From digital products to marathons: Ulan Karazhigitov on his lifestyle

Our hero from Almaty shared how he manages to combine a running school, IT project consultations, and family life while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Ulan Karazhigitov, city — Almaty, develops digital products, Instagram 

About himself

I am involved in launching, developing, and promoting digital products. I have worked and continue to work on projects in various companies, including Microsoft, InDrive, McKinsey, and Smart Repair.

I primarily work full-time, from 09:00 to 18:00, but during periods of high project workload, I collaborate with several companies simultaneously — the schedule depends on the specifics of the projects. I regularly take short vacations two to three times a year, traveling at least outside the city, and once a year abroad.

I am also the founder of the running school homerun.kz. The community already has about a hundred members, and every year we participate in international races together. Previously, we traveled to Cappadocia, France, and Spain, and this year we plan trips to Trabzon and other cities in Turkey. We participate in competitions over distances of up to 100-150 kilometers and spend time together as a team.

Where and how I study

I have several degrees, including an MBA, which I obtained at the age of 30 at Nazarbayev University. Currently, I try to learn more selectively. If there is an opportunity, I turn to professionals, mentors, and industry leaders with specific requests for collaborative work.

Regarding paid education, I attend specialized events and conferences with international-level speakers — usually several times a year. In general, I regularly participate in educational and developmental activities: trainings, seminars, and so on.

If I want to understand a new field, I first ask for recommendations from acquaintances and study who is considered a strong expert there. I often try to attend their talks — in Kazakhstan or in countries that are easy to reach, such as the UAE or Turkey.

Environment

My environment can be conditionally divided into three parts.

The first is professional. These are people with whom I work on projects. I try to choose tasks where I can learn from strong specialists. In particular, I have collaborated with McKinsey, Microsoft, Tender Drive — these are high-level teams from which one can gain experience both professionally and organizationally.

The second is friends: both old ones, from school, and acquaintances based on common interests.

The third is hobbies. Our running school Homerun.kz has been operating for the sixth year. An active and cohesive community has formed around it: we train, participate in international races, and maintain regular communication.

Thus, my environment is a combination of professional contacts, long-standing friendships, and people united by common interests.

I do not intentionally attend events for networking purposes — I consider it a waste of time. If you have a project or product, you understand who you need and go to specific events with specific goals and offers.

Yes, I have read about the importance of weak ties, but I believe they should be justified by something. Simply showing up, taking photos, and then writing later is not my approach. When you develop as a professional, the right contacts appear on their own.

For example, I launched courses on product management, gathered several cohorts — thus forming my own small community.

In general, it is useful to attend specialized events — meetups, conferences — if you understand in which direction you want to develop. There you can find like-minded people and establish real connections.

Where I spend free time

I spend free time with my children — there are many beautiful places in Almaty: mountains, lakes, glamping sites. Once a month, we try to go out into nature.

Every weekend we have long runs — long-distance runs with coach Pedro Vizuet from Spain. We run in the mountains or around the city, then I recover: massage, sauna, and other relaxation methods help maintain energy and avoid burnout.

My hobby is the running school and the development of digital products. This is both work and passion: I consult startups and small companies, and I enjoy it.

I also participate in several projects, for example, Yaya — a single subscription for children's sections and clubs. Once a month, we meet with the team, conduct strategic sessions, and other activities. In my free time, I work on such IT projects — sometimes as an investor, sometimes as a consultant.

Where to buy what

I have all Apple technology: MacBook, iPhone, and other devices. For sports, I use Garmin watches.