WomenInTech. "Women make a huge contribution to the development of technology," — how successful girls from Kazakhstan are changing the IT industry

Yulia Salekhova, city — Karaganda, Compliance Director at Wooppay

About Me

Currently, I serve as the Compliance Director at the payment organization Wooppay. I am also a co-founder and Vice President of the Compliance Specialists Association Compliance Hub, and Deputy Chair of the Payment Organizations Association.

In my free time, I am the guardian of nine kilograms of Siberian cat mischief, and I love adventures, travel, dancing, and learning.

I completed my master’s degree in Germany at Leibniz University. I returned to Kazakhstan with high hopes and plans on how to make the surrounding world a better place. Circumstances led me to join the startup Wooppay, a company that had been registered just a few weeks before my arrival.

I grew and developed alongside the company—first as a lawyer, then as a manager, and still as a lawyer. In 2017, with the introduction of the official category of “payment organizations” and the development of sector regulation in the field of anti-money laundering, I became fascinated by the topic of compliance and related areas. I obtained international certification in this field.

Since 2023, I have fully transitioned into compliance, but I periodically visit the legal team to peek in and ask them to let me study some contracts—I just love this work.

I consult, teach, and strive to develop the industry.

How I Entered the IT Profession

During my master’s studies, I majored in “Information Technology Law and Copyright Law,” so my initial goal was specifically the technical field, but from a legal perspective. However, I consider it a huge stroke of luck that I ended up at Wooppay back in 2012. There is a high probability that somewhere else I would have long since burned out from repetitive tasks and boring work. Here, I face new challenges—if not every day, then every other day. I have to stretch my imagination almost more than my brain!

About Stereotypes

During my undergraduate studies at a local university, I encountered stereotypes. This looked especially funny when it came from women. But let’s keep in mind that my enrollment date will soon sound like “20 years ago.” A lot has been done during this time to overcome stereotypes both in the country and in educational institutions and companies.

There were also stereotypes at work, especially at the very beginning, when even my colleagues perceived me as a small, silly, and inexperienced girl. Fortunately, this period passed quickly for them.

Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened for everyone in the market. We had precedents where people refused to talk to me, directing questions about contracts to my colleague because he was a man, even though he wasn’t a lawyer. There were times when we had to refuse the participation of a lawyer in a meeting because our team was exclusively female, while the other party wanted to communicate with men.

I also experienced inappropriate and vulgar comments regarding my dancing hobbies from representatives of a partner company. I will not hide my social media profiles or pretend to be a boring, serious adult. If people see something objectionable in this, it is exclusively their problem.

Fortunately, this is becoming less common every year.

And another “fortunately”—our team is modern enough not to suffer from such nonsense.

Barriers for Women in IT

Mindset and beliefs about the role of women in the family, along with the perception of women as a threat of mandatory maternity leave. The general opinion that technology is not for women, although, believe it or not, the first programmers were women. Because of this, there is low trust in their expertise.

It was slightly easier for me—law is not as stereotypically male-dominated.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

We still have mindset features that hinder the professional development of women, create glass ceilings, and may cause feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. In such moments, remember that in a world full of restrictions on women’s development, during a time when everything was much worse than it is now, in a field much less tolerant of women than IT, Umut Bolatkanovna Shayakhmetova was able to achieve incredible results.

Today, gender-based obstacles are becoming fewer each year. The main thing is not to give up if you encounter them somewhere.

The most difficult part, I think, is overcoming family beliefs about what dreams “proper” women should have. If you can get rid of the thought in your own head that career growth is wrong, that technology is not for women, and that prioritizing men for leadership positions is logical and inevitable, development will be easier because it will be easier to dream. It will be easier not to settle for less but to strive for more.

And yes, it’s banal, but strong is not the one who has never fallen into a puddle, but the one who swam out of it, shook themselves off, applied antiseptic to scrapes, and moved on.

If it doesn’t work out today, it will work out tomorrow. Or the day after tomorrow. Or in a month. But if you keep trying and attempting, it will inevitably succeed!

And one more recommendation, which I think is harder to accept, but no less important.

Don’t be afraid to quit what you started but what—you understand this completely clearly—is not for you. Not because it is difficult and doesn’t come easily; that can be fixed with perseverance. But because it makes you deeply unhappy day after day.

The later you stop gnawing on this cactus, the more time you waste, although you could have been developing in something else during that time.

And if you need someone who believes in you and says that everything will work out—I believe in you. Everything will work out for you!

Nazere Abdraim, city — Almaty, Senior Business Analyst at tekmates, instagram, LinkedIn

About Me

I am a Senior Business Analyst at tekmates with over 20 years of experience in the IT sector. Over these years, I have participated in projects in industries such as finance, transport logistics, insurance, and others. All projects were related to business process automation and system integration. My professional activity is simultaneously a passion, a hobby, and a way of constant self-development. I always strive to improve my knowledge and skills in my professional field.

My education covers two key areas: physical and mathematical sciences, and law. In 2000, I received a bachelor’s degree in physical and mathematical sciences, and this education gave me basic programming knowledge and the necessary tools for working in IT. The desire to understand legislation more deeply led me to obtain a second higher education in law. This allowed me to better understand legal aspects, especially in industries such as the banking sector, where it is important to balance business initiatives with regulatory requirements.

Knowledge of law played a key role in my work on projects to create automated business processes in several second-tier banks. Having an academic foundation in law, it was not difficult for me to navigate legal requirements and documentation, which I believe has a certain significance when developing new products for the financial sector.

Aside from work, I am a mother of four children and spend a lot of time with my family. However, self-development always occupies an important place in my life. This process inspires me with new ideas, and I try to constantly explore new directions, enriching my knowledge through reading useful literature and taking educational courses.

Travel also plays a significant role in my life; it allows me to broaden my horizons and look at the world through the prism of different cultures and traditions. Each trip brings new impressions, helps me understand other people better, and opens up new opportunities for personal and professional growth.

How I Entered the IT Profession

My path in IT began unusually: with a passion for mathematics and physics, which led me to law and physical and mathematical sciences. This was only the first step in my journey.

I have always had a structured and analytical approach to any task, whether at work or in daily life. I like to organize processes, find optimal solutions, and watch order emerge from chaos. In every field where I have worked, I have consistently encountered tasks requiring systematization and improvement. I always knew that efficiency is the key to success.

Each new role and project gave me the chance to delve into details, find the most effective ways to achieve goals, and implement them. Over time, I realized that it was precisely my desire to organize and optimize that led me to analytics. I realized I was in the right place when I understood how passionate I was about analysis and finding solutions. That is how I came to IT, where analytics became my true passion and profession.

About Stereotypes

When it comes to women in IT, the topic of stereotypes inevitably comes up. But if you look at this from an optimistic side, stereotypes are just old thinking patterns that we can and should change.

Stereotypes that technology is not a “female sphere” are, fortunately, gradually fading into the past. In reality, women have long proven that they can successfully work in IT. Modern technology and programming require not only logic and technical thinking but also creativity, communication skills, and the ability to find non-standard solutions—those very qualities traditionally considered “female.”

At the moment, I see more and more women becoming leading specialists and technical directors. These are not just exceptions, but a new norm that the world is actively moving toward. Women make a huge contribution to the development of technology, and this is reflected in successful projects, innovations, and achievements.

When I encounter outdated stereotypes, I see this as a challenge—an opportunity to show that women can and do incredible things in IT. We are part of the changes that are shaping a new generation of technology. And we continue to pave the way for those who follow us.

So, when you hear about stereotypes, don’t take them to heart. Instead, think of them as an opportunity to change perceptions and show by your example that opportunities in IT are limitless, regardless of gender. After all, in the end, the main thing is your knowledge, skills, and passion for the work you do.

Barriers for Women in IT

There are certain challenges, but I believe they are not only surmountable but also help us become stronger and more professional.

First of all, IT is a field where the main thing is not gender, but skills and knowledge. On my path, there were moments when I had to prove my competence and professionalism, but it was precisely this that helped me become an expert in my field. Such challenges temper and allow you to reach new heights.

Today, more and more women are coming to IT, and I see this trend gaining momentum. We bring our unique approaches and solutions to this field, which enrich the industry. For example, women’s attention to detail, ability to listen, and communication skills turn out to be extremely useful in complex projects where every little detail matters.

Fortunately, companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of gender diversity in teams and creating conditions where women can develop and advance in their careers. My story is an example of how perseverance and love for your work can open doors in IT. I believe that any woman who wants to work in this field can achieve success if she believes in herself and is not afraid of obstacles.

The modern IT community supports initiatives aimed at attracting and developing women in technology. These can be mentoring programs, professional networks, special courses, and training. It is important to use all available opportunities to grow and develop in this amazing and dynamic field.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Their Journey

Starting in IT can be difficult, but remember that every specialist was once a beginner. Here are a few tips that will help you start confidently and develop:

1. Learn constantly and with pleasure.
IT changes quickly, so it is important to keep up with new technologies. Find courses and materials that interest you so that learning is engaging.

2. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
Experiment with new technologies and projects. Mistakes are part of the learning process, so don’t be afraid of them.

3. Surround yourself with like-minded people.
There are many communities and forums in IT. Communicating with colleagues will help you solve technical issues and inspire new ideas.

4. Work on real projects.
Move from theory to practice as quickly as possible. Freelance, internships, and your own projects will help you apply your knowledge in practice.

5. Develop not only technical skills.
Communication, teamwork, and time management are also important. Work on your soft skills to become a valuable specialist.

You are in for an exciting journey in IT, and the main thing is not to lose interest and move forward. Good luck!