From Mentorship to Movement
At UBI Business School, we believe leadership starts with support, teamwork, and a clear purpose. This belief is reflected in the story of Navruz Erkaev. His journey—from student researcher to sustainability leader—began through the PRME Global Students (PGS) Mentorship Programme, where he was guided by UBI lecturer and Director of Impact, Frank Longo.
Navruz joined the programme looking for help to grow his research on sustainable development. He was matched with Frank, an experienced teacher with strong knowledge of hands-on learning and a deep interest in sustainability. Their work quickly became more than just academic support—it became a turning point.
Over six weeks, Frank helped Navruz improve his research skills and writing. Together, they produced a thesis on sustainability in Central Asia. It was later named one of the best in his programme at Almaty Management University. But their work didn’t end there.
Driven by what he had learned, Navruz started a student-led group to promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on campus. The group grew quickly. It involved students in local conferences, organised a fair focused on the SDGs, and won the PGS Sustainability Award for the Eurasia Region.
A Shared Commitment to Responsible LeadershipFor Frank, the mentorship was both impactful and personally rewarding. “He evolved from someone seeking guidance to someone leading change,” Frank shared. “His confidence grew, and he became a voice for sustainability among his peers.”
For Frank, mentoring Navruz was both meaningful and rewarding. “He changed from someone looking for guidance to someone creating change,” Frank said. “His confidence grew, and he became a voice for sustainability among other students.”
Their connection continued after the mentorship. Frank helped Navruz find new leadership roles, such as speaking at events and mentoring other students. Today, Navruz is Vice Chair for Student Affairs at PRME Chapter Eurasia. He now helps more students lead sustainability projects across the region.
This story shows UBI Business School’s strong support for the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). It also shows how we help students become responsible, active leaders. With global programmes like PGS—and students like Navruz—UBI proves that learning can lead to real change.
📖 Read the full story on PRME’s website
