At the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography, students of the “Art Management” and “Creative Art Industry” programs met with Nurlan Dyussembayev, Franchise Director of the Global Coffee chain, for a talk titled “How System Thinking, Negotiations, and Unit Economics Make a Project Successful.”

The meeting was held in an interactive format: each student responded to the speaker’s questions, sparking lively discussions on various topics.

As for the theme of the event, it’s worth noting that a project’s success is rarely accidental — it rests on three key pillars: system thinking, negotiations, and understanding unit economics.

System thinking brings order: when there is a clear structure, defined processes, metrics, and accountability, the team understands where the project is heading and how to measure progress. This forms the foundation for sustainable growth. For creative professionals, learning to be systematic is especially important in order to succeed in their field.

Negotiations make it possible to align the interests of all stakeholders — clients, partners, investors, and the team - taking into account their needs and opinions. The ability to use emotional intelligence, listen, negotiate, and find mutually beneficial solutions reduces risks and speeds up decision-making. It’s also a vital skill for avoiding manipulation or negative influence.

Unit economics turns creativity into a sustainable business. It shows how profitable each unit of product or each client is, and helps scale consciously — not by guesswork, but through calculation.

When these three elements come together, a project gains a solid foundation: strategy, communication, and financial stability — and therefore, a real chance for long-term success. Even in creative industries, applying these principles is essential for achieving high results.