Alima Zhanibekova
6 min read
ALIMA ZHANIBEKOVA STORY FROM 2010
In this post, Alima Zhanibekova reflects on how the 2010 experience shaped the way she works, travels, and builds her life today.
Today
I live in Ottawa, ON, Canada.
I’m a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and professionally, I operate in the world of numbers, stock markets, and the corporate environment. Outside of work, I happily take on my favourite role - full-time personal assistant and nanny to my kids.
Family and Interests
As a family, we love travelling the world, discovering new cultures, and exploring different cuisines (we truly live to eat). I’m also a passionate tennis fan and a devoted admirer of Novak Djokovic - the greatest of all time in my book. Kudos to Wojtek, I also enjoy watching Iga Świątek compete and represent Poland at the highest level.
Art Collecting
Another passion of mine is art collecting. I collect oil paintings from artists around the world and currently have around 1,000 pieces in my collection - each with its own story and inspiration.
I learned discipline and organization.
Experience
Work & Travel 2010 changed my life completely. I still think about the 4 months I spent in Cherokee, NC, with the biggest smile on my face. It was my first international trip, and what an introduction to the world it was.
Over those 4 months, I worked one full-time job and 2 part-time jobs, built lifelong friendships, and gained an education that, in many ways, beats any MBA. That experience taught me more than I could have imagined. I learned how to present myself with confidence, and it was important to me to leave the right impression and represent Kazakhstan in the best way.
What Stayed With Me
I learned how to survive and thrive in a competitive environment. In a small town filled with students just like me, finding 2 or 3 jobs was not easy. It required persistence and creativity.
Most importantly, I learned discipline and organization. The environment pushed me to develop soft skills I did not even know I had. It forced me to become structured, focused, and accountable, qualities that, over time, encouraged me to dream bigger.
Today, I can proudly say I am still receiving dividends from those 4 months I invested in the Work & Travel program. The skills, confidence, and mindset I built there continue to help me reach my goals and grow into my full potential every single day.
