Zamira Makhmudova
Zamira Makhmudova joined the British Council in 2002 for a temporary position. Still at the organization twenty years later, she reflects on the lessons of her experience.
Starting out as a receptionist, Zamira progressed to the library, where she worked with young people on partnership programs, among other roles. Today, she is a resource manager and her role encompasses financial management and planning, responsibilities around human resources, and general administration.
For Zamira, the mission of the British Council mattered. "It has always been important for me that the British Council provides development opportunities, not necessarily some expensive courses focused on skills,” - she said.
Personal development has been a key part of Zamira’s career. At the Tashkent Polytechnic University, a forerunner of today's branches of international institutions in Uzbekistan, she first enrolled in the Faculty of Foreign Languages. She subsequently went to the Malaysian faculty at the Tashkent Polytechnic University. Rustam Sabirovich Kasymov, faculty dean, and education minister Sherzod Shermatov, among other leaders, set an inspiring example for Zamira, and she is grateful for their guidance, as well as notable businessmen Khusan and Khasan Mamasaidov. With the British Council's emphasis on continuous improvement, she found it an ideal place to begin her career because of its emphasis on ambition.
"We acquire skills here every month, not only me but also my colleagues. In order to keep up with the ever-changing world of finance, internet work, and client communication, you must constantly learn new skills and expertise. Training occurs every month, and we're constantly working to put what we've learned to good use,” - said Zamira.
Not everyone wants to work in such a fast-paced environment. However, Zamira appreciated that at the British Council, the learning happens in what feels like an organic way.
"This constant learning of new things happens while you work, which means you work and learn at the same time. We have such a good policy, called work-life balance. Getting this balance right requires reflection. An hour of rest and reflection on personal and organizational tactics is sometimes necessary. I learned this from my time at the British Council, which gave us, me personally, a lot of these fantastic skills that work wonderfully and help each of us grow," - Zamira noted.
For Zamira, the British Council is “like a family.” Employees are valued and the relationships remain strong even when colleagues move on to further their careers elsewhere. “I have spent 20 years at the British Council and gave birth to my two kids during my time here—but the years passed quickly,” - she added.
Zamira attributes the success of the British Council to the organisation’s policy of providing opportunities to everyone.
"Women, individuals with disabilities, and others can take advantage of a wide range of programs designed to help them advance professionally and personally. Of course, a significant part of the success of the British Council is the team, our team. Whoever is with us once is with us forever. Be it partners, employees, or anyone else,” - she noted. For Zamira, this "people first" approach to development means that the British Council's programs in Uzbekistan will remain high in demand after.
She is keen to congratulate her British Council colleagues on 25 years of operations in Uzbekistan. “I am very grateful that I have had and continue to have opportunities for continuous development. I have learned so much in my years in the British Council—from the people and from the culture of the organisation itself. I have not only learned professional skills, but also the best human qualities,”- she concluded.