Name: Yekaterina Andryushina
Job title: Managing Director, International Cooperation & Sustainability Department Director
Organisation: Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE)
1. Brief description of nominee’s role and job.
Yekaterina Andryushina serves as Managing Director for International Cooperation and Sustainability at KASE, with responsibility for strengthening the exchange’s global positioning and advancing its integration into the international capital markets ecosystem.
She leads international cooperation through exchange associations and strategic bilateral partnerships with global market infrastructure institutions, while driving the adoption of international best practices. In parallel, she oversees the exchange’s sustainability and ESG agenda, embedding ESG principles into KASE’s operations and promoting sustainable finance standards among listed companies, market participants and external stakeholders.
2. Short bio (career highlights, education, interests/hobbies).
Yekaterina is a senior capital markets professional with more than 20 years of experience across banking, market infrastructure, strategy and regulation. Her background includes roles at a commercial bank, a rating agency and the Institute of Economic Research, where she developed strong analytical expertise in macroeconomics and finance.
Prior to joining KASE, she worked at the National Bank of Kazakhstan as a methodology specialist, focusing on credit regulation, SME financing and banking market methodologies, gaining comprehensive insight into financial systems from both regulatory and market perspectives.
At KASE, she currently leads international cooperation and sustainability, and previously directed the development of two consecutive Group strategies (2022–2024 and 2025–2027), aligning institutional priorities with international market infrastructure standards. She also leads a multidisciplinary team combining international cooperation with applied research. Under her leadership, the team launched the quarterly Exchange Industry Digest and thematic research papers analysing global best practices.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Economic Relations (with honours) from the Kazakh State Academy of Management and an MSc in Economic Management and Policy (with distinction) from the University of Strathclyde. She is currently completing the World Federation of Exchanges Market Infrastructure Certificate programme delivered in partnership with Bayes Business School.
An author and commentator on financial markets, including contributions to Forbes, she has published more than 40 articles in Kazakhstani and international outlets.
Awards include:
Public Medal “For Distinguished Labor” from the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan
Award for contribution to stock market development on KASE’s 30th anniversary (2023)
Letter of Appreciation from the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (2024)
Outside of work, she is a mother of two and enjoys yoga and baking.
3. What were your professional highlights and challenges of 2025?
In 2025, Yekaterina focused on strengthening the international positioning of Kazakhstan’s capital markets, supporting the strategic objective of progressing toward Emerging Market status.
She led two flagship initiatives:
Kazakhstan Capital Markets Day 2025 in London, bringing together more than 200 representatives of the London financial community to present Kazakhstan’s market infrastructure, regulatory framework and investment opportunities.
The international conference “KASE: Joining the Tabadul Hub”, convening global exchanges, regulators and investors to reinforce Kazakhstan’s role within the Eurasian capital markets ecosystem.
She also led ESG-focused international initiatives addressing SME access to capital markets and gender equality in finance, aligning Kazakhstan’s market agenda with global sustainability priorities.
The central challenge of 2025 was communicating credibly to international investors that Kazakhstan’s capital markets are robust, reliable and aligned with global standards. Through these efforts, she strengthened international relationships, enhanced global visibility and supported foreign portfolio capital inflows.
4. Tell us about a few of your key achievements throughout your career?
Regulatory reform and consumer protection: At the National Bank, she led the development of legislation regulating the previously unregulated online lending market. The reform strengthened consumer protection, improved transparency and enhanced stability in the retail credit segment.
Strategic development of KASE: She led the design and implementation of two consecutive KASE Group strategies (2022–2024 and 2025–2027), establishing a roadmap for infrastructure modernisation, sustainability integration, product development and international alignment.
International positioning: She played a central role in strengthening KASE’s global profile through targeted international engagement initiatives, enhancing institutional credibility and deepening long-term relationships with exchanges, investors and market infrastructure institutions.
5. What and who inspires, and has inspired, you to achieve your professional success?
Yekaterina is motivated by seeing tangible results – initiatives that strengthen institutions, advance markets and create long-term societal value.
She draws professional inspiration from capital markets leaders who combine strategic vision with integrity and disciplined execution.
Her greatest personal inspiration is her mother, who instilled values of continuous learning, perseverance, honesty and hard work – principles that continue to guide her leadership.
6. How have you overcome setbacks, and what advice would you give to others dealing with setbacks?
Yekaterina approaches setbacks with resilience and structure. She treats challenges as learning opportunities, seeks insight from mentors and peers, and breaks complex issues into manageable steps.
She believes setbacks are inherent in any meaningful career and that growth comes from using them to adapt, refine strategy and strengthen long-term performance.
7. What advice do you have for other women who aspire to be in leadership positions? What is the biggest takeaway you want to leave with the reader?
She believes women’s leadership momentum is reshaping capital markets and society more broadly. Talent has no gender boundaries, and women should continue stepping forward with confidence.
Her advice:
Continuously develop professional skills.
Build strong networks and seek mentors.
Embrace challenges and persist through setbacks.
Believe in your capabilities and contribute your unique perspective.
Finally, she challenges the traditional notion of “work-life balance”. Work, she believes, is an integral and meaningful part of life. The goal is not separation, but integration, living fully and intentionally across all roles.