WomenInTech. "Career paths are not limited by age or external factors," — stories of successful women in IT

Chinara Bakirova, city — Bishkek, Lead Test Engineer, Instagram

About Me

Currently, I work as a Lead Test Engineer, helping to release high-quality and user-friendly applications for users. 

In my work, I particularly value the opportunity to deeply immerse myself in the product, dissect the application logic, analyze system behavior in various scenarios, and identify potential vulnerabilities. I am interested in exploring how everything works “under the hood” and finding ways to make the system even more reliable and robust.

How I Entered the IT Profession

By education, I am an instrumentation engineer. Immediately after university, I started working as a metrologist in the Quality Control Department, and then for nearly nine years, I was an auditor of the quality management system. These years gave me systematic thinking, attention to detail, the ability to build rapport with people, and the skill to organize processes. Since 2021, I have been in IT and chose the field of testing, where I was able to apply my experience in quality control and auditing. 

Gradually, I progressed from a junior specialist to a Lead Test Engineer and had the opportunity to work as a mentor. By the way, many of my students are successfully advancing in their careers, which I am genuinely proud of.

I have been interested in the IT field for a long time; I took various courses and studied different areas, but ultimately, testing became an organic continuation of my previous activities. As someone with a background in quality control and systems analysis, I felt that I had found my place. Here, you can apply an analytical approach and logic, while also encountering something new every day, and the knowledge gained from courses became a good addition and tool in my work.

About Stereotypes

Fortunately, I have not felt open discrimination or biased attitudes from colleagues, neither in IT nor in previous fields. But, like many others, I had internal doubts: “What if it doesn’t work out?” “Will I be able to handle it?” These thoughts are also a reflection of the stereotypes we sometimes live with inside ourselves. 

Over time, I realized that the main thing is not to let them hinder action. If you really want to, you can overcome a lot. The key is to believe in yourself, put in effort, and, of course, keep learning.

Barriers for Women in IT

Sometimes these are not so much external barriers as internal lack of confidence or lack of support at the start. Like any person, regardless of gender, it is important to believe in your own strength, not be afraid to speak up, find like-minded people, and share experience. 

Mentorship helped me with this—especially at the beginning of my career. I was fortunate to learn from a strong specialist who played an important role in my professional development. Later, when I myself became a mentor, it became not only an investment in others but also a way to strengthen my own confidence and cope with manifestations of imposter syndrome, although it sometimes still makes itself known. But perhaps this is good: it prevents you from stopping in your development. And, additionally, it is necessary to be part of a supportive community and not remain isolated.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Do not be afraid to change direction if you feel that the question: “Who will I become when I grow up?”, — is still open. Try, learn, explore, and choose what resonates with you. I changed professions, and it became one of the best decisions in my life. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, and most importantly, ask questions. I always repeat this to my students, and sometimes to my colleagues: the ability to ask questions is one of the most important skills in any field. And definitely maintain interest in what you do. Even if the path seems atypical, it may turn out to be the most correct one.

Ainur Temirkhanqyzы, city — Almaty, CEO and co-founder of Globerce Capital Ltd., Advisor to the Chairman of the Board on Digital Products at Freedom Bank, founder of the Niet Foundation, Instagram, Instagram

About Me

First and foremost, I am an entrepreneur and owner of the IT holding Globerce Capital, which includes several companies. Each of them represents a separate project and product in the technology sector. Within the framework of the holding’s activities, we implement solutions for the financial sector, including credit pipelines and courier delivery systems. In addition, we engage in the development of marketplaces and other digital solutions.

I am also an advisor to the chairman of the board at Freedom Bank, where I oversee digital projects, including digital mortgages, loans for individual entrepreneurs, and corporate credit solutions. Within these areas, we develop and implement compliance processes, card machines, and other technological products, ensuring their full functionality.

Aside from business activities, I actively develop the charitable foundation Niet, which is already over seven years old. This is an important part of my life, inspiring new ideas and initiatives.

As part of the foundation’s digitalization, we strive to create innovative solutions and a full-fledged digital platform where documents can be submitted remotely, assistance can be received, and interaction with donors can take place. Certificates confirming the support provided will be sent via SMS and used at partner locations.

We are also participating in the creation of significant projects, such as the first digital mortgage and other products that simplify access to important services. Our goal is not only to increase user comfort but also to contribute to the development of the country.

We focus on developing technological solutions that make interaction with users more convenient. Artificial intelligence plays a key role in this. Within the company, we are already implementing the automation of all manual processes, including analytics and dashboards, providing management with effective tools for control.

Our ambitious goal is to become the first IT company fully based on AI by the end of the year, and we are actively working on this. Bringing good into everything is our credo.

How I Entered the IT Profession

I graduated from KazNU (KBTU) with a degree in “Information Systems.” Initially, I considered applying to the oil faculty, but after my uncle’s advice, I chose IT. In 2006, the direction was just gaining popularity, and I understand that this choice was correct. Four years of intensive study of mathematics and technical disciplines laid a solid foundation for further professional development.  

I started working already in my second year. I always aimed to manage my own business. For this, it was necessary to understand everything—from accounting to understanding various processes. At first, I worked on analytical articles, researched different markets, worked as an author, and later as an editor. I also worked in the recruitment department of KBTU.  

After graduating from university, I first joined “ATF Bank,” where I worked for nine months, and then decided to try myself in the film industry. For five years, I filmed movies and cartoons, while simultaneously developing my own projects. At KBTU, I had a laboratory and participated in the launch of a master’s program in computer graphics. I combined several directions at once, working at the bank and the university.  

The film industry became a valuable experience for me. Organizing the creative process, interacting with creative teams—this is the most difficult part. 

IT has always remained my main direction. Since 2011, I have had my own development company. Some employees have been working with me for over 15 years. Later, projects in the financial and telecom sectors were added.  

I have always liked working with creative people, engaging in the creation of new products and solutions. Business, especially financial, requires a structured approach, but it is also important to preserve space for creativity and innovation. 

About Stereotypes

I graduated from school with an “Altyndy Belgi” (Golden Badge), and studied an IT specialty. Among my classmates were participants in international olympiads, and many studied on scholarships. In such conditions, besides knowledge, we had nothing— all energy went into studying to maintain the scholarship.  

I am firmly convinced that knowledge is the best way to communicate on equal terms with any person, regardless of their professional background or field of activity. In the IT field, as in mathematics, there is no gender division—knowledge remains knowledge, regardless of gender. Often, stereotypes create artificial barriers, but in practice, when people communicate in the same language of professionalism, issues of perception disappear.  

I personally have never encountered biased attitudes. All my colleagues, friends, and classmates are from the same academic environment, where only professional skills matter.

Barriers for Women in IT

In my company, I also do not divide employees by gender—salary ranges for the same position are the same, regardless of whether it is a man or a woman. We have a transparent selection system where knowledge and professionalism play the key role. If a person passes the selection stages and meets the requirements, they become part of the team, regardless of other factors.  

On the contrary, I believe that women are often more diligent, approach work responsibly, are multitaskers, and excellent managers. Of course, difficulties exist everywhere, but here willpower is important. If a person is truly passionate about their work and ready to learn, there can be no obstacles.  

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Currently, the industry is experiencing a unique period, and the new generation of specialists is entering it at a favorable time. They do not face the same difficulties that the previous generation went through. Children start programming already in school, whereas before this only happened at the university. If we talk about recommendations, now is the best time to learn, create, develop, and start as early as possible.

The career path is not limited by age or external factors. In our company, there was a case when a specialist at the age of 50 decided to change professions and moved into IT as a junior. Among developers, there are talented team leaders who are 23-24 years old, and they enthusiastically devote themselves to the work and strive to create something new. At the same time, they manage junior specialists who are 50 years old. 

In this field, there are no barriers if a person strives for development and improvement. We adhere to the principle of evaluating exclusively results, not external factors.