Motivational session ‘Learn, change, lead’ with Erzhan Mufilov, regional director of the german pharmaceutical company BIONORICA
Motivational lectures play an important role in the educational process, serving as a powerful tool for increasing student engagement and their professional self-determination. They help students develop a conscious attitude and interest in learning, and inspire them to achieve ambitious goals and plans.
On 14 April, a motivational meeting entitled ‘Learn, Change, Lead’ with Erjan Sayfulaevich Mufilov, a doctor, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Master of Business Administration (MBA), CEO of Bionorica Kaz LLP, and Regional Director of «BIONORICA SE» for Central Asia, Mongolia and the Caucasus.
After graduating from the Faculty of Dentistry at the Karaganda Medical Institute, Erjan Mufilov worked as a paediatric maxillofacial surgeon. Following his postgraduate studies at the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, he successfully defended his thesis to obtain the degree of Candidate of Medical Sciences.
Erzhan Mufilov has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years. He has progressed through all stages of his career within the representative offices of foreign pharmaceutical companies, from medical representative to head of the Kazakhstan office and general manager for nine countries.
He studied the Executive Education Programme at Harvard Business School and attended HEC Paris, ranked number one in L’Étudiant’s 2026 business school rankings.
In her introduction to the motivational lecture, the Dean of the School of Pharmacy at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Dr. Zuriadda Bektemirovna Sakipova, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, noted that S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University has a fruitful partnership with the German pharmaceutical company «BIONORICA», whose representative office in nine countries is headed by Yerzhan Mufilov.
In 2023, the pharmaceutical company «BIONORICA», celebrated the 90th anniversary of its foundation and the 20th anniversary of the opening of its regional office in Kazakhstan. To mark these anniversaries, a celebration was held in Almaty attended by Professor Michael Popp, the company’s CEO and owner, to which doctors, pharmacists and the company’s partners in Kazakhstan were invited.
One of «BIONORICA»s key partners is the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University. The parties signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at improving relations and furthering scientific development and collaboration, which is vital for advancing domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies.
It is symbolic that on 17 October 2018, during the celebrations marking the company’s 85th anniversary and the 15th anniversary of its Kazakhstani representative office, Professor Michael Popp was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University.
The management of S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University would like to express its gratitude to «BIONORICA», a company that provides significant support in the training and further training of qualified personnel for the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. The company’s representative office provided sponsorship
In his presentation, Erjan Mufilov spoke about his career path, education, professional development, achievements and the company «BIONORICA». Despite one’s honours, achievements and successes, one must continue to learn throughout life, strive for self-improvement, constantly set new goals for oneself, and aim for new successes and achievements.
Erzhan Mufilov began his career in the pharmaceutical industry, like many others, as a medical representative, rising between 2000 and 2009 from medical representative at the German pharmaceutical company Bayer to head of the Kazakhstan and Central Asia business unit. From 2009 to 2015, he served as Managing Director for the Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Central Asia region at the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Since 2015, Erjan Mufilov has been Managing Director of Bionorica Kaz LLP and Regional Director of «BIONORICA SE», for Central Asia, Mongolia and the Caucasus.
He is constantly improving his knowledge and skills and continues to learn. He holds a master’s degree and has attended business schools in the USA, France and other countries. He speaks five languages.
Students and academic staff at the School of Pharmacy listened with interest to Yerzhan Mufilov’s presentation on his life journey, his studies, his business, the need for constant self-improvement, and his determination to achieve his goals and plans. He provided clear answers to the questions posed, noting that success can be achieved in any field, provided one works constantly, learns, improves and continually sets new challenges for oneself.
The Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Zuriadda Bektemirovna Sakipova, thanked Dr. Erjan Mufilov for his interesting lecture, noting that phytoniringu marks a new era in medicine and that issues relating to phytomedicine and phytoneering. After all, our country has 700 endemic species and around 7,000 medicinal plants, but so far these have not been sufficiently studied in Kazakhstan. At the School of Pharmacy of the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, research is being conducted to identify innovative plant-based ingredients with potential applications in pharmacy.
During the motivational lecture, a book by the renowned publicist Gerhard Waldherr, *The History of Sinupret*, was presented. It recounts the life story of a pharmacist and businessman, the company «BIONORICA», and the company’s most famous product, ‘Sinupret’. The book was presented to the lecture attendees, and some copies were donated to the library of the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University.
