"My management style is very simple: to gather professionals and not hinder their work." Azamat Khakuy

Azamat Khakuy

Interview with Azamat Khakuy, Deputy Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of Amio Bank, as part of the Amio Pulse project.

Can you tell us a little about your career, where did you start?

– Immediately after graduating from school, on September 1, I went to work. My first profession was “thermoplastic machine operator.”

This was followed by the army, then education, and then the civil service, where I worked until 2011. Due to a number of life circumstances, I had to quit my job, and that's when my new life began, which brought me to where I am now.

I have worked in several organizations. The first was a leasing company, where I worked as an international relations consultant. Then I worked in an enterprise founded by Russian and South Korean engineering holdings. It was a large company that was engaged in the construction and modernization of plants in the oil and gas sector.

Later, I became an advisor to an international investment fund, and three years ago I moved to Armenia. That's my entire career path.

What inspired you to join Amio Bank? And what motivates you the most in your work?

– If we talk about inspiration, then, of course, the proposal itself is very inspiring. When you are trusted, it motivates you and at the same time gives you additional responsibility - you can't disappoint. It's a very good feeling when you are trusted to solve a problem and you succeed.

On the other hand, I was motivated by the fact that it was a very serious challenge, because I had to completely change my life: move to another country, completely change my surroundings and language environment, and enter a completely different field of activity.

Both of these factors continue to motivate me to this day.

How would you describe your leadership style?

– My management style is very simple: gather professionals and do not interfere with their work. And if you can also help, that's just great. Delegation of authority and trust in the team are very important, because trust is the main factor that makes a team strong.

And I consider the main quality of a leader to be responsibility: towards work, decisions, and people. If there is that, everything will be fine. And I think that is exactly how it is with us. Over the past three years, we have formed a professional, united, and strong team.

What is your vision for Amio Bank for the next five years?

– In my opinion, the main goal of the bank in the next three to five years is not only to enter the ranks of the three or five largest financial institutions in Armenia and increase profits, but also to set new standards and trends, not just follow them. Following best practices is certainly necessary. There are examples worth learning from, which should be taken into account and applied. But the ultimate goal is to create new standards.

We need to set ourselves ambitious goals and achieve them. Why? Because engaging in such processes is incredibly valuable in itself. Even if the end result is not exactly what we initially imagined, the fact that we are creating something new already makes us and our bank unique.

Are there people in your life who have had a great influence on your career?

– Probably, as for everyone, the first people who have an influence are parents. The main and absolute criterion in my life has always been one: no matter what I do, no matter how I behave, my parents should not be ashamed of me.

Of course, many people have influenced and continue to influence my career and worldview: teachers, coaches, friends, leaders, colleagues. I am truly lucky in this regard: I am always surrounded by people who are stronger than me and I constantly learn from them.

What is the most important thing your career has taught you?

– The most important thing my career has taught me is not to be afraid of the future. The more you cling to the past, the less opportunity you have to move forward. When one door closes, another one inevitably opens. The important thing is to leave behind a job well done and a good memory.

The second lesson I learned from my career is that in order to grow, you have to step out of your comfort zone. This rule applies everywhere: in sports, at work, in life. When you step out of your comfort zone, you start to make progress.

And another important thought that one of my very wise leaders passed on to me, and my career and life experience confirm it. He used to say: “Azamat, you can be whoever you want: a digger, a shoemaker, whoever you want. The most important thing is to do your job well, to be a specialist in your field. If you are a specialist, everything will be fine.”

Imagine you had one day off, free from work and obligations. How would you spend that day?

– Now I can put on a serious face and say: “I don’t have days like that, I’m always working.” But I’ll tell it like it is. I try to take a day for myself every few weeks, completely free from work and obligations.

The most important thing is not to plan anything for that day. Just do whatever you want. Do you want to watch House all day, do it? Do you want to go to the gym or go out to eat somewhere, go. Whatever you want to do in that moment, you do in that moment. And that really gives you energy. In general, being able to relax is a very important skill.

People who say they work 24/7, to be honest, seem a bit suspicious to me. I've been in this situation a few times - it quickly leads to emotional burnout and a sharp decrease in efficiency. This is possible if you are solving an important problem in a short time, when you have to make an effort, but you can't live in that mode all the time.

Although I know a few people who really work like that, they are unique. They have a different vital energy. But it is these exceptions that once again confirm the basic rule.

If you could give yourself one piece of advice at the beginning of your career, what would it be?

– Don't be afraid of mistakes. The fear of making mistakes often deprives people of opportunities. Every day, different opportunities open up before a person, but what stops many people is the fear of making a mistake, of looking ridiculous.

But that's also a life experience. In any case, you need to understand that on your way you will still encounter some things and make mistakes. Sometimes you will seem ridiculous, sometimes stupid, and sometimes just wrong. But you don't need to be afraid of all that. That's life.

Do you have any hobbies or interests?

– Yes, like everyone else. It's good music, good movies, good books, good food, sports. And of course, good people.

What is your life philosophy?

– You need to be honest in your actions, deeds, and thoughts, and not regret anything that has or has not happened in your life. These are two things that are very important to me.

As for regrets: everything that has happened to you is your experience, your foundation from which you start every morning. And if you achieve something, it is precisely thanks to your past. You need to love your life and then everything will be fine.

Do you like living in Armenia? - I feel very good in Armenia. The people, Yerevan, and the country in general are pleasant.

You know, I've been to different places with very old and rich history. And in such places, the most important thing is the energy that you feel. Regardless of whether the country is poor or rich, whether there is war there or not, that energy is either there or not. It's something that has accumulated over the centuries.

There is that energy in Armenia, it is very powerful. You can feel it in the people because they live in that environment and are raised in that energy. It is noticeable and it is transmitted. So I feel really comfortable here.

The bank is supervised by the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia.