"LinkedIn is the main place for communication and professional networking," says Aelita Imanaly kyzy about her lifestyle

An IT project manager from Bishkek shared in an interview how perseverance, leadership qualities, and ambition opened up new career opportunities for her.

Aelita Imanaly kyzy, City — Bishkek, IT Project Manager, Instagram

About Me

I work as an IT Project Manager at Optima Bank, developing digital products for legal entities. Exactly three years ago, I began my journey in this field.

My story in project management started when I joined as an assistant project coordinator at THETech, a company specializing in hybrid engineering. I also worked as a mentor and methodologist for IT disciplines at the Faculty of IT and Business at Salymbekov University.

Before transitioning into project management, I had experience in development, working as a frontend developer. Management noticed my leadership qualities and offered me this role. Consequently, at every company where I worked as a frontend developer, I was offered the position of project manager, leveraging my skills. Thus, I gradually moved into this field, progressing from junior to middle level, and now I am aiming for the senior project manager position.

I work on a 5/2 schedule, from 09:00 to 18:00 in the office. The office is located in the city center, which is convenient. After work, I go to the gym. This helps prevent burnout and keeps my body, mind, and overall self in shape. My schedule also includes time for studying English. Additionally, I am a mentor at Technovation Girls, an international organization based in the US that helps girls develop in IT.

Where and How I Learn

I gather information from open sources on the internet, as you can find almost everything there. I always have at least two courses and at least two books that I actively complete and read. For example, right now I am reading business literature, specifically "The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt. At the same time, I also read fiction, such as Mongolian fantasy. 

I take courses on project management, marketing fundamentals, and technical topics. For instance, these might be courses on Rest API, GraphQL, or Java basics. I always start by analyzing the skills I lack in my work and want to develop. Recently, I enrolled in a risk management course. I already knew about risk management, but I delved deeper into this topic.

You can learn at various educational centers and online platforms. In Bishkek, Attractor School is considered one of the best courses for IT and programming, having long gained recognition among employers due to its strong technical foundation. For online learning in the CIS region, Elbrus Bootcamp stands out, offering high-quality programs. It is also worth looking at Coursera, which offers many courses in various fields. For studying mathematics, the Khan Academy platform is excellent.

I also recommend educational platforms such as EPAM Campus, FreeCodeCamp, and Codecademy. These courses help master IT specialties, and top graduates often receive job offers directly from the organizing companies. For example, Anderson uses this approach and plans to soon operate in Kyrgyzstan. On the EPAM Campus platform, it is quite simple to fill in your information and start taking courses. I myself am studying a Java course on this platform. Moreover, I often learn from my colleagues, which is a huge advantage of working in an office for any specialist.

I attend events organized for the entire IT community, experienced professionals, and the Bishkek community. For example, these could be events hosted by Google or the annual KIT forum, conducted with the support of the state and the ministry.

Professional communities of HR specialists, business analysts, and data analysts are actively developing in Kyrgyzstan. They regularly organize small but useful events, such as coffee breaks, where you can communicate, exchange experience, and make valuable connections. 

My Circle 

Mostly, I communicate with colleagues. When I start a new job, I often begin communicating with colleagues, after which we go to bars, parties together, and also conduct team-building activities.

If not from IT, then I communicate with my old friends. Among the new people I meet, there are often startup founders. However, in Kyrgyzstan, I have not found a community for startup founders. It would be great to create such a community where startup founders could meet, exchange ideas, and work together.

I prefer participating in small events organized by communities. Usually, they take place twice a month, and at such events, you can always find useful information. Moreover, you meet acquaintances because the IT community in Kyrgyzstan is small. At the same time, you also meet new people. This helps expand your network, and it's great.

LinkedIn is probably the main place for communication and professional networking.  Active use of this platform helps develop a personal brand.

Where I Spend My Free Time

I prefer to relax with friends, meeting in different places to recharge.

Sometimes I give myself a day off at home to simply relax — both physically and mentally. In my free time, I train and read books. But overall, I have little free time. When it appears, I am always doing something: learning languages, reading, or taking courses.

Reading books and studying English are the main things I do. On Saturdays, I also work on my startup. At the moment, it is more of a hobby because we have a team, we are developing an MVP, but we have not yet received investment, and we are working on our own.

Where to Buy What

If you need gadgets, I recommend going to Softech. It is a store with an excellent selection, and they also have a website. I also prefer to buy Apple devices, and for this, I often go either to Softech or to iStore.

Among my favorite gadgets are Apple devices and products from the Chinese company Vivo, known for its quality devices. Among operating systems, I prefer Linux, specifically Arch Linux — an ideal choice for programmers and engineers.

I also want to note that I actively use Notion and Obsidian in my life. These programs help me plan, store, and document everything I need.