How to Thrive
in Chaos
My personal story
01
From Almaty to Academia: The Roots of Resilience
Nadya Zhexembayeva’s journey began in Almaty, Kazakhstan, during the final years of the Soviet Union—a time marked by instability and rapid change. Growing up in this environment, Nadya quickly learned the value of resilience. As a high school student, she ventured into business, starting with a job selling insurance. This early experience in entrepreneurship, coupled with her role as a trainer at the Association of Young Leaders, sparked a lifelong passion for leadership and change.
With the help of a Freedom Support Act scholarship, Nadya moved to the United States, where she completed dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Management and Psychology at Hartwick College. During her studies, she earned the prestigious titles of Faculty Scholar and John Christopher Hartwick Scholar, the college’s highest honors, further solidifying her academic potential.
02
A Scholar and Innovator in Sustainable Business
Nadya’s pursuit of knowledge didn’t stop there. In 2008, she earned a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University. Her doctoral journey took her to the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit, where she became associate director and later joined its Board of Advisors. Here, Nadya’s work began to center on embedding sustainability into business practices—an idea that would become central to her career.
Thrive in Chaos and
Master Reinvention
The Chief Reinvention Officer
Handbook: How to Thrive in Chaos
Nadya’s pursuit of knowledge didn’t stop there. In 2008, she earned a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University. Her doctoral journey took her to the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit, where she became associate director and later joined its Board of Advisors. Here, Nadya’s work began to center on embedding sustainability into business practices—an idea that would become central to her career.
03
The Educator’s Calling: Teaching Reinvention Globally
Beyond her work in research and consulting, Nadya was drawn to teaching. She became the Coca-Cola Chaired Professor of Sustainable Development at IEDC-Bled School of Management in the Slovene Alps, a role that enabled her to teach leadership, strategy, and change management.
She also taught in other prestigious institutions, including CEDEP-INSEAD in France and IPADE Business School in Mexico, personally training nearly 5,000 executives from over 60 countries.
5,000
trained executives
60
countries
04
The Reinvention Guru:
Transforming Businesses Worldwide
While teaching, Nadya was also becoming a highly sought-after consultant, working with renowned global companies. In 2007, Nadya co-founded the WE EXIST Reinvention Agency, driven by her desire to bring a structured approach to reinvention.
As a consultant, Nadya has helped such organizations as The Coca-Cola Company, ENRC PLC, IBM, CISCO, Erste Bank, Henkel, Knauf Insulation, Vienna Insurance Group and many others to reinvent their products, processes, and leadership practices.
About Consulting
Nadya also appreciated an opportunity for corporate experience when a long-term client, a 75,000-employee mining and metals company, ENRC PLC, invited her to join the executive suite to curate business transformation efforts.
From 2013 to 2016, Nadya oversaw all aspects of the transformation as the company went from public to private and from a financial to a hands-on operational holding under the new brand, ERG. She continues to support the Group in an advisory role.
10k+ business
practitioners
already joined
helping deal with changes
05
Reinvention Academy — A Legacy of Reinvention and Resilience
Building on this foundation, she launched the Reinvention Academy in 2014 with a bold vision: to equip 1 billion people with skills in resilience and reinvention. The academy became her vehicle for change, offering courses, resources, and a supportive community to help individuals and organizations thrive in an unpredictable world.
Today, Nadya Zhexembayeva stands as an influential figure in business reinvention. With over 100,000 professionals witnessing her insights through keynote speeches, including four TEDx talks in Austria, Slovenia, the U.S., and Romania, her reach continues to expand globally. Whether as an author, advisor, educator, or speaker, Nadya’s mission is clear: to help people and businesses embrace change, innovate sustainably, and foster resilience in an ever-changing world.
