Meet Aika (Aigerim) Kussimova, Associate Director at Ciesco, our Member Muse for August.
What do you do?
I support my team and my clients as a lead for origination and deal execution. I work closely with founders, management teams, PE/VC funds and large corporates globally on a variety of exciting projects across capital raising and M&A execution.
What's your biggest insight into the M&A market at the moment?
Currently, there's a palpable urgency in the M&A market driven by several key factors. There's a significant pent-up demand among PE firms, eager to deploy capital and seize opportunities. Corporates are compelled to act swiftly to keep pace with rapid technological advancements and evolving consumer demands.
Additionally, independent business owners recognise the need to scale rapidly and maintain momentum to stay competitive. This convergence of pressures is accelerating deal activity across the board, making this an exceptionally dynamic and exciting period in the M&A landscape.
What do you love most about what you do?
Two things:
1) meeting and building relationships with exceptional people and
2) delivering truly meaningful results - commercially, strategically and financially.
And what are the biggest challenges with what you do?
For me, the biggest challenges lie in aligning diverse stakeholder interests and managing the human element of deals. Building and maintaining client trust through transparency and reliability is also crucial, balancing short-term wins with long-term relationships.
Another challenge is staying ahead of market changes and regulatory shifts, which require agility and continuous learning. Being a sector specialist certainly helps narrow the focus and excel in a particular field. As a woman in a senior position, I sometimes face the added challenge of asserting my expertise in a traditionally male-dominated field.
However, I see this as an opportunity to bring a unique, inclusive perspective to decision-making. I must add that I do not consider any of the above a 'negative' challenge but rather an opportunity to lead with innovation and resilience.
Why did you join March?
I went to one event and that is all it took. It was such a refreshing feeling to be at an M&A-focused event but in a room full of highly successful, enthusiastic, engaging women. The conversations bore a unique perspective and there was such a strong desire to uplift, support and help each other.
It is no secret, that women still account for a minority in this industry, particularly across corporate finance. So this community feels like a step in the right direction to empower more women in M&A. Since joining earlier this year, I have already built an incredible network of female professionals from various fields of experience and backgrounds.
What are you proud of right now?
Having been with Ciesco for nearly a decade, I play a leading role in our Deal Execution and Business Development efforts. Rather than highlighting a single success, I prefer to spotlight my team's consistent track record of securing new work and delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.
This year alone, our London-based team has transformed several international pitches—from the UK, US, and Europe—into active mandates across the Tech, Media, and Sustainability sectors. Each new win and every deal we close is a testament to our strategic insight, diligence, and the collaborative spirit that defines our team.
Where can we find out more about you?
