WomenInTech. "There were situations where male colleagues received higher salaries for the same work," — women discuss stereotypes and challenges in IT

Aruzhan Mede, city — Astana, CEO and founder of AMAN, @aruforpresident

About me

Together with my team, we are building a unified mobile emergency management platform to prevent and document crimes.

University life should be active: participate in competitions, various clubs, social events, and build quality connections. Thanks to these strong ties, you can establish good relationships with future partners, colleagues, and even employers. This is exactly what happened to me; thanks to one of such events, I learned about an internship search at the Hilton Astana hotel, applied there, and received a job offer.

That’s how my work at the hotel began. As an intern, I worked from 10 to 14 hours a day so that I would be noticed, my efforts appreciated, and offered official employment in Spain. Routine work, a huge workload, and 1000 hours in front of the monitor led to me being offered the role of a financial specialist in client relations at the hotel. My first job, first colleagues, connections, and clients were the result of great diligence and desire.

The next milestone in my life was related to the UN, specifically the conference for students and schoolchildren “Change the World Model with the UN.” The conference takes place annually at the UN headquarters in New York. Important issues related to gender inequality, drug control, hunger in third-world countries, and so on are discussed at the conference. If the first time I participated in the conference as a delegate from our country, then later, through networking, the ability to present myself, and activism, I attracted the attention of the organizers and subsequently received the role of reporter, director, and later chairman of the conference.

I realized that creating quality connections, wherever you are, the ability to present yourself, and conducting small talk are important. So, don’t eat alone!

You can get to the conference through the official website www.cwmun.org, where you can also apply for a grant or internship.

How I came to the IT profession

Two years before the pandemic, having graduated from university with a finance diploma, I went to work at Hilton Diagonal Mar. Everything was perfect: a friendly team, interesting tasks, networking, events. It was perfect, but it was becoming too comfortable. At the moment when I realized this, the pandemic hit: closed borders, the hotel sector incurring billions in losses, and the tourism industry began to fade, so I returned to Kazakhstan to “wait out” Covid-19.

Upon returning to Astana, I tried to continue my career at local Hilton Astana, The Ritz-Carlton Astana, or Astana Marriott Hotel. It felt like there would be no more wow moments, but I didn’t know how to do anything else, and starting something new was scary. After a couple of months of searching, I was offered a job as an assistant to the general manager of Astana Marriott Hotel, and simultaneously at an educational IT company.

Honestly, there was a temptation to go down the familiar path and not bother, but after long deliberations, I accepted the offer and ended up in the EdTech sector. This “beginner’s” path I went through is the most interesting and full of unexpected acquaintances, events, and twists.

At that time, I decided for myself: “If you think about changing the vector of your career, but think it’s a step backward, remember: it’s better to lose two or three years of progress than to waste the next 20 years.”

Obstacles for women in IT

Inequality in pay can still be a real problem. There were situations where I found out that my male colleagues were paid more for the same work. This is unfair, and to fight this, I tried to be as informed as possible about market salaries and openly discuss this issue with management. Sometimes it required courage and persistence from me, but I understood that it was important to learn to stand up for my rights.

Lack of mentorship is another obstacle on the path to career growth. There are still not many women leaders in IT, and sometimes I lacked role models and advice from experienced professionals.

To cope with this, I actively sought mentors among colleagues and in professional communities. These people helped me see new perspectives and gave valuable recommendations.

Overcoming these obstacles, I realized that the main thing is self-belief and confidence in my abilities. I constantly learned, developed professional skills, and was not afraid to take responsibility. Networking and creating my professional environment also played a key role in my success. These connections helped me find new opportunities and receive support in difficult moments.

In the end, all these challenges will actually make you stronger and allow you to achieve success in the IT field. I hope that my experience will inspire other women to take bold steps in their careers and help them overcome similar difficulties.

Recommendations for those just starting their journey

— do not be afraid of change: if you feel stuck in your comfort zone or your current job does not bring satisfaction, do not be afraid to change your career direction. It is better to risk and try something new than to remain in an unsatisfying situation

— invest in your education: continuous learning and skill development are the keys to success. This includes not only formal

education but also independent study of new technologies and participation in incubation and acceleration programs

— networking: creating and maintaining professional connections can open up new career opportunities. Participate in conferences, meetups, and online communities

— seek mentors: find experienced professionals who can give you advice and support. Mentors or trackers can help avoid mistakes and achieve your personal goals faster

— set goals and work on them: clearly define your career goals and create a plan to achieve them. This will help you focus on important tasks and not waste time on unimportant matters, as you will have a constant focus.

Bermet Dosmambetova, city — Bishkek, product manager, @beeemd  

About me

In recent years, I have been working as a product manager and creating products for the foreign market. And I am also a mom. 

Aside from working in the foreign market, I also create a platform for product managers in Kyrgyzstan. We host podcasts about product management and provide resources for their professional growth. Our goal is to help them become experienced specialists capable of creating products that will be in demand not only in Kyrgyzstan but also in Central Asia.

Additionally, we are developing our own startup with colleagues from Bishkek. Some of us are in Bishkek, and some are in Silicon Valley, but we are all from Kyrgyzstan. Our task is to help technical specialists learn English and enter the international market, where higher salaries and better working conditions are most often offered. 

How I came to the IT profession

I worked in marketing and telecommunications. In 2019, I joined Beeline Kyrgyzstan, where digital products were actively being developed. That’s how my journey in IT began as a product owner: I worked with the development team. Later, I worked at Kazakh startups and then entered the international market — I started working for a British startup based in London. 

It all started with passion and studying information: I began reading, listening to people involved in product management and creating digital products, and also became fascinated with UX design. Gradually, I came to creating products that users love. It turned out to be interesting, engaging, and sometimes difficult.

About stereotypes

I have had unpleasant experiences in my career. At Beeline Kyrgyzstan during the pandemic, I had to combine work with motherhood, as kindergartens were not working, and the work was online. But unfortunately, the company did not understand this. I still feel sad that this happened and that such things may still be happening in local companies.

After that, I no longer worked for local companies because I believed that when working for the foreign market, no one would pay attention to the fact that you have a child or that you are a woman. In general, I believe that moms are motivated and are among the most productive employees, especially those who raise children alone, as in my case. They have high motivation to grow, achieve success, and earn well, which constantly drives them and does not allow them to waste time on unnecessary things. This is strong fuel. 

Obstacles for women in IT

Women face various stereotypes. It is difficult to combine household chores, family, and a child. A child can get sick, and in the IT environment, especially in the startup sphere, everything is dynamic and fast-paced. Sometimes it is hard to keep up. In IT, you experience a great fear of missing out because something new appears every day. If you do not update your knowledge, you feel behind.

I think stereotypes still exist. I had one case where I was not hired for an IT job because I was in the early stages of pregnancy. People ask inappropriate questions during interviews, for example: “You just got married, when are you planning to have children?”, “Do you plan to have children in the near future?”. This is tactless and wrong. Such questions should stop being asked. And this happened more than once. 

Today, I see more and more girls in IT, mostly in managerial positions, such as product and project management.

We girls often doubt ourselves and are more critical of ourselves. If we don’t know something, we often refuse opportunities. What I am learning from men in the IT field is the desire to try, to apply, even if you are not sure of your knowledge or abilities. It is important to try, negotiate with your inner critic, give yourself a chance to make a mistake, but still try. 

It’s great when there are more examples of girls not giving up and trying.

Recommendations for those just starting their journey

For those starting their career path, I wish you to try many different things and see what suits you specifically. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the IT field, because it is currently in the hype. I believe that if you are truly passionate about your work and give it your all, you will always be valued and in demand.

I also recommend saving up a safety cushion so that you always have the opportunity to switch to where you want. I think that the trend for the next few years will be switching from one field to another, within the IT field. 

I recommend staying curious, open, and not afraid to try. Curiosity drives everything.