From Family Expectations to Finding Her Calling

– Why law?

– My family wanted me to become a doctor. I, however, was not interested in medicine, but for them, it was important that I choose a "serious profession." When they asked, "If not a doctor, then what?" the first answer that came to mind was law. They agreed.

At the time, I didn't have a deep understanding of what law truly entailed. I pictured myself more as a judge or a prosecutor, and, of course, I never guessed that one day I would be working in corporate law.

I chose the French University in Armenia, and that is where my professional path truly began and took shape. From the very first lecture, it became clear to me: this was my field.

Initially, my motivation was more moral in nature – I wanted to work in criminal law and contribute to establishing justice. However, as I delved deeper into the profession, I realized that justice and law do not always align. A lawyer's function is different, and over time, you learn to approach problems more professionally and systematically.

Corporate Law is About Life

– At first glance, corporate law can seem rather "dry" – something that only concerns business and feels far removed from everyday life.

– I perceive corporate law as much more alive. For me, it is about life and people. Society implies commercial activity, commercial activity implies transactions, and transactions are a part of people's daily relationships. In other words, this is actually a natural segment of our life cycle.

When I first started working in corporate law at Concern Dialog, Narine Beglaryan taught me a crucial principle: when working on a contract, you need to understand not only what is written in the legal document but also what the parties actually expect in real life. That approach fundamentally changed my attitude toward corporate law.

Stereotypes and Building Self-Confidence

– Have there been people or situations along your professional journey that significantly changed your approach?

– Mr. Artur Ghambaryan, who taught theory of state and law and criminal procedure, played a major role in shaping my professional mindset and, generally, my image as a specialist.

Inspired by his persona, I deeply loved criminal procedure and associated a good lawyer with him and that field. Later, over time, I realized that criminal procedure wasn't for me, and that in civil law, too, one can be principled and an excellent professional.

As for stereotypes about a lawyer's work, a common perception is: "She's a girl, she's young, she can't." When I was just starting out and first encountered such a situation, I decided to fight directly against that stereotype.

About four years have passed since then, and today I can say very clearly: everything has changed. My composure, self-confidence, knowledge, and experience have shaped a professional presence that fundamentally changes how people perceive me.

Work, Academics, and Family – Ani's Model of Success

– What does success mean to you?

– For me, success means finding fulfillment in three main directions: work, academic-educational activities, and family.

At work, I want to be the lawyer who, within the scope of her knowledge, delivers the highest quality work and constantly strives to make it even better. Narine often says: "We must always remember that we are creating value for our client, and we must do that with high quality." That idea is central to me.

I take my academic work very seriously as well. When I was a student, it was very unpleasant for me when a lecturer didn't fully master the subject they were teaching. I believe you should teach only when you are ready to meet the student's expectations – when the student sees in you not just someone who transmits knowledge, but a professional they want to emulate.

And family is primary for me. I cannot imagine being successful at work and in teaching but not in my family. For me, these three directions are interconnected. To truly succeed in one, the other two must also be in place.

Concern Dialog: Care and Work Environment

– If you had to single out one of Concern Dialog's core values, what would it be?

– Care.

In Dialog, that word carries a very broad meaning – care for one another, care for the work, and, of course, care for the client. Ultimately, care also means understanding what value the client expects and creating that value for them. This approach is an integral part of the organization's philosophy, where every employee feels valued and, in turn, creates value for those around them.

– Concern Dialog is your first and, so far, only workplace. What keeps you here?

– The people.

For me, it is unthinkable to work somewhere just to collect a paycheck. It's important for me to be in an environment where you actually want to go to work the next day. In Dialog, that's exactly how it is – here, people invest in you, support you, share their experience, and create an atmosphere where growth and development become inevitable. It is those genuine human connections and mutual trust that bind me to this team.

From Data Protection to Raising Awareness

– Personal data protection is also an important area of professional interest for you. How do you assess its development in Armenia?

– Personal data protection is a profoundly deep and interesting field. When working with international companies, there is usually no need to explain at length why it is important – it is understood as an integral part of doing business. With Armenian companies, we still have quite a bit of work to do, although in recent years, the attitude has been noticeably shifting for the better.

Large companies already have a better understanding of the importance of personal data protection, while we still have a long way to go with small and medium-sized businesses. Raising awareness in this field is not just a legislative requirement but also the key to building trust.

Concern Dialog, represented by Senior Partner and Practice Leader Narine Beglaryan, has for years been one of the pioneers in shaping this culture and emphasizing the importance of the topic. When the field was still emerging, the Company was among the first in Armenia to speak out about the need for personal data protection. And today, many local organizations are beginning to realize that data protection is one of the key standards of a reputable modern business.

Shooting, Crafting, and Inner Peace

– Outside of work, what helps you recharge and unwind?

– There is a common logic to my hobbies: they require maximum concentration, and that is exactly what helps me decompress.

Shooting is one of them. My father is a military officer, and I grew up in the border village of Movses in Tavush. At school, I even ran a shooting club – I taught others how to disassemble and reassemble a weapon and how to shoot. Shooting helps me focus on my own strengths, manage external factors, and seize opportunities in a short time. Even now, when I'm in a stressful situation, my first option is often to go to the shooting range – everything comes to a point there, and it's one of the best ways to reflect alone.

Crafting (handicrafts) was also my first "business." During my school years, the pieces I made were sold at Sunday school. That's how I generated my first income and learned to manage my time properly. Now, I mostly craft in two cases: when I want to give someone a unique gift full of my energy, or when I simply want to unwind by creating something that carries the warmth of my hands.

Personal

– Ani wouldn't be Ani without…

– Ani Mkrtumyan wouldn't be Ani Mkrtumyan without Aram (my husband) and without law. Those are the two pillars on which my entire world is built.

– And what advice would you give to Ani?

– I would say: "Don't overthink it." Before delving deep into law, I was more emotional and impulsive; I made decisions more lightly and quickly. Now, I weigh everything thoroughly, trying to see all possible developments, which is professionally correct but sometimes exhausting.

Sometimes I even miss the Ani who made decisions with greater ease. Perhaps, along with professional maturity, we lose a bit of that lightness. But on the other hand, we gain knowledge, experience, and the confidence that comes from walking your own path. It is a price I am willing to pay, knowing that my decisions today are much more balanced and accurate.

Instead of an Epilogue

-If one day a book were written about Concern Dialog, what would its title be, and what would you want written about Ani Mkrtumyan in that book?

-The title would be: "Concern Dialog: Values Forged Through Law." And about me, I would want these words: *"A person for whom law was an endless passion – for anticipating hidden risks, seeing beyond the obvious, and building genuine values through legal practice."