Founder of Kazakhstan’s IT Academy Shares Career Transition and Opportunities
Bakytzhan Zhakazhanov: A Finance Professional’s Inspirational Transition to the IT Sector
In today’s world, stories of people making bold career transitions are becoming increasingly popular. One such inspiring story of the courage to rewrite his own narrative is that of Bakytzhan Zhakazhanov, a once number-crunching finance professional who is now rising up in the IT sector in Kazakhstan and beyond.
Zhakazhanov, who hails from the Karagandy Region, spent a significant portion of his career in the finance sector, working at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the Big Four companies. However, his journey took a turn when he decided to venture into the IT sector, specifically in the field of product management.
After spending two years studying at the University of California San Diego with the support of Kazakhstan’s Bolashak scholarship program, Zhakazhanov transitioned from data science to product management. This career move was not only a professional decision but also a profound personal journey for him.
As a product manager, Zhakazhanov has gained experience in international startups and big companies in Kazakhstan at a senior product manager level. Two years ago, he took a culminating step in his professional journey by establishing his own academy, called Product Bee, which helps professionals transition into the IT market.
The academy has given 300 professionals the opportunity to enter the IT market and has signed a deal with InDrive, an international ride-hailing service, to train high school students as part of InDrive’s BeginIT social educational project.
While Zhakazhanov’s story is an inspiration, the IT industry in Kazakhstan still faces challenges, including the need to double its efforts to keep up with global digital powers and the lack of proper infrastructure, which hinders the country’s ability to prepare for the next era of artificial intelligence (AI).
For aspiring IT professionals, Zhakazhanov advises finding a community where they can grow and develop. He also emphasizes the importance of patience, communication, and regional cooperation, highlighting the need for countries to work together to prosper.
Zhakazhanov’s IT academy is also open to professionals from the region, and the academy offers scholarships and grants to students from countries in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
In a recent interview with The Astana Times, Zhakazhanov delved into his personal journey, the challenges facing Kazakhstan’s IT industry, and the need for regional cooperation. His story serves as an inspiration for those looking to make bold career transitions into the IT sector.
You can watch the full interview on The Astana Times’ YouTube channel.
