IT Ladies: The Story of Malika Rahimova, Working in the IT Industry

IT is not for women? 22-Year-Old Malika Rahimova from Tashkent Proves Otherwise.

Malika is a student at Inha University. In addition to her studies, she also works as a UI/UX designer at the Estonian outsourcing companies “Zoftify Eesti OÜ” and Agrobank. She is one of those women who are not afraid of challenges and stereotypes.

In an interview with the IT Park editorial team, Malika shared her journey in the world of technology, significant professional accomplishments, and her future plans.

About the beginning of the journey in the IT industry

My journey into the IT industry began with my participation in the international competition, Technovation Challenge. This opened up numerous opportunities for me, which I had not previously considered. I gained foundational knowledge and motivation, which drove me to delve deeper into the field of IT.

Currently, I am pursuing my education at Inha University while simultaneously working. At “Zoftify Eesti OÜ”, my responsibilities include communication with foreign company representatives from the USA and Europe, as well as user interface development. At Agrobank, I am involved in UI/UX design and am already working on local startup projects.

About important and beneficial skills

When I first embarked on my journey in the IT field, self-learning was not an easy task, especially without any support from acquaintances or family who could assist me. Thus, I started seeking various educational resources to establish at least some foundational knowledge. Over time, I realized that the ability to search can yield not only valuable connections but also new opportunities.

Regarding the most significant professional achievements and qualities

It was challenging for me to single out something specific, as each achievement is unique in its own way. However, I would like to highlight my participation in the Technovation Challenge because thatʼs where I gained my initial experience in the IT field. It was also where I met wonderful friends with whom we achieved incredible results, making it to the semi-finals and developing a mobile application aimed at addressing one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Out of all the teams from various regions in Uzbekistan, only we had the privilege to present our project at a conference at the United Nations representation and give interviews for international channels CGTN and The New York Times.

Currently, I am participating in this competition as a mentor, teaching girls all the necessary skills I myself possess and that may be useful to them in the future. One of my teams won the “Best Environmental Project” category this year.

I also want to highlight an interesting project we developed with a team at the Open Data hackathon. The projectʼs idea was to prevent domestic violence and provide assistance to victims when necessary.

The project was intriguing and complex, as we had to consider numerous factors related to the possibility of registering cases of domestic violence.

About the role of women in the IT Industry

I have watched the movie “Hidden Figures” several times. This film tells the story of real women who made significant contributions to the American space program at NASA. They overcame numerous challenges and biases related to their gender and race, but despite this, they continued to pursue their dreams and achieve success. The film underscores the importance of perseverance, education, and confidence in overcoming obstacles and reaching professional goals.

The role of women in IT is crucial and holds immense potential. However, they often face challenges that can limit their career and professional growth. Stereotypes that IT is primarily a male domain create significant barriers for women.

I, myself, encountered stereotypes when I was still in school, suggesting that there is no place for girls in IT and that women are not inclined towards analytical thinking. Many did not believe that I could succeed, but I love proving otherwise. Every new obstacle for me is a challenge through which I demonstrate what I am capable of.

I believe it is important to create additional opportunities for girls. I am aware that IT Park often organizes three-day hackathons. Personally, I have participated in two of them as part of a team, and both times we secured second place. However, due to the limited time frame, participants hardly get any sleep, and sometimes there is not enough time for developing additional ideas and improvements. I would like to see these competitions to last a bit longer. Additionally, I think it is crucial to organize similar events for girls and young women of different ages and levels, such as junior and senior, to ensure a fairer assessment of participants.

About changes and emerging technologies in the IT Industry

To successfully adapt to the constantly evolving industry, I actively monitor news and events in the IT sector and participate in international Zoom conferences and summits. In the past two years, I was fortunate to receive a grant and take part in the international “Perspektywy Women in Tech” Summit in Poland. It was an incredible experience where I had the opportunity to meet and engage with representatives of major companies, leaders in the IT and business industry, such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Cisco, Intel, Dropbox, Goldman Sachs, 3M, and many others. The atmosphere at the summit was simply outstanding.

In the future, I plan to work in the field of robotics, so I am currently studying 3D modeling in Blender and taking courses from the worldʼs top universities.

Regarding my current work, I always strive to keep an eye on new trends, try something new, and apply it to my work. I observe the rapid development of AI, many platforms like MidJorney, ChatGPT, and the like. They significantly streamline work processes, enabling tasks to be completed much faster. Of course, the question arises of how soon AI will be able to replace humans. However, at this point, I hold the view that those who know how to use these tools will remain in demand.

Advice for women who aspire to build a career in IT

My primary advice for everyone is not to fear failure. Remember that success is seldom achieved on the first attempt. Embrace new challenges and do not shy away from trying something new. Explore and learn about what genuinely interests you, because you never know where you might find yourself. If someone doubts your abilities, do not be disheartened. Pursue your goals and demonstrate that you are capable of achieving much.