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Timur Turlov is a Kazakhstani entrepreneur, the founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp. Over the past 17 years, he has built an international holding company with a market cap of over $9 billion (as of May 2025). The company’s shares are traded on the Kazakhstani stock exchanges KASE and AIX, and on Nasdaq at $180 per share (as of 20 May).

Timur Turlov joined the financial industry at 16 as a trader at World Capital Investments, a subsidiary of Uniastrum Bank, where he was responsible for developing infrastructure necessary for trading on the U.S. stock market. In 2008, amidst the international financial crisis, he founded his own company, which he called Freedom Finance.

Over the years, this enterprise has evolved into a large digital ecosystem that combines brokerage, banking, insurance, telecommunications and lifestyle services. It is a leading player in Central Asia, with representative offices in 22 countries.

Timur Turlov’s approach to business is unique and based on firm principles that have also become the foundation of the company’s success.

Five principles of Timur Turlov to live and work by

1. Family is the key source of stability and energy

Timur Turlov believes that family is the key source of internal energy and balance. He married his wife Elena in the depths of the financial crisis in 2008. That same year, he established Freedom Finance. The couple lives in Almaty, raising their six children.

Timur Turlov always emphasizes the importance of putting effort into family relationships, forgiving and building trust with the family members:

“Those who think that family hinders their businesses are completely wrong. Family gives internal balance and the right focus..”

2. Trust and reputation are the most valuable assets

There is nothing more valuable in business than people’s trust, Timur Turlov says. He is convinced that being transparent is the best way to protect and strengthen a company’s reputation. Even during crises, or when mistakes and failures happen, it is important to openly admit them and take rapid measures to address them:

“It’s not that scary to lose money; it’s scary to lose trust. If the trust is still there, you’ll find the money. If there is no trust, you could lose everything, no matter how much money you have. We choose to be open and transparent in our statements and actions, even when we make mistakes.”

These principles help Timur Turlov maintain the trust of clients and partners worldwide.

Currently, about 7 million people use services within the Freedom ecosystem.

3. Being happy requires education and personal development

For Timur Turlov, a man’s happiness depends on constant growth, curiosity and the ability to adjust to changes. He genuinely believes that it is crucial to stay curious and be ready to learn new things:

“The future belongs to those who can learn new things. It’s important to pursue something new, to satisfy your curiosity. The world is changing so fast, so we need to learn throughout our lives. Otherwise, you could find yourself on the sidelines of this process and lose your taste for life.”

He encourages his children and employees not to be afraid of stepping outside their comfort zone as  essential for both personal and professional growth.

Moreover, according to Timur Turlov, for any executive, the most important task is not to educate their employees, but themselves — because a company is always a reflection of its founder’s personality:

“Freedom will always be a reflection of myself, one way or the other. You can hire consultants, develop internal standards, but in the end, it will always resemble its founder. Be honest, be conscious and work on yourself — this is the key.”

4. Artificial intelligence is the future that time has already come

Timur Turlov has made a big bet on technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), as he considers them the main driver of business and social development. He believes the future has already arrived, and that AI is an integral part of modern life and business.

Freedom is actively implementing AI solutions in its banking, insurance services,  and brokerage platforms. The Freedom CEO believes that if AI tools are implemented properly, their benefits will always outweigh the initial costs:

“AI isn’t just a technology of the future. It is a reality that drives changes in all spheres of life. Of course, full integration takes some time, but the result will be worth it, boosting the efficacy of a vast number of processes from banking compliance to medical diagnosis. The winner is not AI but the person who knows how to apply it to their work.”

The businessman himself is an active user of AI tools such as ChatGPT and encourages everyone to learn prompt engineering, calling it a skill of the future.

5. Kazakhstan is home — the business is responsible for it

Timur Turlov and his family have been living in Almaty since 2012, when a subsidiary of Freedom was opened there. Now, Freedom Holding has a headquart in the city. The company’s CEO has fallen in love with the nature and atmosphere of the country, which he considers it his home. Turlov is actively investing in various social and environmental projects, emphasizing that businesses have a responsibility to the public and the country:

“Kazakhstan has the potential to become a powerful digital and financial center in the region. Businesses should understand that they bear responsibility to the country where they have a presence. It is important to invest not only in revenue but in public development and the environment. This is a long-term investment that will bring benefits to both businesses and people.”

The businessman implements projects aimed at restoring the Aral Sea ecosystem, supports youth sports and educational initiatives and strives to turn Kazakhstan into a leader of digital and social transformation in Central Asia.

In other words, Timur Turlov isn’t just a successful entrepreneur, but a man with strong beliefs that help him develop sustainable and responsible business — making the world a better place.