IT families: Olzhas and Enlik Satiev

Olzhas Satiev, city — Astana, President of TSARKA, Facebook

Enlik Satieva, city — Astana, Vice President of TSARKA Group, Instagram

About Us

Enlik. We met during Olzhas's business trip to Kyiv: I was then studying at one of the best p2p programming schools in the world — Ecole 42, and Olzhas was invited to meet with our Kazakh student group at the school. That’s where the initial “connection” happened, and our full-fledged relationship began later, when I returned to Astana and Olzhas proposed working together on a startup. Since then, we’ve been inseparable — both in life and in work.

How We Entered the IT Field

Olzhas. I’ve been connected to IT since childhood. In Karaganda, I was one of the first to get a personal computer — I was less than five years old. My parents were IT professionals. My mother programmed until retirement. Since childhood, I was passionate about programming, participated in various olympiads, but was most interested in cybersecurity. I also published in the first online IT magazine, FreeTech. Later, I joined one of the first cybersecurity forums, thehack.kz. So, from a young age, I understood where I would develop and what I would do.

Enlik. Since childhood, I loved tinkering with technology: I could connect a printer myself, disassemble and assemble a router. I finished school with a physics and mathematics focus, thinking of becoming a physicist-scientist, but my love for programming prevailed. I successfully passed the selection for Ecole 42 and got into one of the most difficult specializations — UNIX, system programming, where only 20 out of 1500 students studied. Today, I specialize in malware analysis.

Our work format is hybrid: many meetings, business trips, often in different time zones, but at the same time, we automate everything possible. Also, we are co-founders of TSARKA GROUP, so our schedule is more like “24/7, but out of love.”

Distribution of Responsibilities

Olzhas and Enlik. We are not the type to cook every evening at home — work doesn’t always allow it. But on weekends, if there’s a window of time, we love cooking manty and organizing cozy evenings with friends. In our free time, we play computer games together, watch science fiction or zombie movies, and go out of town with our dog, Yuki. We don’t strictly divide responsibilities: each takes on what they can handle and what requires attention at the moment.

Family Traditions

Olzhas and Enlik. We have many small traditions: every Sunday, a breakfast out together as a trio — us, coffee, and Yuki. But our favorite tradition is car trips. We try to rent a car in every country and explore new places not from observation decks, but from the roadside.

And before each KazHackStan conference, Yuki and I drive from Astana to Almaty by car with stops — this is already our personal ritual.

As for values — it’s important for us to be honest with each other, respect boundaries, and grow together. And, probably, the most important thing: never turn a partner into “background music.” Even if work, business, and time are worth their weight in gold.

Combining Household and Work

Enlik. Honestly, combining IT and family life is not easy. When you not only live together but also build your own business — the line between “home” and “work” blurs. We are both workaholics, and sometimes this turns into late-night brainstorming sessions, discussing tasks even during dinner. But that’s the fun part: we understand each other with half a word, support each other in critical moments, and inspire each other. This is not just a relationship — it’s a true partnership.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life

Olzhas. Being honest is the foundation. Don’t be afraid to express emotions, even if they’re not perfect. Respect each other’s dreams and choices. Support not only in moments of victory but also when something doesn’t work out for your partner. Choose each other every day — even in small things. And remember that love is not just a feeling, but also an action.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Olzhas and Enlik. We probably love structuring things a bit more: schedules, tasks, vacations, even household chores. A Kanban board for shared life — why not?

But the main difference is the high degree of mutual understanding. We don’t hold grudges against each other for overtime or long meetings, because we’re in the same mode ourselves. We are united by a common cause, ambitions, and the desire to grow. We are not just a couple, but a real team. And perhaps that’s exactly our difference: we walk through life together and invest equally in both family and our shared future.