IT families: Yernur Zeksembinov and Nazgul Imadildayeva

Ernur Zeksembinov, city — Almaty, full-stack developer, @ernur1

Nazgul Imadildayeva, city — Almaty, product manager and founder of 8in1.kz, @nazgul.turan

About Us

Nazgul: This year, our family will be 10 years old. We met while studying at the Almaty Institute of Energy and Communications. However, we only started being friends six years after graduation. This was because I went abroad for my master’s studies in Turkey, then in the UK, and later in the US through various programs. Meanwhile, my husband was searching for his path, trying different professions ranging from telecommunications to sales management. In 2013, we began our friendship, and a couple of months later, he proposed to me in a tram-restaurant.

How We Entered the IT Field

Nazgul: My husband has always been interested in programming and had many friends in this field. I remember we decided that after the birth of our eldest son, he would go back to study, while I would return from maternity leave earlier. As a result, he independently began learning this new field, taking on projects, and ultimately fully transitioned into it. He has worked for both Kazakhstani and international companies, gaining extensive experience ranging from QA Engineer to Full-Stack Engineer.

As for me, I have always worked in telecommunications companies, but in 2019, I tried my hand at startups, holding various roles: Project Manager, QA Engineer, and Product Manager. Ultimately, in 2023, I decided to create my own startup, 8in1.kz — a platform for parents designed to help raise strong personalities. The project is currently in the MVP stage, but my plans are big.

Distribution of Responsibilities

Nazgul: We are a large family with four children; two are school-aged, and two attend kindergarten. Having a large family is a huge responsibility that requires our involvement in all areas of life. We are a cohesive team with my husband, and we have the support of our parents. Grandmothers and grandfather actively participate in their grandchildren's lives. In our family, I am primarily responsible for the children's education — I select extracurricular activities, schools, and oversee their overall development. However, we make every decision together with the children. Thanks to my husband's remote work arrangement, he often spends time at home. We also have the opportunity to go abroad for extended periods; we did this for two consecutive summers during the school holidays. The children swam in the sea, while we combined work in IT remotely.

Family Traditions

Nazgul: Our family tradition is to spend weekends together. We are an active family, and every weekend we have plans for both the children and ourselves. We support the development and interests of every family member. Our daughter is more creative and musical, so my husband and she enjoy going to concerts. I love nature with my eldest son, and we go hiking. The main value of our family is love and support.

Balancing Household and Work

Nazgul: I believe that working in IT is harmonious; the key is to have discipline. There are periods when all deadlines are tight, especially at the end of sprints, but this can also be accounted for and adjusted during retrospectives. Flexibility and discipline are what is needed.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life

Nazgul: The most important thing is to have a shared vision of life with your partner. Every year, and sometimes even a couple of times a year, my husband and I arrange a date for just the two of us. We discuss the long-term strategy of our family, touching upon all areas of life: family, health, relationships, self-development, finances, and more. As a result, we understand the direction of our development. And every small victory of our family is celebrated around the table. These happy moments ultimately create happiness in the family.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Nazgul: I think IT families have more flexibility. Even if the official schedule is from nine to six, you can always change your working hours. For example, thanks to a flexible schedule, we don't miss our child's morning events. We also have many creative ideas — we develop projects that make life simpler and better. We also strive to keep up with the latest innovations that can simplify our daily lives.

Our eldest son, seeing his parents' activities, has also become interested in programming and already has his own vision of the future. And for us, it is important that each child finds their own personal path.