zaamin district. As part of this project, we managed to assemble a high-class team and, in record time, create a bright and feasible vision of the future for this territory. This vision became the basis for the development of a roadmap, which now serves as a guiding thread for further steps in the transformation of the district. This project became a real challenge due to the scale of the work, the time frame for which it had to be completed, and the need to accumulate competencies from different fields in one team. I am proud of the way we handled the task.

What is your dream project?

The dream project for me is a territorial development project for a developer, in which the customer sets a clear framework from the very beginning and actively participates in the solution development process. This is not just a project, but a joint creation, where our team is involved at every stage — from the analysis and selection of the site to the moment when the first residents enter the new house. Unfortunately, there are no such projects in Uzbekistan yet, but I am sure that they will definitely appear in the near future. I am convinced that the involvement of consultants at all stages of the project not only increases its value, but also serves as a guarantee of high quality for the end user, where all requests and features of the project will be provided and taken into account.