How long have you been working with the CMWP team?
I have been with CMWP since 2022.
How did you get into the real estate industry?
My journey into real estate began during my undergraduate studies. Initially, I was on the execution side, working on construction sites and leading a team focused on finishing works. After a year in this role, I transitioned to the procurement and cost estimation analysis department. While I remained connected to construction processes, my responsibilities expanded, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of documentation and work organization.
However, the more I delved into the profession, the more I felt a need for strategic thinking rather than just tactical execution. This desire prompted me to pursue a Master's degree in Spatial Development Management at the Higher School of Economics. During my first year, I began working on a project basis at an architectural firm and won a case championship for creating a tourism cluster as part of a multidisciplinary team. 2022 marked my introduction to Central Asia when I joined CMWP's strategic consulting team as an intern.
At that time, I hadn't yet realized that this region would soon become a key focus of my professional and research interests.
What does your new appointment as Head of Project Consulting and Data Management mean to you? What do these activities entail, and how are they interconnected?
For me, this appointment represents a unique opportunity not only to fulfill my ambitions but also to significantly broaden my knowledge horizons, thereby enhancing the quality of real estate consulting services across Central Asia. We, along with the country, are on a path of rapid growth. To keep pace with this development, we need to strengthen our expertise in the region's major cities. However, this is unattainable without well-organized analytical processes, which form the basis for accurate and effective decision-making. Next year, our team plans to conduct cross-country research covering various real estate market segments, which will help unlock new opportunities for business and investment in this evolving region.
Project Consulting involves analyzing, planning, and implementing various projects in real estate, urban infrastructure, IT, or other sectors. The primary objective of consulting is to provide expert recommendations based on comprehensive project analysis and the application of international best practices, aimed at optimizing management and commercial processes and resolving complex challenges to achieve successful project outcomes.
Data Management is the process of collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data to improve operational efficiency and decision-making accuracy. Importantly, data management not only allows for information processing but also transforms it into a valuable tool applicable to solving specific tasks and enhancing project results.
The connection between these 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 project monitoring, making them more transparent and successful. In this role, I will strive to integrate best practices in data management to effectively lead consulting projects and ensure maximum value for clients.
When introducing yourself, you often say you are an urbanist. What do you mean by that in relation to yourself? How much urbanism is involved in your work now?
For me, urbanism is a prime example of an interdisciplinary field where architecture, economics, construction, and social processes intersect. If you can't precisely define what interests you most—be it designing, building, developing concepts, or analyzing project economics—but you are passionate about all of them simultaneously, then urbanism is your path. To me, an urbanist is a kind of translator who understands the processes of each related industry (such as architecture, construction, economics) and helps find points of convergence and interaction.
My current work involves analyzing real estate markets and developing concepts for future territories, which is an integral part of urbanism. Although in popular understanding, urbanism is often associated with benches and bike paths, my specialization is actually much broader and more multifaceted. It is deep work focused on creating a comfortable, functional, and economically sustainable environment for people to live and work.
Are there times when your urbanist background hinders your problem-solving?
Yes, there are moments when an urbanist's mindset, with its universality and broad perspective on processes, can be a hindrance to a specific project. For instance, misunderstandings can arise due to the need for deeper, specialized knowledge that could alter the perception of a territory but which I, as an urbanist, may not possess. Also, due to my broad approach, I can sometimes "interfere" with the work of narrow specialists. For example, I might try to suggest facade options to assist architects without having an architectural vision. I try to avoid this, but such situations do occur. Fortunately, professionals on the team are quick to redirect such initiatives.
How does your urban education and approach help in your practical work?
Versatility is not only a key characteristic of urbanists but also their primary strength, enabling them to effectively tackle a wide range of tasks. Creating maps, calculating economic models, and conducting analysis and forecasting all become possible through the multifaceted approach inherent in urbanism. Furthermore, a deep understanding of the processes within 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 enables a multi-perspective view of any task, leading to the identification of the most effective implementation strategies, considering 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 Zaamin district's development. Within this project, we successfully assembled a high-caliber team and, in record time, created a vibrant and feasible vision for the territory's future. This vision became the foundation for a roadmap that now serves as a guiding principle for further steps in transforming the district. This project was a true challenge due to the scale of the work, the tight deadlines, and the necessity of consolidating expertise from various fields into a single team. I am proud of how we accomplished the task.
What is your dream project?
My dream project is a territorial development project for a developer where the client sets clear parameters from the outset and actively participates in the solution development process. It's not just a project but a collaborative creation where our team is involved at every stage—from analysis and site selection to the moment the first residents move into their new homes. Currently, such projects are unfortunately not yet available in Uzbekistan, but I am confident they will emerge in the near future. I firmly believe that engaging consultants at all stages of project implementation not only enhances its value but also guarantees high quality for the end consumer, ensuring all project needs and specifics are considered and addressed.
