IT families: Galimkhan and Madina Ualikhanovs

Galimkhan Ualikhanov, city — Astana, project manager, Linkedin  

Madina Ualikhanova, city — Astana, scrum master, @mdkvs 

About Us

Galimkhan. I met Madina at work in 7Generation. I was the project manager, and Madina had just started working there in August 2021. We got to know each other better when we were preparing New Year's boxes for clients. Then we went to volleyball training sessions together. Exactly six months later, I proposed to her.

Madina. I met Galimkhan at work in Kazdream.

How We Entered the IT Field

Madina. In 2021, I graduated from university. I wanted to work for one year to give myself some time, and then pursue a master's degree abroad. I had already joined a bank, but thanks to a friend, I also passed an interview at Kazdream and ultimately accepted their offer.

I started as an office manager and worked there for a year and a half. Then I moved to the position of junior account manager at 7Generation, where I also worked for a year and a half. Recently, I became a scrum master. We work in the office.

Galimkhan. My journey in IT began when I was earning my bachelor's degree in "Information Security Systems" at Eurasian National University. In my second year, I decided that I needed more practical experience. I started an internship at a small IT company, Prism Works. I visited the campuses of the top 5 IT companies and other tech giants in Kazakhstan to meet the people who work there. At that time, I decided that I wanted to work at Kazdream. In my third year, in 2017, I interviewed with Dauruen Tulebayev, the CEO of Kazdream. I passed the interview and became the 40th employee of Kazdream. Over all this time, I have changed positions five times: from botmaker to project manager, and I have participated in the development of 15 projects.

Distribution of Responsibilities

Galimkhan. The distribution of responsibilities in the family is an important aspect of a harmonious and happy life. It is important that everyone participates and feels their significance. We distribute responsibilities between ourselves. We plan weekends, vacations, meetings with friends, trips to our parents' or to nature, festivals, and concerts together.

Madina. We do everything together and harmoniously. We have fun spending our free time, weekends, and vacations. We love traveling, going to festivals, going to nature and picnics, walking around bars, and going to the cinema. Galimkhan likes to participate in charity runs, and I support him.

Family Traditions

Galimkhan. We live far from our parents, so on birthdays, holidays, and weekends, we try to visit them to spend time with our family. Madina loves decorating the Christmas tree and exchanging gifts. We also love eating delicious food.

Madina. On weekends, in the mornings, we love having breakfast in aesthetic cafes, drinking coffee, and walking in the park.

Combining Household Chores and Work

Madina. For me, combining work and household chores is not difficult. I enjoy working and developing. Perhaps this is because we don't have children yet. But at the moment, we manage to do everything on time.

Galimkhan. Combining household responsibilities and work comes easily to us. Dividing household chores between ourselves helps us save time and reduce the burden on each of us. You can manage everything if you plan your time correctly. This applies to both work tasks and household chores. Modern couples use applications or paper planners for this.

It is worth noting that today almost everyone in IT can work remotely. A flexible work schedule is convenient for everyone. Creating a comfortable work environment affects work productivity.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life

Galimkhan and Madina. We became a family literally a year and a half ago. But I think we need to talk to each other more, go on dates, and engage in joint sports.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Madina. The feature of IT families is mutual professional support. I am a sociologist by education. When I started my path in IT, my husband provided me with great support, for which I am grateful to him.

Another feature of ours is that by working in the IT field, we keep up with the times. Moreover, interaction with colleagues gives us enormous experience in various fields.