WomenInTech. How women build successful careers in IT

We met with successful women who shared their stories and useful advice for those just starting their journey.

Ekaterina Smirnova, city — Almaty, director of the Aurora Tech Award, @katyamirsnova

About Me

We run an award for women entrepreneurs in technology, for founders of startups that create the most impactful companies in IT. Currently, we are fighting for equal opportunities in venture capital. Because we see a great injustice in the fact that if IT companies founded by men receive 98% of venture capital, then women receive only 2-3%. But at the same time, all studies show that if there is a woman among the founders of a company, it brings more profit per dollar. That is, it is just a stereotype that does not allow them to develop their companies.

If women cannot develop companies, then which companies are not developing? Those that are focused on women's health and safety. Women make up 50% of the globe, but at the same time, their health issues are not fully researched, and safety issues are ignored.

How I Came to the IT Profession

I was going to be an academic researcher. I defended my PhD thesis on professional ethics at MSU. Then I worked in journalism, writing about these companies, about venture capital. Then I started helping these companies with reputation, building the right image, and crisis communications.

Then my daughter was born, and I decided to start changing the world as much as I could. Because when you live your own life, you may not realize some injustices. But when it comes to your child's future, it makes you act.

This inspired me to go to the founder of InDrive — Arsen Tomsky. InDrive is an IT company, a unicorn startup, so InDrive decided to help women in the IT field.

About Aurora Tech Award

Aurora Tech Award is an annual global award for women founders of tech startups. We collect applications from all over the world. These are women entrepreneurs who have founded IT startups. This year, women from 90 countries applied to participate. The award is being held for the third time. It is growing rapidly. Last year there were 51 countries, and in the first year — only 8.

Participants go through several stages of selection. The first selection is formal, to ensure that there are indeed women among the founders of the company, and that it is a startup. After the formal selection, each application is reviewed by at least three venture analysts. This year, we partnered with 20 venture funds around the world.
We did this not only to select the best projects but also to get more applications from companies founded by women into these venture funds.

Then, from all applications, the top 20 are selected. This is the shortlist. The jury works with the shortlist. Each jury member reviews the top 20 applications and votes for the one that can have the greatest positive impact on the world.

This year, we have interesting startups on the shortlist from all over the world. For example, a participant from Botswana invented a battery for hearing aids that can be recharged using sunlight. Thus, she came up with a super cheap solution for batteries. She is already collaborating with UNICEF so that children with hearing impairments have access to such devices from childhood. In general, there are many cool projects.

About Stereotypes

I had situations where, for example, a man who did less work than me was paid 20% more. This greatly angered me and made me think again about my career and how I discuss money with my employers.

Obstacles for Women in IT

Often I found myself in situations where I was not given the floor if the room was full of men. I think many women face this.

If we talk about employment in IT, it is unequal pay, an unhealthy atmosphere in the workplace. In IT companies, there are often sexist jokes about how women should be in the kitchen, not at work. There is also the problem of the glass ceiling, when women face obstacles in career growth and top positions are mainly held by men. Besides ourselves, hardly anyone will protect us.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Every woman has a voice, has a place at the table. You can speak, be visible, you have the right to speak. You have the right to be heard, your ideas can be heard. I think even such a simple thought can help.

About Me

I am a specialist in the field of information technology and mobile marketing. With more than 20 years of experience in the IT field, I started my career as a design engineer working on the "State Database of Real Estate Registry" project, one of the key components of the e-government. Gradually growing experience and a desire for professional growth led me to a leadership role at SMS-Consult, where I hold the position of Development Director. For nine years, I have been actively developing the company, managing growth strategies and developing marketing campaigns in the field of mobile marketing.

Aside from my work at SMS-Consult, I am a business analyst at the LLP "Center for Technological Development of Intelligent Systems," where I apply my extensive experience and analytical skills to create innovative solutions for the industrial sector. In my free time, I am a mother of two teenagers, paying special attention to raising children and creating a supportive family atmosphere.

How I Came to the IT Profession

My impressive career path began with working at the LLP IT Research Center. In this company, I underwent my first baptism by fire in the IT field and the path from intern to project manager for the creation and implementation of the state database "Real Estate Registry." This project played an important role in implementing the "E-Government" program in Kazakhstan and became the foundation for further professional growth.

Later in my career, I held leadership positions in various companies, where I successfully implemented ambitious projects and achieved significant results. I worked at a media agency on the strategy for promoting e-government and the first magazine about the digital industry, Digital Kazakhstan.

After that, I moved to the JSC "National Innovation Fund," where I successfully organized events to develop the innovative sphere of the country.
Later, at JSC "National Information Technologies" in the position of Director of the Business Development Department, I organized large-scale events, optimized the department's work, and developed a company development strategy.

These stages in my career allowed me to gain rich experience in various fields, such as information technology, media, and innovation, and achieve significant results in each of them.

I have always been attracted by the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills to create innovative solutions capable of improving people's lives and optimizing business processes. Therefore, working on a global project of the country, with an outstanding team, formed my further path in the IT field.

About Stereotypes

On my career path, I experienced support and inspiration from colleagues, mentors, and close people. I am grateful for the opportunity to work in an industry where my abilities and achievements are valued and recognized regardless of gender or other stereotypes. Thanks to this support and my desire for constant professional growth, I was able to overcome any obstacles and achieve success in my career in the field of information technology.

Obstacles for Women in IT

Women in the IT industry often face various difficulties and obstacles on their path to career growth. Some of them, such as cultural stereotypes and work-life imbalance.

To overcome these obstacles, I adhere to the following approaches: education and professional development, mentoring and support, striving for professional equality, effective time management, and balancing.

To achieve harmony between work and personal life, I strive for effective time planning and task delegation to have enough time for myself and my family.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Be ready to learn and correct mistakes, this is life, this is any development. And most importantly, social communication, develop soft skills such as communication, leadership, time management, and teamwork.

Be open to new opportunities, learn to accept: sometimes the path to success may not be as you planned it. Be ready for new challenges and opportunities that may appear on your path.