IT families: Pavel Pankov and Alina Novikova

Pavel Pankov, city — Tashkent, data scientist at Veon AdTech, @pavel.pnkv

Alina Novikova, city — Tashkent, project manager at Express24, volunteer at Women in Tech Uzbekistan, @alinanvk 

About Us

Alina. We met seven years ago at work. Pasha worked as a microcontroller programmer, and I was a technical writer. During our shared lunches and walks to work, we found many common topics, shared values, life goals, and haven't been apart since.

How We Entered the IT Field

Alina. We decided to transition into the IT field together to be able to combine travel and work. The quarantine slightly changed our plans, but we were already in the process of changing professions.

Pasha. At some point, I realized I was tired of my current job and didn't see prospects in that direction. I decided that I wanted to work in IT. We both had the desire to enter the IT field. I decided that I wanted to work with data. I took data science courses and started trying to get hired somewhere. And after six months, I was hired by a large Russian IT company.

Alina. First, I went into technical support, and later into project management. During this time, we managed to work remotely, in a hybrid format, and in the office. It is most convenient when the formats and working hours align. This allows us to spend more time on shared hobbies.

Distribution of Responsibilities

Pasha. Everything is democratic in our relationship; I wouldn't say that each of us has a clear set of responsibilities. We try to do everything together and as we wish, but there are some things Alina prefers to do more, and some things I do. A big plus is that we can count on each other's support and help. When I was taking courses, Alina took on many household tasks. When Alina needed more time for work or study, I took on part of the responsibilities.

Alina. Pasha cooks deliciously, so this responsibility usually falls on him. We spend our free time actively; we love walking a lot, spending time with family, taking photos with film cameras, going hiking, gathering with friends, playing board games, and attending master classes.

Family Traditions

Alina. Our family is still quite young, so we haven't had time to establish traditions yet. We respect each other, discuss joint plans, and solve all arising problems together.

Pasha. I would call our values love, trust, and respect.

Combining Household and Work

Alina. The IT field allows choosing a suitable work format, so combining it with household duties is quite easy.

Pasha. In general, I don't see any difficulties. I would even say that when one of us needs time, it becomes an opportunity for the other to also do something useful. Our work is not such that we have to stay late and devote ourselves completely to it, so it's not hard for us.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life

Alina. It seems to me that the secret to a happy family life is trust, love, and open communication.

Pasha. Respect and value each other, consider each other's opinions, support, and trust each other. It is important to talk and know about each other's desires.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Alina. IT families are less conservative, more mobile, have opportunities to implement their plans, and have free time for their hobbies.

Pasha. We don't differ much from others. We are just like other people, but we are united by working in a similar field. It's good that we both understand IT and can discuss something new, go to conferences together.