Akan Zhylkyshybayevich graduated from the Kazakh National Conservatory named after Kurmangazy, the Almaty Academy of Economics and Statistics, and Zhetysu State University named after  I. Zhansugurov.

He began his career in 1996 as a performer at the Almaty Regional Philharmonic named after Suyunbay.

In 2003-2004, he was a performer at the State Concert Organization “Qazaqconcert”.

In 2005-2007, he was a teacher at the Republican College of Variety Arts and Circus named after Zh. Yelebekov.

In 2007-2008, he was a teacher at the Kazakh National Conservatory named after Kurmangazy.

From 2008 to 2015, he was deputy director and director of the Republican Kazakh Specialized Music Boarding School for Gifted Children named after A. Zhubanov.

In 2015-2016, he was director of the Kazakh State Philharmonic named after Zhambyl.

In 2016-2018, he was head of the Department of Culture, Archives and Documentation of the Almaty Region.

In 2018-2019, he was Deputy Mayor (Akim) of Almaty Region.

In 2019-2021, he was Rector of the Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after T.K. Zhurgenov.

In 2021-2022, he was Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2022-2025, he was Director of the Kazakh State Academic Philharmonic named after Zhambyl.

On 5 January 2026, he was appointed Director of the State Academic Concert Organization “Qazaqconcert” named after Roza Baglanova.