"Reached the base camp of Everest," Umit Aitzhanova, IT Project Manager, on her lifestyle

Umit Aitzhanova, city — Astana, IT project manager at Beeline Kazakhstan 

About me

I am an IT project manager at Beeline Kazakhstan. My main responsibility is managing projects related to software development. I do everything to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

Our company uses a flexible hybrid work format, which allows for a good work-life balance. There are no strict time constraints at work. The main thing is that the task is completed on time. This approach helps me distribute my time effectively and enjoy rest without overloading.

Where and how I learn

I always strive for learning and development, as this is an integral part of my work. In our projects, there is always something new to learn. Additionally, the company has a specialized educational platform, Beeline Academy. 

Access to Coursera — a portal with many online courses from leading world universities — helps me expand my knowledge, not only in my professional field. Usually, I set aside time on Fridays to take courses in the IT sector.

Currently, the development of artificial intelligence is relevant, especially with the market entry of ChatGPT. Many projects are moving into this area, and I have to learn how to work with AI. This also requires continuous learning and the pursuit of perfection.

I prefer to look up to my colleagues and partners with whom I collaborate on projects. Each of them is a professional in their field, and they always have something to learn from, whether it's interesting experience or skills.

Environment 

In Almaty, I regularly attended IT conferences and meetups organized by large companies. After moving to another city, this happens less frequently. I appreciate that such events bring the IT community together. I recommend visiting Digital Bridge and beetech conf — an annual IT conference where you can listen to interesting talks, communicate with the IT community, and employees of large global IT giants.

I usually find out about events from colleagues, as well as in industry Telegram communities. I look at who organizes the event and what the program is. If everything matches my interests, I try to attend.

My main inspiring environment is my colleagues, with whom I spend most of my time. Also, my friends and family. My circle of acquaintances is diverse: some work in law, others in oil or finance. It is important to communicate with people from different professions because they bring fresh perspectives, new approaches, and opinions. A diverse environment helps broaden my worldview and look at issues from unexpected angles.

My networking mainly happens at work. This is the most reliable method because, in the process of working together, we get to know each other, build friendly and partnership relationships, unlike meeting people at events. It is difficult to find like-minded people at conferences with whom you can immediately establish a deep connection. It is much simpler and more productive to do this in a work environment.

Where I spend my free time

I prefer to spend my free time with friends, visiting our favorite places. Thanks to the hybrid work format, we can meet on Fridays to enjoy delicious food and discuss work in an informal setting. Additionally, I am interested in learning Portuguese, doing sports, and attending yoga classes.

I love going to the mountains. I visited the Kazakh Altai — an incredibly beautiful place that I recommend to everyone. I also hiked the Lycian Way in Turkey and climbed to the base camp of Mount Everest. It was tough, but it was worth it. I plan to climb Kilimanjaro.

Travel plays an important role in my life. It broadens my horizons, allows me to meet different people, which subsequently helps in work, and improves communication skills. Among the unusual countries I visited in the last year was Iran.

Where and what to buy

I often use Amazon to order necessary items, especially for mountain hikes. Among gadgets, I particularly value Apple technology — their computers are excellent for working in the IT field.