Behind the scenes series – Gor Ghazaryan
Gor Ghazaryan is a Manager and Team Lead at Civitta Armenia, leading projects in sustainability, climate change, and infrastructure. Since joining as a Junior Consultant in November 2021, he has quickly grown into leadership roles, driven by Civitta’s open, collaborative, and growth-oriented culture.
How did your journey at Civitta begin, and how has it evolved?
It’s quite an interesting story. While finishing my master’s in Germany, I felt a strong pull to return to Armenia. So when I came across an opening at Civitta, I applied. After several interviews, I was offered a Junior Consultant role. I had aimed for a Consultant position, but the chance to move back home and join a dynamic team made it an easy yes.
Looking back, I’m very happy I did, because joining Civitta completely changed my life, both professionally and personally. Today, I’m a Manager, Team Lead and Development Advisor in Armenia, leading a team of seven colleagues from our Armenia office, as well as two from the Uzbekistan office.
What makes Civitta unique compared to other companies?
For me, four things really define my time at Civitta: the first is international collaboration. I’ve been lucky to work on projects in Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan, and that kind of exposure to different countries and cultures has been amazing. The second is the openness here; even before I was a Manager, I could walk up to anyone, whether it was a Partner or even the CEO, and share an idea or raise a concern.
Then there are the people. Talented, smart, curious, and open-minded, which makes collaboration truly inspiring. When I joined, I knew little about sustainability or climate change, but now I’m an expert thanks to the opportunities here. I’m also signing an expert contract with UNDP, using my experience and network to bring added value to Civitta.
What has your international experience taught you?
One of my biggest learning experiences was managing our first sustainability and infrastructure project in Uzbekistan. The project lasted far longer than planned – 13 months instead of 8, and came with cultural and governance challenges. For example, in Armenia, it’s common to openly write recommendations to government officials. In Uzbekistan, the approach needed to be much more careful, as some things could not be said directly.
These experiences taught me that cultural and political contexts shape how we communicate, present research, and manage projects. Every country requires a different approach, and adapting to that makes you a stronger Consultant. I’m also using the knowledge I’ve gained in Armenia to maximize the impact I can bring in every project.
How has working across borders shaped your perspective?
It has changed me a lot. Working with colleagues from different offices and cultures, whether in Vilnius, Riga, or Central Asia,helped me see that there are many ways to approach work. For example, in some offices, people have total flexibility to come and go, yet everyone still delivers results.
I’d love to bring that same balance of freedom and accountability to our office in Yerevan. Collaborating internationally has also made me more adaptable and empathetic. It’s not just about work processes, it’s also about work ethics, flexibility, and even how offices look and feel.
Can you share a success story from international collaboration?
Our Hydrological Monitoring and Disaster Preparedness project in Uzbekistan was quite complex, but in the end we delivered high-quality outcomes. I was working together with our colleague Musabek Ruzimbetov, who did a great job managing all the stakeholders in Uzbekistan: a task that was quite complicated in itself.
At the final validation workshop, representatives from ministries, the private sector, and the UN attended. The feedback we received was excellent, and it helped establish Civitta’s reputation in the region. That success became a foundation for growing our Tashkent office and securing future projects.
How do you stay connected with colleagues across offices?
Mostly through constant communication: Google Chat, offsites, calls, and feedback cycles with my team members. I often support tenders with colleagues in other offices, and I always feel supported in return.
Of course, as a growing company, there are challenges. But overall, Civitta’s openness stands out. You can always reach out, share ideas, and get help from colleagues across the network!
What’s your favorite thing about Civitta’s culture?
It’s the opportunity to grow! I joined as a Junior Consultant in 2021, and within a short time I became a Manager and Development Advisor. I am now working hard on the opportunity to one day becoming an Associate Partner.
I would say that, my career here has been: rapid, challenging and adventurous. With all its difficulties and joys, I’d say my journey so far has been truly amazing!