WomenInTech. "A woman can do anything, her potential is limitless," — girls from Express24 talk about how they came to the IT profession

Alina Novikova, city — Tashkent, Project Manager, @alinanvk  

About me

I am the Project Manager for the Express24 client application and the manager of the internal community. At Express24, I am responsible for creating convenient processes for the business and the development team, helping the team set priorities and deliver updates to users in the shortest possible time. I actively participate in IT conferences and meetups of the IT community in Tashkent. In my free time, I travel a lot and shoot on Zenit cameras. 

I started my career path at the School of Internet Technologies. After completing the training, I was offered to stay at the school as a curator of educational courses and help new students. Working at the school was an exciting stage in my career; we participated in and organized a large number of events related to IT. 

At the same time, I started working as a technical writer. The experience of writing documentation has come in handy more than once in my life; practically any job involves documenting, writing texts, and formatting them. After graduating from university, I decided to work in my specialty as a design engineer. I designed casings, sent drawings to production, assembled prototype samples, and refined them. The process of inventing new devices was fascinating, but I lacked the opportunity for remote work from different parts of the world. While I was gathering the courage to radically change my career, the quarantine began, and I had a lot of free time. 

After completing the courses, I found my first job in an IT company. For the first time, I worked in technical support. I learned to use many tools for finding problems on the website. Later, this experience positively affected my work as a project manager; I came to the development team with a specific problem, a line of code, or a request, saving time on problem-solving. I gained experience in managing projects directly at my next job — at a development studio with the support of experienced PMs. Then, I joined the great team at Express24, where I am responsible for adhering to the methodology processes we work by, improving communication, and supporting the team.

How I entered the IT profession

In my school years, I planned to become a foreign language teacher, but when choosing a profile for senior grades, I changed my mind, prepared, and successfully passed the exams to study in an information technology class. There, the foundations of logical thinking, love for mathematics, and exact sciences were laid. During my university studies, I simultaneously took Frontend development courses. I transitioned from a student at this school to a position as a curator of educational courses, and then to a mentor for new students. I checked homework and helped the guys with the basics of markup and web page styling. Thus, I became part of the IT community, where we organized many events, meetups, and attended conferences in other cities. In this work, I lacked a flexible schedule and remote work. After the quarantine, I decided to try returning to IT in the Project Manager position. 

About stereotypes

I was lucky; the beginning of my education and my return to IT took place in excellent, supportive teams without prejudices. I encountered stereotypes only when working with clients; sometimes it took more time to establish communication with men to convince them of my level of technical knowledge. But after a couple of meetings, we could already communicate as equals without the influence of stereotypes.

Obstacles for women in IT

Not all girls manage to avoid societal and family stereotypes and the pressure involved in decision-making. I would advise girls to understand what interests them, in which field they would like to develop and grow. Sincere desire and goals will help overcome all difficulties and obstacles. Remember every time why you chose this path. 

Recommendations for those just starting their path

Do not be afraid to make a mistake; any mistake is a point of growth and experience already gained by you. IT is not only about programming; it also includes product managers, project managers, marketers, designers, PR specialists, business analysts, event managers, and a million other important and necessary professions. A woman can do anything; her possibilities are limitless. The modern world provides us with the opportunity to combine personal life, career, and self-development. You can be successful in any of the chosen fields. Use the experience and strength of the community that appeals to you, develop your network of contacts, expand your horizons, and always strive for new knowledge! 

Project management is one of the most changing and diverse areas of IT because the work involves people and their interaction with each other. I did not make this choice on the first try, and perhaps I will change my career path again, but today — this is what makes my eyes light up, and that is the main thing!

Makhbuba Komilova, city — Tashkent, UX/UI Designer

About me

I am a UX/UI designer with experience in creating convenient and visually appealing user interfaces. My skills include creating user paths and scenarios, prototyping, and visual design. I follow modern design trends, constantly update my knowledge, and strive to keep up with the latest technological ideas. Also, I pay attention to details so that every design element serves the project's goal and improves the overall user experience.

In the process of working at Express24, I strive for effective interaction with colleagues to better understand their thought processes and improve collaboration. This approach allows for more efficient problem-solving, sharing experience and knowledge, professional development, and achieving common goals.

My professional path began in my first year of university with an internship as a web designer in a small startup. The first experience combined two parallel aspects: if since childhood I was more immersed in artistic culture, then later, out of interest in exact sciences, I oriented myself more towards the field of computer engineering, and in this combination of creative thinking and technical skills, I found my calling. Throughout my path, I managed to try myself in various design fields, such as graphic design and game development, but due to a greater interest in UX/UI, I devoted a lot of time to studying the basics of design and user experience psychology. 

For the last three years, I have continued my activities as a UX/UI designer, and each year I learn more interesting things about human behavior, I am inspired by the progressiveness of visual trends, and I contribute to the dynamic development of this field.

How I entered the IT profession

To a large extent, I was inspired by my older sister, who, at the time of my wandering in the world of professions and calling, often participated in competitive programming contests and solved problems on Codeforces. I was impressed by her way of thinking and ability to quickly solve algorithmic problems. Therefore, with a firm intention to develop in a related field, I entered INHA University at the Faculty of Computer Engineering, where I gained a lot of useful theoretical and practical knowledge that helps me in my work to this day. 

About stereotypes and obstacles for women in IT

At the beginning of my career, I encountered employers who invited me to technical interviews, but the conversation took a different turn and moved to personal information unrelated to work. Despite the residue left after the interview, I tried to view my career as a thorny path where there would be unpleasant incidents, including such situations. Also, strong motivation to work, gain experience, become better, and more professional helped me greatly. 

Recommendations for those just starting their path

One of the most common problems and difficulties at the beginning of a career is getting an offer without work experience. I would recommend continuing to develop skills in your professional field, be adaptable, and again and again seek new opportunities. The main thing is to remember that failures and mistakes are not only inevitable but also an integral part of the path to growth and success.