IT families: Niyaz Tuleuov and Sholpan Tlegenova

Niyaz Tuleuov, 25 years old, city — Almaty, founder of the Renda platform, frontend developer, @niyaz_tuleuov

Sholpan Tlegenova, 24 years old, city — Almaty, backend developer, @wolpique

About Us

Niyaz and Sholpan. We both studied at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School (NIS) in Aktobe. Initially, we communicated exclusively as friends, and started dating after the pandemic. Sholpan flew back from Shanghai to Aktobe during her second year of university, while Niyaz returned from Moscow for a week. As a result, both of us stayed in Kazakhstan and later began traveling together to various countries.

How We Entered the IT Field

Niyaz. I have always been attracted to technology, and even in school, I started programming and working with robotics. Upon entering Innopolis University, I was immediately involved in university projects. In my first year, I was invited to work, and thus I began combining my studies with professional activity. Currently, we are actively developing the innovative Renda project — rend.kz, and our work is done remotely.

Sholpan. My journey began with studying in China, majoring in "Oil and Gas Engineering." I tried myself in various fields — marketing, engineering, teaching, volunteering, project management, and even helped with applications for studying abroad. Although the experience was interesting, I always felt out of place. Programming always came easily to me, so I decided to take a few programming courses at university and simultaneously started studying backend development. After internships and some work experience, I fully transitioned to freelancing, as I had always dreamed of remote work.

Distribution of Responsibilities

Niyaz. We don’t have a strict division of responsibilities — usually, we handle things depending on our free time and energy. As a man, I feel responsible for the well-being of our family, its financial situation, and overall comfort.

Sholpan. We are not obsessed with household chores; our mood and work are important to us. We tried to delegate household tasks to our technological helpers, like a dishwasher or a robot vacuum. Usually, I take care of nutrition, health, and entertainment. I try to cook at home more often because Niyaz loves home-cooked food.

In our free time, we do sports, watch series, and visit various establishments. We enjoy discussing a wide variety of topics and sometimes hold debates at home.

Family Traditions

Niyaz. If we talk about small family traditions, early in the morning and before bed, we always hug. On Fridays, I make homemade pizza, and we watch something interesting together.

We don’t know where we will live in the future, but we want our children to remember their roots, traditions, and speak several languages, especially their native Kazakh. For us, it is important that our relationship is based on mutual respect, love, and support.

Sholpan. We always try to have lunch together, without phones, to fully enjoy the time spent together. Communication and sharing thoughts with each other are important to us. Love and mutual support are the foundation of our family; this is what makes our relationship special and strong.

Combining Household and Work

Niyaz. One of the main advantages of remote work for me is the ability to be close to my family. The most pleasant thing for me is enjoying an evening cup of tea in the company of my beloved wife.

Sholpan. I appreciate that I can focus on work without being torn between household chores and work. Modern technologies make daily life much easier; we also often use services like cleaning or food delivery. Being a developer is not easy, as all thoughts are occupied with work tasks throughout the day. Therefore, taking breaks for sports or cleaning is a kind of rest from work.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life

Niyaz. Family is when you can be yourself and feel loved. We accept each other as we are and strive to become better.

Sholpan. We are not perfect, but for me, Niyaz is perfect. There is an atmosphere of calm in our home; we do not raise our voices at each other and trust one another. We approach problem-solving rationally; most often, our views on many things coincide. We might be called boring, but for me, this means comfort and safety in the relationship.

It is always important to maintain an honest and open dialogue with each other. We often conduct retrospectives on many topics. We never compare ourselves to others, believing that one should only compare oneself now with oneself in the past. And, of course, we are each other’s biggest fans.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Niyaz. As a developer family, we are always immersed in developing our competencies, which means we frequently discuss modern solutions and innovations. We always have the opportunity for mobility; we often travel. Our circle mainly consists of other IT specialists, so we often meet them in different countries. Such families are usually inclined to start their own startup or business.

Sholpan. Optimization is the key word for such families. I have noticed that IT families constantly strive to optimize all aspects of their lives, from household chores to personal projects. We are always ready for new knowledge, not afraid to change ourselves and our lives. A flexible work schedule and the ability to work remotely allow IT families to travel and relocate without significant problems, which expands their horizons and enriches their experience. In addition, having a wide network of colleagues and professional contacts facilitates the exchange of knowledge, experience, and ideas, which can positively influence career growth and personal development.