– Ilkin, could you start by telling us a little about
yourself and your professional background?
I was born and raised in Sumgait. I completed my initial
education in Azerbaijan before continuing my studies in Business
Administration in Prague. Studying abroad was not only an important
academic experience for me, but also an opportunity to represent
Azerbaijan internationally.
While in Prague, I was an active member of the Azerbaijani
student community, participating in various events aimed at
promoting Azerbaijan's culture, history and the realities of
Karabakh to international audiences. Representing my country abroad
and sharing Azerbaijan's story was a great source of pride for
me.
I began my professional career at Procter &
Gamble, where I spent nearly nine years in various
regional and international roles. After working across the
Azerbaijan, Caucasus and Central Asia markets, I moved to the
company's regional office in Türkiye as Commercial Operations
General Manager. During that period, our team achieved
record-breaking results, and our performance was recognised with
the company's Global CEO Award on two separate
occasions. These achievements are particularly meaningful to me
because they were accomplished during a highly competitive and
challenging period.
I later led the Sales and Commercial functions at
Samsung, where our primary objective was to bring
global innovations to Azerbaijani consumers.
Today, my main motivation is to apply international experience
and global best practices in Azerbaijan, contribute to the
development of the local market, and make people's everyday lives
easier and more accessible through technology. I believe Azerbaijan
has tremendous potential for innovation and digital solutions, and
I am excited to be part of this transformation.
– How have your international education and experience
shaped your perspective?
I believe international education and experience are not only
valuable for personal growth but also essential tools for
contributing to the development of one's home country. Working in
different markets allows you to understand global approaches,
emerging technologies and evolving consumer behaviour.
The real value lies in adapting this knowledge to local
realities. I see significant potential for bringing global
innovations and technological advancements to Azerbaijan. The
country is developing rapidly, and Azerbaijan is often among the
first markets where Bolt introduces many of its global
innovations.
– What attracted you most to the ride-hailing
industry?
Its pace and dynamism. Ride-hailing is a fast-moving ecosystem
that requires quick decision-making and constant adaptation. There
are always new opportunities to introduce innovative solutions and
improve the customer experience.
Seeing how technology simplifies everyday life in a rapidly
developing country like Azerbaijan is an additional source of
motivation.
– How important is technology in a city like Baku, where
traffic is particularly intense?
Baku is a very dynamic city, and traffic conditions can change
rapidly depending on the time of day, weather and many other
factors. In such an environment, efficient mobility depends not
only on having a large driver network but also on intelligent
technological management.
Our platform analyses real-time data to assess demand, driver
activity and road conditions, enabling more efficient ride matching
and route optimisation.
With thousands of active driver-partners and millions of monthly
users in Azerbaijan, the platform processes an enormous volume of
data. This allows the system to operate in a smarter and more
predictive way.
– What changes have you observed in customer behaviour
in recent years?
The biggest change has been the growing trust in digital
services. A few years ago, most people preferred cash payments,
whereas today digital payments and app-based services have become
an integral part of everyday life.
Customer expectations have also evolved. People are no longer
looking simply to book a ride—they expect a faster, safer and more
convenient experience.
– How have digital platforms changed drivers' daily
work?
I believe the change has been significant. In the past, drivers'
earnings largely depended on chance and where they happened to be
located. Today, the platform provides them with real-time demand
insights, transparent earnings information, and the flexibility to
choose their own working hours.
Drivers are no longer simply accepting ride requests—they are
independent partners managing their own micro-businesses. Bolt
provides them with technology, data, and access to a broad customer
base, enabling them to work more efficiently and make informed
decisions.
– How do you see the future of urban mobility in
Azerbaijan?
– I believe Azerbaijan has the potential to become one of the
region's smartest and most technologically advanced mobility
ecosystems. In recent years, we have seen growing trust in digital
services and the increasingly rapid adoption of technology in
everyday life.
People's approach to mobility is also changing. More and more
people are prioritising convenient, safe and efficient access to
transportation over owning a private vehicle.
Looking ahead, I expect ride-hailing, public transport and other
mobility solutions to become much more integrated. The ultimate
goal of technology is to make everyday travel across Azerbaijan's
cities easier, more accessible and more efficient.
– Finally, what message would you like to share with
Bolt users?
Our primary goal is to make everyday mobility easier for people.
At Bolt, we will continue developing technology that simplifies
daily life, improves the efficiency of urban mobility, and delivers
an even better experience for our users.
At the same time, we remain committed to introducing new
approaches to urban mobility and bringing global innovations to
Azerbaijan, helping shape a smarter, more connected, and more
sustainable transport ecosystem.
