WomenInTech. "I perceived every barrier as an opportunity for growth," — young women from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on their path to success

Zhibek Kamalbek kyzy, city — San Francisco, frontend engineer, Instagram  

About Me

I work as a frontend software engineer at a large company. I live in Silicon Valley, in the state of California. My main task is the development and optimization of web applications that provide a high level of performance and convenience for millions of users around the world.

My career path can be described as that of a dreamer. Initially, I received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the American University in Central Asia, after which I worked as an auditor at KPMG. As a senior auditor on various projects, I gained significant experience and a deep understanding of the business sphere in Kyrgyzstan. Then, I headed the internal control and risk management department at Beeline Kyrgyzstan.

Despite holding a high position and being happy at work, I felt something was missing, and I decided to radically change my profession. My next interest became the field of programming.

How I Entered the IT Field

My passion for technology and the desire to create something new have always been with me. I wrote my first code with the greeting "Hello World!" in Python, even in my first year at the American University in Central Asia. Although my main specialization was in business administration, the university offered the opportunity to study various disciplines, and I took advantage of this chance.

Courses in Computer Science and Management of Information Systems played a special role in my educational journey. I studied the basics of programming, system architecture, database management, and also gained an understanding of how IT solutions can optimize business activities. These knowledge proved to be extremely significant in the IT field and in demand in my further career, especially when I returned to programming.

Back then, as a student, programming seemed too difficult to me, but the desire to return to IT always remained with me, and eventually it became a key factor in my decision to switch to a career in technology.

I underwent training on various courses and moved into IT, developing my skills in frontend development. Working on projects in different companies, I accumulated valuable experience that helps me today. Changing fields was not easy: I had to learn everything from scratch. There were people who did not understand me and often asked why change fields if everything is going well. The answer was simple: I had a dream — to live near the ocean and work in the IT industry.

Immersing myself in frontend development became a natural continuation of my interests and ambitions. Studying modern technologies opened up for me the opportunity to turn ideas into reality.

About Stereotypes

As a woman in IT, I have encountered certain stereotypes, especially in society. To this day, there is a belief that technical professions are mainly for men, and this is reflected in the low number of women in the IT field, even in places like Silicon Valley. This stereotype makes many girls doubt their abilities and give up on a career path in technology.

In IT, I feel support, but it is not without challenges. For a long time, I was the only woman in our team of 14 engineers. Sometimes I felt that I needed to put in extra effort to prove my competence in technical matters, simply because I am a woman.

This experience taught me resilience and self-confidence. I realized that it is important not only to be a good specialist but also to remain true to my principles, despite external prejudices. I hope that by my example I can inspire other women not to be afraid to enter IT and break down stereotypes that hinder their career development.

Barriers for Women in IT

Women in IT often face prejudice and a lack of role models. In a world where technology is traditionally associated with men, it is sometimes necessary to overcome stereotypes and doubts about one's abilities. In such moments, it is important to remember that success is determined not by gender, but by knowledge and perseverance.

To overcome these difficulties, I always tried to maintain self-confidence and took on complex projects to prove my competence. Confidence in one's abilities is a key factor. Support from colleagues and professional communities also played an important role in my path. I surrounded myself with people, especially female friends in the IT field, who believed in me, and I tried to inspire other women facing similar challenges.

I perceived every barrier as an opportunity for growth. Perseverance and support helped me overcome obstacles and move forward, proving that women can successfully develop in IT.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Path

Do not be afraid to dream and set ambitious goals. Learn something new every day, do not stop at what has been achieved, and be ready for change. The IT world is a dynamic environment where knowledge quickly becomes obsolete, so constant development and adaptation are keys to success.

Moreover, it is important not to be afraid of mistakes. Every step, even if it leads to failure, brings you closer to your goals and makes you stronger. Look for opportunities for growth, participate in projects that go beyond your comfort zone, and surround yourself with people who support you.

I am particularly inspired by the fact that the IT field is actively developing in Central Asia, creating many opportunities for those just starting their path. Take advantage of these opportunities and do not be afraid to make yourself known. Your dreams and aspirations are achievable if you are ready to work hard and move towards your goal.

Darya Volkova, city — Almaty, teamlead QA at Kolesa Group 

About Me

I am a cross-platform QA teamlead at Kolesa Group, in the Krisha.kz product. My team includes mobile QA and web QA engineers. We are responsible for releasing a high-quality product on the mobile and web platforms of Krisha.kz.

Aside from work, I play in a women's volleyball team in an amateur league. I also regularly run and watch Formula 1 races.

How I Entered the IT Profession

I have been fascinated by exact sciences since childhood. In the ninth grade, a program from Tomsk University was opened at my school, where they trained specialists in "PC User" and "PC Operator". I went there to study and realized that I wanted to further develop in this direction. Thus began my acquaintance with the IT field. Later, I entered Satbayev University majoring in "Computing Technology and Software".

My first job was a consultant in the software quality control department at one of the Kazakh banks. There I received basic knowledge about testing and got hooked. After the bank, in 2017, I moved to Kolesa Group as a mobile QA engineer. And in mid-2018, I began studying automation and moved to the team of mobile application automators. After a few years, I missed testing the product and returned to it. Subsequently, in 2022, I grew into the role of teamlead for the mobile QA direction. Then, due to the specifics of our project, I gained experience in web testing and, ultimately, arrived at my current position.

About Stereotypes

In my professional path, I have not encountered obvious stereotypes that hindered my career.

There were stereotypes from some developers regarding the QA profession. They said that we are not really needed, just clicking buttons. But they changed their opinion when we took on work and the quality of software increased several times over.

Barriers for Women in IT

Difficulties can arise for everyone, regardless of gender and field of activity. In my opinion, the most common barriers are imposter syndrome and lack of self-confidence.

As for women and girls, a lack of role models, family responsibilities, and their own internal barriers can exacerbate these difficulties. But it pleases me that even with such inputs, women prove their professionalism and make an important contribution to the development of IT.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Path in IT

1. Determine your interests and goals. Consider different directions in IT: development, QA, analytics, management, design, sales, or service. Understand which of them are most interesting to you.

2. IT is a field where you need to constantly develop. If you have chosen this path, always be ready to study new technologies and tools, because current ones become obsolete over time.

3. Gain experience through internships and projects. Participate in internships, freelancing, or open source projects. This will help you gain experience.

4. Do not be afraid to ask for help — there are communities for various directions in IT. There you can find a mentor, ask for advice, and so on.

5. Try and make mistakes. One bug will not make you a bad specialist. In the IT field, as in many other areas, mistakes and failures are a natural part of the learning and growth process. Do not be afraid to ask questions, learn from your mistakes, and give yourself due praise for achievements.

And most importantly — if your eyes do not "light up," then even high salaries will not help. You must like your work. Draw inspiration from what you do!