Young Professional Internships Program

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “Special Legal Regimes for Uzbekistan’s IT Sector” On August 6 and 7, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended a professional development session on special legal regimes for Uzbekistan’s IT sector, led by Dr. Umid Aripjanov, Partner at CENTIL Law Firm. The session focused on the legal and regulatory frameworks surrounding IT Park and Enterprise Uzbekistan and their role in supporting the country’s growing digital economy. Through practical explanations, legal examples, and discussions, participants explored how special legal regimes work and what they mean for IT businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals in Uzbekistan. They also examined how Uzbekistan’s approach to the digital sector is evolving, including the opportunities and potential challenges ahead. Participants explored: 🔹 Understanding the IT Park legal regime, including residency requirements, tax incentives, obligations, and benefits for IT companies 🔹 Exploring Enterprise Uzbekistan and its emerging common-law framework for foreign technology companies and investors 🔹 Comparing the two regimes and understanding how they support Uzbekistan’s broader digital development and export goals 🔹 Discussing the strengths, risks, and future outlook of Uzbekistan’s evolving legal environment for the IT sector ℹ️ Dr. Umid Aripjanov is a Partner at CENTIL Law Firm with more than 25 years of legal experience across Central Asia. He has advised public authorities, international financial institutions, and investors on major projects across the energy, mining, infrastructure, finance, and public utilities sectors. Dr. Aripjanov holds a Ph.D. in Law and an LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he studied as a Muskie Fellow. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “Public Speaking and Confidence Building” On August 3 and 4, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “Public Speaking and Confidence Building,” led by Dr. Nathan Bedsole, Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Director of Forensics (Speech & Debate) at Georgia College & State University. Through practical exercises, speaking activities, and discussions, participants explored how confidence can be developed through practice and learned techniques for becoming more effective and engaging communicators. The session encouraged participants to approach public speaking as a skill that grows through experience rather than something that requires confidence from the start. Participants explored: 🔹 Understanding the audience and adapting a speech to their needs, expectations, and context 🔹 Structuring speech content effectively with clear introductions, main points, transitions, and conclusions 🔹 Strengthening vocal and physical delivery through tone, pace, volume, gestures, and presence 🔹 Practicing impromptu speaking and persuasive techniques for delivering effective pitches ℹ️ Dr. Nathan Bedsole is an Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Director of Forensics at Georgia College & State University, where he teaches, coaches, and conducts research on speech and communication. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder and his bachelor's and master's degrees from Wake Forest University. His work focuses on helping students become more confident and thoughtful communicators while exploring the connections between rhetoric, psychology, and voice. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “Marketing 101” On July 28 and 29, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “Marketing 101,” led by Erik Azulay, Technology Commercialization Expert and Serial Entrepreneur. Through practical exercises, examples, and discussions, participants explored the fundamentals of marketing and learned that effective marketing goes far beyond advertising. The session introduced participants to key frameworks for understanding customers, identifying target markets, positioning products, and developing an effective marketing strategy. Participants explored: 🔹 Understanding the 5 C’s of marketing: Company, Customers, Competitors, Context, and Collaborators 🔹 Applying Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) to identify and reach the right customers 🔹 Evaluating customer segments and market size to identify attractive opportunities 🔹 Building the marketing mix through the 4 P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion ℹ️ Erik Azulay is a technology commercialization expert and serial entrepreneur with extensive international experience in entrepreneurship, business incubation, and market development. He has started and sold two companies and has more than 15 years of experience managing international projects across over 10 countries. Erik holds a Master’s degree in Technology Commercialization and has worked extensively to support entrepreneurs and innovation ecosystems around the world. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “How to Build & Run a Small Business in Uzbekistan” On July 23 and 24, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “How to Build & Run a Small Business in Uzbekistan,” led by Abdul Sharopov, Managing Partner at Sarmo Ventures & Sarmo Labs. Through practical examples, participants explored how to identify promising business opportunities, understand their target customers, test ideas in the market, and turn an initial concept into a revenue-generating business. The session emphasized starting small, speaking directly with potential customers, and validating an idea before investing significant resources into it. Participants explored: 🔹 Identifying business opportunities and choosing customers who can actually pay 🔹 Using personal networks, experience, and existing connections as an advantage when starting a business 🔹 Finding opportunities in overlooked industries and solving real customer problems 🔹 Exploring different funding options, including bootstrapping, grants, incubators, pre-seed investment, and bank financing ℹ️ Abdul Sharopov is the Managing Partner of Sarmo Ventures & Sarmo Labs and an experienced venture capital and startup professional. He has led more than 30 startup investments across Central Asia and founded Sarmo Labs, which has tested and launched more than 20 startups. His experience also includes working with Plug and Play and venture investment organizations internationally. Abdul is a Yale-NUS alumnus with a background in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “Data Analysis Fundamentals” On July 9 and 10, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “Data Analysis Fundamentals,” led by Dr. Bill Whitney, Assistant Vice Provost for Experiential Learning Programs at Lehigh University. Through hands-on exercises, real-world examples, and practical demonstrations, participants explored the fundamentals of data analysis and learned how to transform raw data into meaningful insights that support informed decision-making. Participants explored: 🔹 Understanding the data analysis lifecycle and analytics workflow 🔹 Cleaning and preparing data using Excel formulas and functions 🔹 Analyzing large datasets with Pivot Tables 🔹 Creating effective and meaningful data visualizations 🔹 Exploring the capabilities of Power BI for interactive dashboards ℹ️ Dr. Bill Whitney is the Assistant Vice Provost for Experiential Learning Programs at Lehigh University, where he leads innovative initiatives that connect students with hands-on learning opportunities. With extensive experience in higher education, leadership, and experiential learning, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to teaching data analysis and decision-making. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

📊 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “Project Management Fundamentals” On July 7 and 8, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “Project Management Fundamentals,” led by Maksim Kim, Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning (C3L) at the American University of Technology and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). Through practical examples, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, participants explored the core principles of project management and learned how structured planning can improve productivity and increase the likelihood of project success. Participants explored: 🔹 Defining clear project objectives and deliverables 🔹 Breaking projects into manageable tasks 🔹 Setting priorities and realistic timelines 🔹 Managing stakeholders and project expectations 🔹 Avoiding common project planning pitfalls, including scope creep and gold plating As part of the "Plan the Impossible" challenge, participants worked in teams to develop a project plan for an ambitious scenario. Using a project planning worksheet, they identified objectives, deliverables, tasks, priorities, deadlines, and key stakeholders, applying the project management framework introduced during the session. The session encouraged participants to approach projects with greater structure, strategic thinking, and confidence - skills they can apply throughout their internships and future careers. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

💰 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “The Language of Money” On June 11 and 29, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “The Language of Money,” led by Tamilla Kurbanova, Founder of Fintellect, FLEX alumna, and finance and investment professional. Through practical examples, interactive discussions, and personal reflection activities, participants explored the fundamentals of financial literacy and learned how thoughtful financial decisions can support their personal and professional goals. Participants explored: 🔹 Creating and managing a personal budget 🔹 Building healthy saving habits 🔹 Managing income and expenses responsibly 🔹 Understanding responsible debt management 🔹 Learning how compound interest works 🔹 Building an emergency fund 🔹 Setting short-term and long-term financial goals 🔹 Exploring the basics of investing and financial planning Participants also reflected on their own spending habits and discussed practical strategies for managing their first income. The session encouraged them to make informed financial decisions and view financial literacy as a lifelong skill. ℹ️ Tamilla Kurbanova is a FLEX 2001 alumna and a graduate of the Wharton School. With ten years of banking experience at Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Julius Baer in New York and Dubai, Tamilla is now the Co-Founder and CEO of Twelve Stars Capital and the Founder of Fintellect in Uzbekistan. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “Cybersecurity Basics for Professionals” On June 30 and July 1, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “Cybersecurity Basics for Professionals,” led by Saud Munawar, Chief Technology Officer at Support Functions, Inc. Through practical explanations, live demonstrations, and interactive activities, participants explored essential cybersecurity practices for both personal and professional settings. They learned how everyday digital habits can protect sensitive information, reduce security risks, and contribute to a safer workplace. Participants explored: 🔹 Creating strong and unique passphrases 🔹 Using password managers and multi-factor authentication 🔹 Identifying phishing emails and suspicious links 🔹 Securing email, web, and mobile activity 🔹 Protecting work devices and organizational data 🔹 Developing safe digital habits in the workplace During live demonstrations, Mr. Munawar showed how easily weak passwords can be cracked, highlighting the importance of using long, unique passphrases and additional security measures. ℹ️ Saud Munawar is the Chief Technology Officer at Support Functions, Inc., with more than 20 years of experience in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and cloud services. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: “The Art of Networking” On June 25 and 26, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, “The Art of Networking,” led by Amy Fisher Bruey, a leadership and career exploration coach. Through interactive discussions, group activities, and practical exercises, participants explored how building genuine professional relationships can support career growth and create new opportunities. They learned how to introduce themselves confidently, communicate their ideas clearly, and adapt their approach to different professional settings. Participants explored: 🔹 Building genuine and meaningful professional relationships 🔹 Introducing themselves with confidence 🔹 Developing a clear and engaging elevator pitch 🔹 Using body language, storytelling, and active listening effectively 🔹 Adapting their introductions to different networking situations Participants also worked in pairs to develop and deliver their personal pitches. After receiving feedback from their peers, they revised and presented their introductions again, allowing them to recognize their progress and strengthen their communication skills. ℹ️ Amy Fisher Bruey is a leadership and career exploration coach with extensive experience supporting young professionals in developing meaningful connections, strengthening their communication skills, and navigating their professional journeys. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: "Emotional Intelligence at Work" On June 16 and 17, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an interactive professional development session, "Emotional Intelligence at Work," led by Tom Toomey. The session introduced participants to the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace and explored how self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management contribute to professional success. Through practical activities, workplace scenarios, role-plays, and group discussions, participants practiced recognizing emotions, responding to challenges effectively, communicating with empathy, and building positive professional relationships. Participants explored: 🔹 Understanding and managing emotions in professional settings 🔹 Staying calm and effective under pressure 🔹 Developing empathy and social awareness in the workplace 🔹 Building strong professional relationships through respectful communication 🔹 Applying emotional intelligence skills to real-life workplace scenarios Participants also reflected on daily habits that strengthen emotional intelligence, including active listening, asking thoughtful questions, using respectful language, and pausing before reacting. The session concluded with participants identifying one emotional intelligence skill they committed to strengthening throughout their internship journey. ℹ️ Tom Toomey is a Program Manager for Short-Term and Secondary School Programs at American Councils. With more than 30 years of experience in international education, he has implemented educational exchange, English language, leadership, and work-readiness programs for youth across multiple countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: "AI as an Assistant" On June 15 and 16, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended an engaging professional development session, "AI as an Assistant," led by Dr. Giuseppe Chiaramonte. The interactive session challenged participants to rethink how they use artificial intelligence—not simply as a tool for obtaining answers, but as a personal assistant for learning, skill-building, and professional growth. Through practical activities and discussions, participants explored: 🔹 Using AI as a coach rather than a search engine 🔹 Building stronger English communication skills through guided feedback 🔹 Developing career readiness through CV improvement and professional communication 🔹 Creating realistic action plans and accountability systems with AI support 🔹 Using AI responsibly while maintaining authenticity, critical thinking, and ownership of their work Participants also learned a practical framework for writing effective prompts and designed a 7-day challenge to help them use AI more intentionally in their academic, professional, and personal development. ℹ️ Dr. Giuseppe Chiaramonte is an international educator, founder and editing publisher of Language Bridge Academic Journal, podcaster, and educational leader with teaching experience across Thailand, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Karakalpakstan, the United States, and Uzbekistan. He currently serves as a U.S. Department of State English Language Fellow and Visiting Professor at Uzbekistan State World Languages University. Throughout his career, Dr. Chiaramonte has trained more than 4,000 educators in areas including methodology, assessment, digital literacy, organizational innovation, and artificial intelligence. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

🗣 Highlights from the First Professional Development Session of YPIP 2026: "Expectations for Internship" On June 8 and 9, participants of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) attended the program’s first professional development session, "Expectations for Internship," led by Maksim Kim. The session included interactive activities and practical discussions focused on: 🔹 Understanding company culture and workplace expectations 🔹 Building effective relationships with supervisors and colleagues 🔹 Setting clear professional goals and taking initiative 🔹 Expanding professional networks and making the most of internship opportunities Participants also discussed common internship scenarios and explored practical strategies for responding constructively to workplace challenges. ℹ️ Maksim Kim is the Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning (C3L) at the American University of Technology (AUT). A certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) with a Master’s in Global Education Leadership, he leads continuing education initiatives, corporate training partnerships, and cross-sector collaboration. Maksim is an alumnus of the Global UGRAD Program and has previously worked at WIUT, American Councils, and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Pre-School and School Education. 📌 Young Professional Internships Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education.

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🎉 YPIP 2026 has officially launched! On June 5, we welcomed 120 outstanding finalists to the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) 2026 cohort in Uzbekistan. For six years, YPIP has supported 250+ alumni in gaining real-world experience, growing professional networks, and building careers in business and STEM. This summer, participants will intern with leading institutions like Coca-Cola Uzbekistan, Unilever, ACWA Power, and IT Park Uzbekistan. The months ahead promise hands-on learning, mentorship, company visits, and more. We look forward to seeing all that this cohort will achieve. Welcome to the YPIP community! #ACGlobal #YPIP2026 #WeAreYPIP #YoungProfessionals #InternshipProgram

🌟 FLEX & YPIP Alumni Meetup Highlights 🎓 On April 24, alumni of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program and Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) came together for a joint meetup. The session was also joined by Lisa Choate, President of American Councils for International Education. The meetup started with an interactive ice-breaking session, where participants introduced themselves and shared how their programs shaped their personal and professional journeys. The main workshop, led by Ulugbek Baymuradov (FLEX 2003, Stanford 2010), introduced the basics of how AI models work. Using satellite nightlight data, he demonstrated how machine learning, particularly convolutional neural networks, can analyze images to identify patterns and make predictions, such as estimating population or distinguishing regions. By the end, participants gained a clearer, practical understanding of how AI models are built and applied using real-world data. The event concluded with a coffee break, offering space to network, exchange ideas, and build new connections 🤝 #FLEX #YPIP #AlumniMeetup

We’re continuing our YPIP Alumni Stories series! 🎓 🌟 Introducing Lazizbek Kahramonov, a YPIP 2021 alumnus! Lazizbek joined YPIP in the summer of 2021 after his junior year at INHA University in Tashkent. He completed his internship at Novalab Tech as a Software Engineer, where he took his first step into the IT industry and continued building his career even after the internship. Today, he works as a DevOps Engineer at Snoonu.com, Qatar’s first unicorn. He shares that YPIP played a major role in shaping his career path by providing real-world experience and connecting him with a network of outstanding and supportive individuals. “YPIP gave me the opportunity to start my career and become part of a strong community that continues to support me. Especially in today’s rapidly evolving IT job market shaped by AI advancements, it is one of the best ways to take your first step into the industry, don’t miss your chance.” 📌 Stay tuned for more inspiring alumni stories! #YPIP_alumni

Continuing our YPIP Alumni Stories series! 🎓 🌟 Introducing Albina Kholieva, a YPIP 2024 alumna! Albina completed her YPIP internship at the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, where she worked in the marketing department. During her internship, she gained hands-on experience in promoting Uzbekistan’s tourism potential both locally and internationally, allowing her to connect her academic interests with real-world practice. Following the program, Albina continued her academic journey and is currently studying Sustainable Tourism and Global Challenges at the University of Glasgow as a Women in STEM program scholar. She shared that her YPIP experience played an important role in shaping her career direction and making her studies more meaningful and applied. “YPIP gave me real-world experience, helped me build meaningful connections, and made me more confident about my future career path. The network I built continues to support and motivate me both professionally and personally.” 📌 Stay tuned for more inspiring alumni stories! #YPIP_alumni

Next in our YPIP Alumni Stories series! 🎓 🌟 Meet Temur Isroilov, a YPIP 2021 alumnus! While studying at the Samarkand branch of Tashkent University of Information Technologies, Temur joined YPIP to gain practical experience alongside his academic journey. Through the program, he secured an internship in Tashkent at Super Dispatch as an Android developer, where he strengthened his technical skills and learned industry best practices in a real work environment. Following the program, Temur continued to grow in the field and is now working as a Middle+ Developer at Uzum Market, one of Uzbekistan’s leading tech companies. "YPIP provided the foundational internship experience that launched my career in Uzbekistan's top IT companies." 📌 Stay tuned for more inspiring alumni stories! #YPIP_alumni

Next in our YPIP Alumni Stories series! 🎓 🌟 Meet Zebokhon Makhmudjanova, a YPIP 2024 alumna! Zebokhon graduated with a degree in Economics with Finance from Westminster International University in Tashkent and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Intelligence and Analytics at the same institution. During YPIP, she interned at Palladium International, where she supported 56 USAID-funded business projects as a finance intern, gaining hands-on experience in financial operations and project support. Following the program, she continued to grow professionally and was offered the role of Director at American Center Tashkent, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan implemented by American Councils for International Education. “This program has connected me to a powerful global network and diverse career opportunities available to me at any time, anywhere in the world.” 📌 Stay tuned for more inspiring alumni stories! #YPIP_alumni

🌟 YPIP Alumni Meetup Highlights 🎓 On April 4, YPIP alumni came together for an engaging meetup and workshop with Sevara Ibrokhim, a UBL’22 alumna and Founder & CEO of Bukhari Creative Group. During the session on Effective Networking Strategies, participants explored why networking matters, how to build a professional brand, and practical ways to connect and stay in touch. The session also included a pair activity where alumni practiced their elevator pitches and learned from each other. Sevara shared insights from her own experience, showing how networking can lead to new opportunities and meaningful connections. As always, the meetup was a great chance to reconnect, meet new alumni, and keep growing together 🤝 Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) is funded by the U.S. Embassy Tashkent and implemented by American Councils for International Education Uzbekistan. #YPIP #AlumniMeetup