One Leader Can Change the Lives of Many

Berik Kaniyev MBA '06 had already achieved what most business leaders would call a lifetime of success. But for Kaniyev and his wife, Bayan Kaniyeva, success has never been the destination. It's a tool—one they use to build opportunity for others.

Their significant gift to establish the Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Scholarship at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business reflects the couple’s deeply held belief that education is the single greatest lever for change.

 "Grow yourself, and help others grow."

"Berik’s parents were educators. My father was an engineer, and my mother was a doctor," Bayan said. "We were raised to believe that education changes lives, and we knew we had to give others that chance. An educated person has more opportunities to live a better life." Designed to provide a full scholarship to students who have demonstrated an interest in the history, culture, economic system, and business practices of Kazakhstan, the scholarship connects Fuqua with a rising generation of leaders, and one that honors the Kaniyev’s roots while empowering future impact.

"Even one leader can change the lives of many," Berik said. That belief drives not only the scholarship but the entirety of the Kaniyev’s philanthropic mission. Guided by the motto "Grow yourself, and help others grow," their family foundation is shaping lives through education, athletics, and health in their home country and beyond.

“For us, it brings great happiness deep in our hearts that we can help someone receive an education,” Bayan agreed. “If they become leaders, they can do a lot for others.”

Their path to Duke was far from typical. Berik grew up in newly independent Kazakhstan, navigating the turbulence of post-Soviet markets. He built his first company in the early 1990s into one of Kazakhstan's first independent vertically integrated oil and gas enterprises. By age 28, he was invited to serve as vice president of the national oil and gas company, KazMunayGas.

Yet even at the height of his early success, Berik recognized the importance of deepening his understanding of global business practices. With encouragement from Bayan and his colleagues, he enrolled in Fuqua's Global Executive MBA program. "It was a big sacrifice to run multiple businesses and return to school," he recalled. "But Fuqua gave me the structure, the perspective, and the people who changed my life."

Initially skeptical about returning to student life, Berik found transformation not just in the coursework, but in the community. He credits his diverse cohort of classmates from around the world with motivating him to stick with the program. “I always say the Soviet army taught me discipline, focus, and how to overcome challenges,” Berik said. “Fuqua reminded me of the same: focused, hard deadlines, and great teachers and classmates from different backgrounds. It was an amazing experience.” That blend of rigor and camaraderie resulted in Berik staying in touch with several classmates to this day, investing in one connection's medical company and running a venture and private equity fund with another.

Evidence of Duke creating enduring connection is Berik’s relationship with Bakhyt Ospanov, who earned his Master's in International Development Policy at Duke in 2006. He also graduated from an Executive Education program at Fuqua in 2014. Their bond as friends and trusted business partners has thrived for nearly two decades, and Bakhyt's deep belief in the scholarship's mission was evident in the thoughtful support he provided in establishing this scholarship opportunity. 

"When I got to Duke, my network and understanding of the world changed,” Bakhyt said. “And before then, I didn't know Berik, so Fuqua connected us. Duke really opened my mind, and I am still grateful for the time I spent there."

"Fuqua is like my home, and Bakhyt is always helping us stay in touch," Berik said. "I have made such good connections over the years and have come to know the deans, faculty, students, and professors—so why not establish a scholarship?" After graduating, Berik remained deeply involved with Fuqua, joining its Board of Visitors, supporting the school's connection with Nazarbayev University, and welcoming Duke delegations to Kazakhstan. 

"We want our scholarship recipients not only to succeed academically, but to become ambassadors—for Kazakhstan, for Fuqua and Duke, and for the values of honesty, responsibility, and teamwork."

His business success broadened into a portfolio of philanthropic investments co-led with Bayan, who has shaped the family foundation with vision and heart.

“In a Kazakh family, if even one child manages to stand on their own feet, they are expected to help their siblings, their parents, and even distant relatives,” Bayan continued. “Gradually, this circle of help expands year by year. At some point, we realized that we needed to create a charitable foundation, because we were no longer just helping our relatives or friends. We wanted to do more for our city, more for our country—and so we decided to establish a foundation that provides support.”

Berik and Bayan have since opened two schools in Astana—Quantum STEM and Quantum TECH—that prepare Kazakhstani youth for leadership in science and innovation. Equally invested in healthy communities, Berik has built a football club and donated a triathlon park in his parents' hometown of Aktobe, offering families a space for fitness, connection, and pride.

"For our children, our foundation is also a kind of example," Bayan continued, noting they have a daughter, Aizhan, who graduated from Duke in 2017. "We want them to grow up seeing that we build and contribute. But more than that, we want to raise them to be kind and compassionate, to share and to help others."

That ethos mirrors the Team Fuqua value of collective success—of lifting others up as you climb. It's no surprise the Kaniyevs see their scholarship as more than a financial award. They view it as an investment in leadership and the foundation for a life of impact. "We want our scholarship recipients not only to succeed academically," said Berik, "but to become ambassadors—for Kazakhstan, for Fuqua and Duke, and for the values of honesty, responsibility, and teamwork."

"Studying at Fuqua is a short but special time," Bayan said. "You are able to experience the culture of not just America, but of students from all over the world. You can really broaden your horizons."

"Your education will generate all sorts of opportunities in business, culture, relationships, partnerships, friendships, and more," Berik added. "To future recipients of this scholarship, I would say absorb everything you can during your time at Fuqua, and keep those connections for life."

Through this scholarship, the Kaniyevs share their legacy of not only generosity, but of enduring values—a testament to the belief that business, at its best, serves society. While the impact of their new scholarship begins with students at Fuqua, its reach will be felt far beyond for generations to come.