Nurzhan Nogerbek: A Success Story in IT, from First Code to a British Company

Nurzhhan Nogerbek is a programmer, dreamer, and innovator. From his first steps in programming with Turbo Pascal to his current role as a software engineer at one of the leading technology companies in Britain, his career represents constant forward movement, exploration of new horizons, and breaking stereotypes about traditional programming. In this interview for The Tech, Nurzhhan shares his unique path in IT, explains how his passion for technology evolved into a professional challenge, and discusses why AWS cloud technologies became his chosen field. We discussed the importance of innovation in retail, his approaches to managing development teams, and the technological trends he believes will shape the future of the industry.

My journey began with a fascination for technology from an early age. I always loved taking apart various devices to understand how they worked and then putting them back together. To be honest, I was better at taking things apart than putting them back together, but every experience brought new knowledge.

During my school years, I saved the money my parents gave me for cafeteria meals to buy new issues of Chip magazine. At that time, personal computers and the internet were luxuries. Chip magazine was my only source of invaluable knowledge. I still remember how each new issue opened up new horizons in the world of electronics and programming.

Seeing my interest in electronics, my father once brought home an old computer that had been written off from work. It ran Windows 95 with a single game called "Aladdin." I spent several hours glued to the screen, progressing level by level to save the princess. But as I immersed myself in the world of computer games, a desire to create something of my own on that computer awakened within me.

In one of the Chip magazine issues, I came across an article stating that there was a programming language called Turbo Pascal, and that you could create simple programs with it. This became my first step into the world of programming.

And now, many years later, I work as a software engineer at a British company headquartered in London, where my passion for technology and programming has become my professional reality.

Key principles for success in IT

After many years in IT, I have concluded that success depends on a combination of several key principles that ensure effective functioning and continuous development. Some of these can be described and grouped as follows:

1. Innovation and creativity: IT constantly requires new ideas, technologies, and approaches. Successful projects in this field are often based on innovation and creative thinking capable of transforming the industry.

2. Flexibility and adaptability: Companies that can respond flexibly to changes successfully adapt and remain competitive.

3. Quality and reliability: Users expect flawless operation of software and IT systems, and brand trust is built on this foundation.

4. Communication and collaboration: Successful IT projects often depend on effective communication and collaboration between various teams and stakeholders. Clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings and accelerates goal achievement.

5. Learning and self-development: The rapid advancement of technology requires continuous learning and self-development for IT specialists.

6. Strategic thinking: In IT, it is important to have a clear understanding of the company’s goals and strategy.

7. Agility and speed: Rapid response to changes in external conditions and market competition allows companies to stay afloat and even outpace competitors. Agile development methodologies, such as Agile, help accelerate the development process and product delivery to market.

8. Security and data protection: In light of increasingly growing cybersecurity threats, data protection and information security have become increasingly important aspects of successful IT activities. Robust protection measures help prevent data breaches and maintain user trust.

These principles are interconnected and together form the foundation for successful work in the IT sector. Success in IT is achieved not only through technical skills but also through the ability to adapt to change, innovative thinking, and effective communication.

Major changes in the IT industry in recent years

Without a doubt, these are cloud technologies and artificial intelligence.

The shift to cloud solutions has changed the way infrastructure is deployed, scaled, and managed, making processes more flexible and efficient. Cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud provide flexibility, scalability, and availability, enabling faster responses to changing business needs.

The application of AI in various aspects of IT, such as data analytics, process automation, and product development, has improved the efficiency and accuracy of solutions.

Professional sources of inspiration

I have always been inspired by Linus Torvalds’ approach to software development. He demonstrates that technology can be not only powerful but also accessible to everyone. His idea of creating Linux with open-source code and the Git version control system is akin to a philosophy of freedom and collaboration. Thanks to these two projects, people around the world can now contribute and make the world better without fear of limitations or barriers. He does not simply dictate his rules but is willing to learn and change alongside the community. In short, Linus Torvalds is for me a symbol of freedom, creativity, and openness, and his approach to work is a true source of inspiration!

Approach to managing and developing development teams

When I first started my career as a Team Lead, I realized that the most important aspect of working with a development team is the ability to inspire and motivate each member. I believe that true leadership is manifested not only in managing processes and achieving goals but also in helping every team member unlock their potential. My experience as a Team Lead of a development team helped me understand that true leadership lies in creating an inspiring atmosphere where every team member feels valued and motivated to achieve common goals.

Most significant aspects of digital transformation for the retail industry

The growth of online sales and e-commerce is one of the most noticeable aspects of digital transformation in retail. Companies are actively developing their online stores, offering convenient mobile applications, and creating multimedia platforms to attract and retain customers. Additionally, using data to create personalized offers and recommendations allows retailers to better understand their customers and improve their shopping experience. Data analytics helps optimize product assortments, pricing, and marketing campaigns. Currently, retailers strive to provide their customers with a unified shopping experience regardless of the channel (online, mobile device, or physical store). Integrating various sales channels allows for the creation of a convenient and coherent shopping environment.

Advancements in logistics and delivery technologies, such as automated warehouses, drones, and autonomous vehicles, allow retail companies to optimize delivery processes and improve customer service. The implementation of artificial intelligence and automation enables retailers to optimize inventory management, demand forecasting, order processing, and customer service, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Digital transformation in retail aims to create a more convenient, personalized, and innovative experience for customers. This includes improving user interfaces, increasing the speed and convenience of shopping, and providing innovative services and products.

Motivations for specializing in cloud computing, particularly AWS services

My immersion into the world of cloud technologies began in the autumn of 2020 at a conference where I had the fortune of meeting two IT entrepreneurs. They invited me to lead the development team for a new project called 3beep. It was an omnichannel SaaS platform.

One of my main tasks was designing the platform’s system architecture from scratch. After carefully weighing all requirements, discussing with all stakeholders, and studying publicly available reports from giants like Discord and Instagram, I decided to use a serverless architecture based on AWS products. This choice proved optimal for the company and yielded its benefits.

The serverless architecture and AWS products provided the project with several advantages:

— Scalability: We could easily scale our infrastructure according to the changing needs of the project.

— Flexibility: The serverless approach allowed us to quickly implement new functionalities and adapt to changes.

— Cost-effectiveness: We paid only for the resources we used, which reduced our infrastructure costs.

— Management: AWS services provided us with extensive opportunities for monitoring, debugging, and managing our infrastructure.

In the end, my acquaintance with cloud technologies began with the 3beep project, where the use of a serverless architecture based on AWS products proved to be the right decision, and this became the starting point for my immersion into this fascinating cloud world.

To conclude, Nurzhhan Nogerbek shares a thought that, in his opinion, is the key to understanding his drive for innovation and relentless development in the world of technology. He recalls Linus Torvalds’ words, which state: “The intellectual pleasure of programming is much more important than many people think. It is the pleasure of pure creation. It is this that makes programmers program, even if they are not paid for it.” These words, like a reflection in a mirror, illustrate Nurzhhan’s life path—from his first lines of code to significant projects on a global scale. Like Torvalds, Nurzhhan finds his passion in creating something new, striving for perfection, and the opportunity to share his knowledge with others. Perhaps this is the main secret of successful technological innovators—the unceasing thirst for knowledge and the desire to make the world better through the code they write.