WomenInTech. "Girls get dolls, boys get computers" — women discuss stereotypes and challenges in the IT industry

We share stories of successful women in IT and useful advice for those who are just starting their journey.

About Me

I am a project manager in the field of electricity and information system development. I am an expert in business analysis and a professional Scrum Master. After school, I enrolled at Satbayev University in the "Computer Engineering and Software" department. I obtained the qualification of a software engineer.

How I entered the IT profession

Already in the 10th grade, I knew that I wanted to become a software engineer. My choice of profession was influenced by stories from my aunt, who worked as a programmer in a bank, and my mother's friend, who worked in a large IT company.

After graduating from university, I passed a selection process conducted by a private IT company. As a result, I was invited to Astana to work as a specialist for setting up project tasks.
I worked at JSC "National Information Technologies" for about four years. I started as a business analyst and advanced to the position of project manager. I participated in more than 10 state-scale projects, 4 of which I started from scratch.

About Stereotypes

At the beginning of my career, I encountered the fact that technical directors and team leaders did not take female business analysts seriously. This persists today: developers do not always take female programmers seriously.

But time shows that women usually approach their work more responsibly.

Obstacles for Women in IT

The majority of the IT community consists of men. There are always more guys at forums and events. At the same time, we have many talented women working in IT and launching their own startups.

I always tried to be on par with men. I developed myself and studied a lot independently. I think this helped me build my career.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Go forward and do not stop. The main thing is diligence, responsibility, purposefulness, and the desire to show the results of your work.

Understand what IT projects and application system development mean to you. Hone the habit of seeing things through to the end. Do not be lazy, invest in yourself and your education.

Ayalym Ayaganova, city — Astana, financier, co-founder and CEO of Acvee Finance, board member of TechnoWomen, head of the group of technical women entrepreneurs

About Me

I have been developing crowdfunding in Kazakhstan for the fourth year.

The first project — AngelForce crowdfunding required a license from the MFSA. I tried to obtain it for a whole year: I filled out documents myself and wrote the work policy. At the same time, I launched the project in test mode: we received many applications. We did not get the license because we submitted an incomplete package of documents, supplementing it later — this became the reason for refusal.

But we saw a great need for alternative financing. I studied the market, banks, financial organizations, and the investment sector. Together with a partner, I launched a new project — Acvee Finance. We engage in crowdfunding factoring — a form of financing the turnover of suppliers' goods, where retail investors invest their funds under our management. We finance trade deals, and as a result, we pay rewards. Investor returns reach up to 67%, and suppliers receive fast and affordable financing. We work according to Islamic principles and plan to get accredited by AAOIFI.
I am also a board member of TechnoWomen in Central Asia. It is important for me to support women and girls on their career path.

How I entered the IT profession

I entered the IT sector in 2019. After my divorce, I decided to find an alternative source of income for myself and create my own business. I started studying startups for investment. That's when I discovered Seedstars — an international accelerator that conducts tours during which startups pitch in different cities. I realized that I wanted to do this.

About Stereotypes

I have encountered many stereotypes. People saw a beautiful girl in me and asked why I needed this. But after 10 minutes of conversation, everything changed, even the look: it became serious and tense.

I have been working with men since I was 16. Because of stereotypes, I always have to keep myself strict and restrained. Prove that you can really do something, work three to four times harder for it.

Obstacles for Women in IT

Girls — dolls, boys — computers. We grew up like this since childhood. Such stereotypes are deeply ingrained in the mentality. Even now, I see people's skeptical attitude when I talk about the women's community in IT and work in the fintech sector.

Men have it easier in this regard — they are perceived immediately.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Never be afraid. Believe in yourself and what you do. Build a networking network, meet the right people. Find problems and solve them. Be multifunctional. When working in startups — keep a finger on the pulse of events to remain in demand in the market.