WomenInTech. "Competencies are valued in modern teams" — stories of successful women from Beeline Uzbekistan

Shakhnoza Kojanazarova, city — Tashkent, Product Development Manager, LinkedIn, Instagram

About Me

I am a project manager for the development of financial services at Beepul, where, together with the IT team, I create digital products that make finances simpler and more accessible for people.

My journey is a story about how persistence, a love for technology, and family support help a woman build a career in a world that never stands still.

I am married and a mother to a wonderful son. My husband is my support and inspiration; he always supports me in all my ideas and projects.

I want to express special gratitude to my mother. Thanks to her support, I was able to get an education, realize myself, and continue to grow. When my son turned one year old, I had already returned to work—only because she was by my side.

Aside from work, I continue to learn, grow, and discover new things. I love reading books and am a member of a women’s book club, where we share ideas and inspiration.

And my hobby is knitting. It helps me maintain inner balance and a sense of harmony.

And yes, in the team, I have an unofficial title—“Mother of All Beelab.” I always keep a finger on the pulse, push all requests, and ensure that everything is under control for everyone—from deadlines to cleanliness in the office. If something isn’t working somewhere, colleagues joke: “Call Shakhnoza—she’ll fix it!” And, honestly, most often, I do.

How I Entered the IT Field

I have been connected to the IT field for over 15 years. My path began in 2008 when I enrolled at Tashkent University of Information Technologies in the Faculty of “Informatics and Information Technologies.”

At that time, I was simply interested in understanding how this amazing world of technology works—and over time, IT became an integral part of my life.

After university, I started my career at Beeline Uzbekistan as a contact center operator. Gradually, step by step, I learned, took on new tasks, moved into the digital direction, launched products, communicated with users and the team.

Now, working at Beepul, I develop FinTech services and see every day how technology makes people’s lives simpler and more convenient.

About Stereotypes

When I was just starting, I often heard phrases like: “IT is not a woman’s field.” Today, I see more and more women leading teams, creating products, and inspiring others with their example.

I am convinced that technology does not choose by gender—it chooses by curiosity and the desire to learn.

We know how to combine empathy with analytics, feel people, and at the same time think systematically. It is precisely this that makes us strong in a field where not only code but also meaning matters. We can be different—and because of this, IT becomes richer.

Obstacles for Women in IT

The biggest obstacle is internal doubts. Sometimes it seems that you won’t succeed, that you won’t keep up, or that you won’t handle it. Especially when you need to combine career, family, and self-development.

I myself returned to work when my son was one year old. It was difficult, but possible—when there are people around who believe in you.

Since then, I have understood the main thing: a woman can combine career, family, and development without giving up any part of herself.

The main thing is not to strive for perfection, but to strive for harmony.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Path

1. Start today. Don’t wait until you are “ready”—the first step is always more important than an ideal start.
2. Learn constantly. In IT, it is impossible to stop—and that is wonderful.
3. Don’t be afraid of mistakes. Each of them is a step toward growth.
4. Find support. The community of women in IT is strength, inspiration, and mutual aid.
5. Believe in yourself. You can do more than it seems. Just take the first step—and the path will reveal itself.
6. And most importantly: if you feel that technology is your thing, then a place in IT is already waiting for you.

Zarina Avezova, city — Tashkent, Scrum Master, LinkedIn

About Me

I am an IT Scrum Master and Agile practitioner, and outside of work, I am a mother of two amazing children and a person who believes that life should be filled with more than just tasks and releases. I love traveling, learning more about the geography, history, and uniqueness of different countries.

I work as a Scrum Master at Beelab and have been developing in the field of information technology for over 10 years. Currently, my activities are focused on managing and developing three cross-functional product teams working on the Beepul application—an ecosystem of digital payments and financial services.

I am convinced that technology is not just about code and architecture, but primarily about the people who create it. Strong products are born where ideas can be discussed openly, complex problems can be solved together, and ambitious goals become a common challenge rather than a source of pressure.

How I Entered the IT Field

By education, I am an IT specialist—I graduated from Tashkent University of Information Technologies and entered IT consciously. I have always been interested in how digital products are created, why some companies develop faster than others, and what role people and processes play in this.

I started my career in 2015 at Beeline Uzbekistan as a Junior QA Engineer—and honestly learned from scratch. Already within six months, I led a team of seven people. Working in testing taught me to think structurally, build processes, and find root causes rather than fighting symptoms. It was then that I understood that my main driver is people. Not code, not documentation, and not processes for the sake of processes, but people and results.

Gradually, I delved deeper into team management, engagement, and process improvement. When I became familiar with flexible project management methodologies—Scrum and Agile, I understood: this is the direction in which I want to develop further. Agile gave me the answer to why some teams achieve more: they know how to learn, adapt, and take responsibility.

My leadership style is based on a coaching approach and trust in people. I do not “manage” the team in the traditional sense—I create conditions in which specialists grow, take responsibility for decisions, and work as a single product organism. At Beelab, I focus on ensuring that development is not reduced to writing code, but turns into creating real value for the business and users. This is achieved thanks to transparent processes, open communication, and a constant desire for improvement within the team.

In 2024, my contribution to the development of processes and interaction culture was recognized at the corporate level—I entered the list of the top 100 best employees of Beeline Uzbekistan. This recognition became an important professional milestone for me and confirmed that systematicity and engagement bring tangible results.

About Stereotypes

There were also stereotypes on my path. The most common one: “a woman won’t withstand the pace in IT” or “career or family—choose one.” I never perceived this as an obstacle—rather, as a test of resilience.

I am married, have two children, and believe that family and career are absolutely compatible if you are not afraid to work on yourself, set priorities correctly, and build a support system. In fact, parenthood has only strengthened my skills—empathy, responsibility, and stress resistance.

Obstacles for Women in IT

The main challenges, surprisingly, are not technical. These are social expectations and role balance. A woman often has to be a specialist, a mother, and a leader simultaneously—and all of this requires energy and inner resilience.

I also went through doubts: “Will I keep up?”, “Will I be able to grow in my profession?”. Such thoughts often come after a long maternity leave, when it seems that skills have been lost and the world of technology has moved forward rapidly. I was saved by two things—discipline and environment.

It is important not to try to “prove to everyone,” but to build a system: plan development, take responsibility for your career, and learn constantly. And, of course, have supportive people around you—colleagues, mentors, family.

I try to develop continuously: I recently completed the IBM IT Scrum Master course, and at the moment, I am preparing to obtain the Professional Scrum Master international certification. I am sure that learning never ends—especially in a world that changes every day.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Path

Uzbekistan today is one of the countries in the region where opportunities for women in IT are actively developing. Training programs, accelerators, access to international experience—all of this is reality. The only important thing is the desire and willingness to work. In modern teams, gender and age are not valued—competence, responsibility, and the ability to deliver results are valued.

I would highlight five important pieces of advice for those just starting their path:

1. Don’t be afraid to start small. Any strong career begins with the first simple tasks. I myself started from scratch. The main thing is to learn, not be afraid to make mistakes, and never give up.
2. Don’t compare yourself with others. Compare your current self with your yesterday self. Progress is a system of small improvements.
3. Choose an environment that develops you. The people around you are more important than the job title.
4. Invest in development. Courses, practices, soft skills—are not a trend, but a necessity. A career is a marathon, not a sprint.
5. Remember: everything is possible if you act honestly and consistently.