IT families: Aktilek and Aidana Kalchoroeva

Aktilek and Aidana are a couple from Kyrgyzstan who shared in an interview how they successfully balance their IT careers with family life.

Aidana Kalchoroeva, city — Bishkek, project manager, Instagram

Aktilek Kalchoroev, city — Bishkek, Sales Director, Instagram

About Us

Aktilek. I am the Head of Sales at the international network of IT academies GEEKS. Currently, we have over 5,000 students enrolled, with about 1,000 studying simultaneously across 12 specializations, including development and marketing. In addition to the academy, we have our own IT company that has been successfully operating for more than five years. It employs exclusively our graduates, implementing international projects ranging from Japan to the Netherlands.

Aidana. I am a project manager at the IT company GeekStudio. I graduated from KG TU (Kyrgyz Technical University) with a degree in "Software-Protected Infocommunications" and also completed the "Frontend Developer" and "Project Manager" courses at Geeks Academy.

We met at work, where we still work together. At that time, I was working in the marketing department, while Aktilek was studying to become a backend developer and simultaneously working in the sales department. When we got married, everyone joked that it was just another corporate event at our workplace.

How We Entered the IT Field

Aktilek. I have been interested in IT since childhood, but for some reason, I enrolled in architecture school. Later, while working in sales, I received an invitation from Aidar Bakirov, one of the founders of GEEKS, and that’s when everything began. I took a backend development course, but during the process, I realized it wasn’t quite for me: I am a more communicative person. For the past four years, I have been working as Head of Sales and leading a team of 12 salespeople.

Aidana. I enrolled at KG TU on a state-funded basis in "Software Engineering," although my family insisted that I study philology. When applying, I had to choose between journalism and IT. In the end, I chose KG TU, but my dream of becoming a journalist didn’t leave me for a long time — I even got a job in the media, but quickly realized it wasn’t for me.

Deciding to develop in IT, I started looking for courses. A friend recommended "GeeTech" to me. I had an old laptop, and the training seemed expensive, but I found a way out — I got a job there. They also had an interesting "Course + MacBook" program.

I simultaneously finished both the courses and university: I wrote my thesis and simultaneously worked on projects in the GEEKS internship program.

That’s how I became a certified IT specialist. Currently, I work as a project manager at GeekStudio and manage various international projects. I have a flexible schedule — I can work either offline in the office or online from home.

Distribution of Responsibilities

Aktilek. Our household is simultaneously traditional, as is customary in Kyrgyz families, but with its own specifics. Since I am the only son in the family, Aidana and I decided to live with my parents for the first year. Since we both work, we usually return home around 8:00–9:00 PM, so we leave household chores for the weekend.

Aidana. Aktilek usually handles work in the garden, while I keep the house tidy and love cooking for the whole family. In the evenings, we watch series or read books, and on weekends, we walk around the city or go out into nature.

Family Traditions

Aidana. Although we are a young family, we already have our own small but important traditions. For example, every Sunday I make pancakes for breakfast, and Aktilek gives me a bouquet of seasonal flowers once a month.

We take turns organizing dates for each other: this month, Aktilek invited me to a pottery workshop, and I invited him to play big tennis.

We adhere to classic family values: respect, support in any endeavors, mutual assistance, and maintaining coziness in the home. It is important to us that everyone feels loved and needed — because, in our opinion, that is what true family happiness is.

Combining Household and Work

Aktilek. Sometimes, of course, it’s not easy. Aidana and I work until evening and return home after dark — there isn’t always time for all household chores. But we try to plan tasks in advance and distribute them between ourselves. Moreover, my parents always support us, for which we are very grateful.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life.

Aidana. The most important thing is to talk to each other. We are proud that even before marriage, we honestly and openly discussed everything: how we would build our life, who would be responsible for what, how we would manage finances, and what goals we share. Openness, honesty, and mutual respect are the foundation of a strong family.

We discussed everything beforehand, adjusted the points that didn’t suit us, and reached a common understanding. Therefore, we hardly ever have disputes in everyday life.

Aktilek. We also created a small list of expectations and wishes for each other. I remember sitting down and writing everything by hand — Aidana always advocates for documenting important things. We still keep these notes. Sometimes we take them out, read them, and laugh. For example, we agreed to always discuss important issues calmly, without reproaches, pay attention to each other even during the busiest weeks, and support each other’s ambitions and dreams. To not lose ourselves in the relationship, we give each other the opportunity for self-realization. Also, to create a cozy and warm atmosphere at home, so that everyone wants to return.

In our opinion, the ability to negotiate and show attention to each other is the foundation of a happy family life.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Aktilek and Aidana. First of all, we easily understand each other’s workload and work rhythm. Thanks to a flexible schedule, we can afford special conditions: for example, traveling to Issyk-Kul in the middle of the week and working online, or simply spending a workday together at home.

But the most important thing is the approach to family matters. We treat any situation as a task: we discuss the problem together, look for solutions, distribute roles, and support each other at every stage. We are close to the principle “if there is a task, there is also a solution.” This approach helps us avoid conflicts and find compromises faster.

Perhaps, this is exactly what distinguishes our family: we perceive any difficulties not as a reason for quarrels, but as an opportunity to become even closer and stronger.