WomenInTech. "My job is constant forward movement," — girls from Central Asia on their path to success

Zhansaya Nugasbaeva, city — Almaty, Production Director at tekmates, Instagram

About Me

I am from Ust-Kamenogorsk, a small city in Eastern Kazakhstan. I hold the position of Production Director at tekmates, a company where I bring complex IT projects to life, from the initial idea to the creation of the final product.

I lead several teams working on the development of an omnichannel banking product, build trusting relationships with business stakeholders, and ensure the selection of the right architectural solutions for application modernization. I also oversee the implementation of automation, manage processes at the CI/CD stages, and supervise the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), from planning to deployment and maintenance.

My work is constant forward movement, the challenges I face every day, and the decisions I make to turn the impossible into reality.
My journey in IT began in school, where I studied in a physics and mathematics class. I then received an education in computer science: I completed my first year at Suleyman Demirel University and continued my studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. As a student, I completed an internship at Amazon, where I received a full-time offer. At Amazon, I worked on projects to improve Amazon Video personalization. This experience opened new horizons for me and became a starting point for further growth. Later, I worked at EPAM, Alfa-Bank, and startups in the US and Kazakhstan, such as Harmonic.Ai, Yaya, and TeenTechEd. Today, I am part of the tekmates team.

How I Entered the IT Field

After graduating from the physics and mathematics class, I applied only to technical specialties. I did this to obtain a scholarship. However, I truly became fascinated when, during my first Java class at SDU, I wrote code and immediately saw the results of my work. Working in IT became for me not just a profession, but a way to express ideas and realize ambitions. I realized that there are no limits to growth in this field, and this inspired me to keep moving forward.

On Stereotypes

In the US, I did not feel strong discrimination or stereotypes directed at me. There was one incident in Kazakhstan when I was looking for a job after returning from the States. During one of the interviews, I was at a relative's house, and children were making noise in the background. I was asked in a disapproving tone whether I was married, if I had children, or if I planned to get married soon. This company was one of the most desirable for many IT specialists in Kazakhstan. After this interview, I was completely bewildered, and fortunately, I did not receive an offer there.

Obstacles for Women in IT

Difficulties are inevitable, especially for women in IT. One of the main problems is considered to be a lack of support and pressure from society, especially if you have a family and children. Often, women are asked how they manage to balance work and personal life, while men are not asked such questions. But I always try to focus on my goals, on what is truly important to me. I have had and always have the support of my parents and mentors. I have never been afraid to express my opinion, remain persistent, and confident in my abilities. It is important to be prepared for difficulties, but even more important is to know how to overcome them.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Do not be afraid to dream and take risks. The IT world is a place for innovators and those ready to move forward despite obstacles. Learn, develop, seek mentors, and do not be afraid to make mistakes. Remember that every mistake is a step toward success. The main thing is to believe in yourself and never give up!
An important piece of advice: try to maintain a balance between work and personal life. Career success is impossible without health and emotional well-being. Engage in sports, eat properly, rest in time, and also spend time with your loved ones. Balance in all areas of life will help you not only achieve goals but also enjoy every stage of your journey.

Begimai Amantaeva, city — Tallinn, Software Engineer at Microsoft, Instagram

About Me

I live in Tallinn, Estonia. I work as a software engineer at Microsoft. I specialize in complex network connections for audio and video calls. In my free time, I read and play squash.

How I Entered the IT Field

When I was finishing school, I did not have a clear idea of which profession to choose. I was good at many things, and I was interested in different subjects. I sought advice from my teachers, fearing that choosing the wrong profession could negatively affect my life. My English teacher, Vladimir Sergeevich Shalagin, suggested trying programming, reassuring and guiding me. At that time, programming was not yet mainstream.

Later, I began studying faculties at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), where there was a programming track. I remember seeing an old black-and-white photograph of several bearded men with long hair sitting at bulky computers. I could not imagine myself among them, so I enrolled in sociology. However, in the first months of study, I was drawn to exact sciences, and I began communicating with guys who were studying to be programmers. Each of them was different and interesting in their own way, and this inspired me to transfer to the programming faculty.
One of my first projects, Neobis, was born in my third year. I became interested in studying the tools used in companies, because the university only provided basic knowledge, and practical skills were lacking. When I looked at job vacancies, it seemed to me that I knew nothing.

At AUCA, there is a practice of creating interest clubs. I used to be in the photography club, but then I thought: why not organize a programmers' club. Before that, such an initiative did not exist, possibly because the faculty was small, and programmers are generally less socially active. We started with mobile development, then moved on to studying frontend and backend. Soon we realized that such a club could be useful not only in our university and began opening it in other places. Gradually, the club developed, we started taking on projects, and over time, we created our own courses.

Later, as I developed as a programmer, I worked on various projects. One of them was a marketplace where users could post and view ads. Another project was in the FinTech sector and required changes to existing systems. Yet another project was a streaming platform, but I did not have time to complete it due to leaving the company. In each of these projects, I gained invaluable experience and realized that even senior developers do not always have ready-made answers—they also search for them in search engines.

Obstacles for Women in IT

When I worked as a junior Python developer, there was a man in the team slightly older than me who had recently completed programming courses—this was his first job. We worked on similar projects, and sometimes even within the same one. I noticed that our tasks were roughly the same, but later I learned that at the beginning, he earned almost three times more than I did. Of course, my salary was later increased, but the difference remained significant.

I do not know if this is related to the fact that I am a woman, but this can be a lesson for others: do not agree to the first offer immediately. It is better to study the market and ask for even more than the average, because companies often do not offer the amount you can actually count on. Ask for a salary higher than you want, then your offer will be closer to the desired amount.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Success in IT depends on curiosity, love for knowledge, and the willingness to develop. If you are just starting your journey, I advise you to find a mentor who will support and guide you. It is also important to remember that rest, healthy eating, and sports are key elements of success.