Please imagine the whole IT society of Kazakhstan as a human body. Women, comprising a mere 5 percent, are like its two hands. Shockingly, these hands receive 35% less pay than their male counterparts.

This was the opening statement of my speech, where I delved into the realities of women in IT in Kazakhstan. I presented some statistics about women in IT in Kazakhstan, where in 2022, there were nearly 8.9 million women and almost 9.5 million men. Most women found their place in trade and education - approximately 800 thousand each, while 67 thousand were in the realm of ICT.

In sharing my personal IT journey, I talked about the biases that I, and many like me, have faced. My talk wasn't just a recollection of challenges; it was a motivational narrative. I highlighted the perks of being in IT, underscoring the importance of bravery. I urged the girls of Kazakhstan to stand tall, reminding them that they belong in IT just as much as their male counterparts.

I often hear the regret that that many of us didn't have mentors during the early stages of our careers. While we can't reverse time and alter our own trajectories, we do have the opportunity to help the younger generation.

This was a meeting at school where we discussed the various facets of the IT industry and career opportunities in IT.

I also shared my personal journey into the exciting digital world, talked about how to achieve goals, and how to create startups. Our conversations extended to topics like STEM initiatives, communities that support girls, and plans for students in the near future.

The conference convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, drawing an in-person attendance of approximately 700 participants. 

I delivered a short presentation underscoring the significance of project management, drawing attention to notable cases such as the Sydney Opera House, Stuttgart 21, and the Airbus A320 to highlight instances where the absence of fundamental project management principles led to failures.

The Sydney Opera House is a well-known case often discussed in project management courses. The budget exceeded projections by 14.5 times, and construction time was 3.5 times longer than anticipated. The question arises: should we categorize it as a failure due to the deviation from project management norms, or can we argue for its success given the ultimate delivery of the project's intended outcome?

My presentation provided an overview of the critical aspects of project planning, emphasizing the importance of effective resource allocation, the pitfalls associated with communication gaps, the significance of risk prediction, and the valuable insights gained from lessons learned. All parts were backed up by examples from real projects.

We exchanged insights from our professional journeys in IT, delving into discussions about prevalent stereotypes, the impact of mentorship, and the dynamic field of innovations. Furthermore, we explored the influential role of women in steering innovation, sharing firsthand experiences of introducing innovative solutions within our companies, for our customers, and within the broader social landscape.

In Almaty, a closed-door meeting convened with 11 influential female leaders from Kazakhstan’s IT and business communities.

As Ambassadors, I and Assel Marchenko had the privilege of showcasing the Google Women Techmakers program, presenting an overview of 2023 events, and extending invitations for forthcoming conferences.

The overarching goal was to foster collaboration among communities and actively contribute to supporting women.