Women in Tech CCA Awards 2024: How the Region's Main Award Took Place in Tashkent

Aziza Nematova, Uzbekistan, Apprentice, Cyber Security Club Uzbekistan
Winner of the CCA Awards in the ASPIRING TEEN category, LinkedIn

About participating in the award

I chose cybersecurity because I wanted to work in a field where you never feel like you’ve reached your limit. I decided to choose something truly challenging and important—cybersecurity turned out to be that field. So, I started studying the latest technologies in this area—quantum computing through the Girls In Research program. I participated in mentorship sessions at 5:00 AM US time, as I had a TechGirls program later in the day. Later, I was invited to join Cybersecurity Club Uz, an invitation that means a lot to me.

Recommendations

Here are a few tips:

— No one will know what you need unless you say it. Be brave enough to knock on doors, strong enough to accept rejection. Remember that the person you want to become is always working hard on themselves. Know that the worst thing that can happen when you apply for projects and programs is hearing “no,” and that’s it. But when you’re afraid of losing and don’t apply, you’ve already missed the opportunity.
— Networking is the key, and attitude is the reason. Make time to communicate with people. Spend time making an impression with your attitude—through big or small actions, kind words, and ideas in conversation.
— Skills always come first. Choose a skill that you like, that inspires you. So much so that if someone asks you to work after 11:00 PM, you’ll feel a spark of enthusiasm light up in your eyes, keeping you awake.

Arzugul Azizova, Product Owner Veon AdTech, finalist in the in Tech Diplomacy Award category, LinkedIn

About participating in the award

AdTech is technology that makes advertising personalized and effective. I am drawn to the combination of analytics, data, and real impact on business. Creating such solutions from scratch in Uzbekistan is a challenge that has inspired and continues to inspire me.

The award confirmed and highlighted the significance of my work and motivated me to keep moving forward. The community and the award are another step toward supporting women in technology. I am proud to be able to inspire others.

Recommendations

Don’t be afraid to choose difficult paths and set high goals. Always remember that your life is in your hands, and only you decide who you are and who you want to become. Find communities that will support you, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice from those who have walked this path before. Technology is not just work and hard skills, but also an opportunity to create something that changes the world.

Kamila Daminova, General Director LLC HEAL — Health Care, winner in the Most Impactful Initiative award category, LinkedIn

About participating in the award

The project idea emerged at the intersection of my professional background and personal conviction about the importance of digitalizing medicine. I received education in healthcare organization and management, as well as nursing, and my journey began at a lyceum with an in-depth study of obstetrics and gynecology. Seeing how technology changes the world, I always believed that it has the potential to significantly improve the quality of medical services, especially in the field of maternal and child health.

Working in medicine, I noticed that many problems related to maternal complications could be prevented with earlier intervention and education. Together with a team of like-minded people, we began developing a digital product that would provide women with the necessary information and support at any stage of pregnancy. Thus, the idea for HOMILA AI was born—a mobile application and Telegram bot that help reduce the risk of complications through information and prevention.

Plans

At the moment, we are actively working on a new component of the project—a neuro-assistant that will answer users’ questions related to pregnancy. Our AI is trained to understand a wide variety of questions and provide clear, useful answers so that women can feel more confident and informed. At the same time, I am preparing to defend my PhD dissertation, in which I analyze approaches to digital prevention of maternal complications. This stage is an important step toward achieving our goal and spreading knowledge in this field.

Along with joy came the realization of great responsibility: now I understand that our startup HEAL and the HOMILA AI application can impact the lives of thousands of women, which means we need to do everything possible to promote and improve them.