IT families: Meiram Zhardaev and Laura Vaygorova

Meiram Zhardayev, city — Astana, co-founder of Smartestprep, @zhardayev  

Laura Vaigorova, city — Astana, CEO of Smartestprep, @lauravaigorova

About Us

Laura. We met while studying at Nazarbayev University. Meiram was in his third year, and I was in my fourth. He was the president of the Latin club, and I was the president of the Spanish club. We organized an event together—a charity fundraiser to raise money for an acquaintance who had been diagnosed with cancer.

It all started when Meiram messaged me, suggesting we meet and collaborate between our clubs. I agreed. I came to the meeting, was late, and he was waiting for me. That’s how we met and started talking. Initially, we communicated as friends, having lunch together. Soon, he asked me to help him with Spanish, and he started teaching me to dance bachata. Our friendly communication gradually evolved into something more, and we began dating.

How We Entered the IT Field

Laura. Our journey in IT began in early 2021. It was a conscious choice: after university, while I was simultaneously studying for my master’s degree, we decided to launch our own project. We started as freelancers, helping students prepare for international exams such as SAT, IELTS, and NUET, advising them on university admissions abroad, and assisting with motivational essays. Later, we added several team members to handle other subject-specific exams.

Initially, we worked mostly offline. Due to the pandemic and the shift to online learning, it seemed our small business might completely shut down. At that time, we rented a small office at EXPO.

In 2020, we thought it was all over. However, the transition to online education gave us an unexpected boost. We used various educational platforms like Class Dojo and Minecraft Education, which were available for free during the quarantine. This unexpectedly tripled our revenue, and we began attracting clients from other countries.

At that point, we realized we needed to move into IT and create solutions that would automate many processes and help scale the project without increasing headcount. Despite lacking formal IT education, the two of us, driven by enthusiasm and our experience in education, decided to take action.

In 2021, we completed an acceleration program by the Singaporean venture fund Quest Ventures, and they are now our investors. This marked the beginning of our journey; we started understanding what a startup, a digital product, and a development team are. Today, we have our own development team.

Distribution of Responsibilities

Laura. We try to divide household chores equally. Some tasks suit me better, while others suit Meiram better, so we base our division on individual skills and preferences. We do not strictly adhere to gender roles. From the very beginning, our relationship has been built on partnership. We delegate cleaning and cooking to a helper.

For example, on weekends, I might cook lunch, or Meiram might take care of it. Similarly, if needed, I can mop the floor, or Meiram can do it.

For instance, when traveling, Meiram usually takes charge of logistics since he handles it better. When it comes to hosting guests, I take the initiative—I plan the meeting, choose the menu, and create the guest list. This doesn’t mean Meiram can’t host guests, or that I can’t travel; it just means each of us has areas where we feel more confident.

Family Traditions

Laura. One of our traditions is making an effort to spend Sundays together to make it a family day. Sometimes it’s a date day, just spending time at home, or perhaps Meiram plays padel tennis, and I go with him to support him. Afterward, we might take a walk and eat ice cream.

Another family tradition is having regular honest conversations. We discuss common goals, concerns, or grievances. These conversations help us understand each other better and maintain an emotional connection.

Another important tradition, or rather habit, is regular visits to a psychologist. We attend both individual and family sessions. Working together and being a couple, we realized it is crucial not only to grow and change together but also to learn to listen to and understand each other. We believe that any conflict can be resolved if both parties strive for understanding and agreement.

Balancing Home Life and Work

Laura. Balancing work with household management is not easy, especially since our work in IT involves managing an entire business—our company currently employs more than 100 staff members, both full-time and part-time. It has become more of a lifestyle than just a job.

We are EdTech entrepreneurs, and work is an integral part of our lives. Recently, we discussed with our psychologist that if work were to suddenly disappear from our lives, a significant part of our identity would disappear too. This is normal for us because we love what we do.

Even when we are resting or walking, we still discuss various ideas or plans—it brings us together. Despite the difficulties, it is our choice to combine family life with running a joint business.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life

Laura. Every family is unique, but there are a few things we believe are important.

First, continuous work on the relationship, always striving to understand each other better and stay on the same page. Perhaps the most important aspect of family life is mutual understanding. It is important to learn to accept the other person’s point of view, as we are all different individuals. This is not always easy, but without it, building long-term and strong relationships is impossible.

The second point is respect. We try to respect each other’s personal boundaries and interests. Without respect, it is also difficult to build something worthwhile and lasting.

And last, but not least, never stop loving each other. That is, nurture this love and create conditions for it. Many people mistakenly associate love only with the honeymoon phase, butterflies in the stomach, but in reality, it must be supported and developed throughout life. This can be anything: from romantic dates to joint trips or surprises. It is important to create and initiate these moments, otherwise, they will not happen on their own.

Love requires effort and attention, but if you are willing to work on your relationship together, the results will not keep you waiting.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Laura. Our family is different because we are involved in both IT and business, and we can talk about these topics endlessly. Sometimes, Meiram and I sit with a group of people who are not entrepreneurs and are not interested in IT or the tech field. When we discuss artificial intelligence, business processes, sales automation, or scaling, we are not understood. The problem is not with the people, but rather that we find it easier to communicate with those who share common ground with us.

Another difference between our family and others lies not only in business and IT but also in universal human values. We have had difficult moments when we were on the verge of divorce and thought we could no longer be together. But what helped us overcome this and continues to help us is the conviction that any problem is solvable and that solutions can be found if both parties want it.

Of course, if one does not want to, that is a different matter. But if we both want to be together or run a joint business, and conflicts arise, all we need to do is talk and find a win-win solution. This is the approach we strive to follow.