Igor holds degrees in Oriental Philology from the University of International Relations and World Languages in Kazakhstan and in accountancy from Almaty University. He started a construction company while still an undergraduate that grew to construct high-rise buildings. He also gained business experience by opening a bakery and grocery mini-market. From 2005 to 2010, Igor worked in finance at two institutions to further his experience in lending, stocks, and credit products. This led him to focus more on finance and investment after many businesses failed during the 2007 financial crisis. In 2012, he was awarded a grant to study in the UK after participating in a national competition.