6 women from the IT industry on how to become a leader in their field

“Accelerating Career Growth Through Mentorship and Opportunities in the Startup Community”

Zaituna Saidullaeva, City: Dushanbe, IT & Tech Consultant/Business Development Partner at ZHIWJ

I have been working in IT for nearly 11 years. I have implemented electronic systems, CRM, DMN, and management platforms for the government and private sectors in Malaysia and Africa. For example, in Africa, we developed an application to prevent violence during the interrogation of women. I started my career with startups in Tajikistan.

Mentorship is a key skill for accelerating career growth. When I started, it was not available. Mentorship is the key to finding your own path. It is important to be able to adapt to changes, especially in the rapidly evolving technological field. Beginners often think they already know everything necessary, but flexibility and a willingness to learn are important qualities for success.

There are many programs and accelerators for skill enhancement and gaining practical experience. For example, in Tajikistan, there is the Accelerate Prosperity program. There are also foreign programs that are popular among developers.

Modern companies require developers to create applications, not just engineering solutions. Developers and engineers perform different tasks: developers improve existing applications, while engineers create new approaches and programming languages. Choose what suits you best.

“How to Choose Your Career Path and Avoid Mistakes”

Victoria Torgunakova, City: Almaty, Leader of the NGO TechnoWomen in Almaty, CEO of the online ticket sales service “Ticketon”

There are many directions in IT, and it is important to understand which one suits you best.

Create a list of what you love to do. It is important to choose a field where you enjoy solving problems. Find a sphere that appeals to you to become a successful and happy specialist.

It is important to know where you apply your knowledge. In IT, you can be a specialist in various fields, from accounting to spaceports. The new generation often changes interests and professions. Unlike the past, where career stability was the norm, today the world is changing rapidly.

Goals and Ikigai. Ikigai is the point where all your abilities, passions, what you like to do, and what you can bring to the world converge.

When it comes to your career, it is not always possible to immediately land your dream job. It is important to realize that different periods of your life may require different priorities. There are several quadrants that reflect the relationship between your work, goals, and salary. For example, if you are a super expert in your field, you receive a good salary, but you may feel stagnation in development due to routine.

If your salary is below market rate, but the work brings you pleasure as a hobby, this is a valuable combination. This allows you to enjoy the work process despite the low income. Sometimes these moments bring satisfaction.

“From Obstacles to Opportunities: Expanding Horizons for Girls in STEM”

Anel Shakeneva, City: Astana, Board Member of the NGO TechnoWomen, CEO of Valuemont Central Asia

STEM is a field that changes the world through technology, science, and innovation. Although there are professions that bring immediate benefits, STEM works on changing the future.

It is necessary to note the impact of gender stereotypes on girls' participation in STEM. Usually, fathers have a greater influence on career choice than mothers. The decision about a career is made primarily between the ages of 13 and 18 under the influence of various factors, such as scientific experience, literature, or cinema. To achieve success, a balance between hard and soft skills is necessary, and their development requires equal time and resources. An important component of soft skills is self-confidence and the ability to self-reflect.

Schoolgirls in STEM help others and also act as mentors. I urge you to seek help. Consider organizing competitions and projects on your own. Do not be afraid to move forward.

“The Path to Leadership”

Asema Khazadiyaz, City: Astana, Director of the Business Development Department at AIESEC in Astana

I am a student at Nazarbayev University and the director of the youth organization AIESEC in Astana. AIESEC is an international youth non-profit organization founded after World War II with the goal of developing leadership among young people.

The first main lesson on the path to leadership is self-belief. Confirm your value with results. Gradually, you will gain confidence, even if initially it seems that you are unworthy.

The second lesson: communication. Without the ability to sell yourself and your value, you will fall behind your peers.

The third lesson: influence is better than power. Instead of trying to control or criticize others, strive to explain and inspire. Show your results and help others develop by paying attention to their potential and opportunities for improvement.

Having studied many lessons, I came to the conclusion that leadership is a process, not just a position. Leaders are considered those whom others want to emulate, and for this, you need to constantly expand your comfort zone by developing communication and professional skills.

“Without Borders: How to Create a Startup and Conquer the World”

Aruzhan Mede, City: Astana, Member of the NGO TechnoWomen, CEO & Co-Founder of IMPRO

InPro is a startup that helps implement a product approach in companies. Working in a startup, you immerse yourself in an atmosphere of innovation, learn, and meet smart people, which significantly broadens your horizons and professional skills.

The decision to start a startup is a question of money, but ultimately it is also a question of inner drive. It is important to start projects that you believe in and are willing to work on for a long time. Startups require a lot of effort and time, so passion and motivation play an important role in their success, which usually comes after several years of hard work.

To create a unicorn startup valued at more than a billion dollars, it is important:

— to achieve annual revenue of $100 million, grow quickly, and have a large market

— to recognize potential problems with financing and operating expenses for further growth

— to create innovative products and technologies capable of scaling and attracting investment

— to understand that some businesses, although successful, may not attract venture funds due to the complexity of scaling.

When creating a startup, it is important to consider:

— the frequency of the problem you are solving

— the density of the problem. It is necessary to assess how many people face the same problem

— the level of pain the problem causes. The pain being solved must be significant so that customers are motivated to solve it in any way.

“How Neural Networks Entered Our Lives. Examples of Neural Network Opportunities”

Galina Krivashina, City: Astana, Director of the educational platform Lerna

Lerna started in 2021 during the pandemic. The demand for online education grew, and in January 2021, we launched a platform that turned out to be unexpectedly popular, attracting many people eager to learn. Our company has been on the market for four years and is constantly growing, attracting more and more vendors.

Today, online meetings are popular. Sometimes information from these meetings is lost, and we have to spend time recovering it. In our company, we implemented a neural network that helps deal with this problem. Now, after each online meeting, all participants receive a summary from AI, which significantly simplifies work.

Another assistant of ours is a neural network that records work processes directly from the browser and creates visual guides. This is useful for both our employees and clients.

Our platform includes more than 700 courses covering various fields. To help clients with their choice, we implemented a neural network for career guidance. Our neural career guidance analyzes the electrical activity of the brain and provides clear metrics, helping to determine the client's preferences between humanities and technical fields. This allows us to more consciously select suitable courses for each client.

After six months of using neural career guidance, we noticed an increase in the level of motivation and the percentage of course completion. This approach helps clients maintain motivation and successfully complete their training.