Aigerym Abdrakhman

Aigerym, 23, a graduate of the branch of Moscow State University (MSU) in Kazakhstan, applied to the Yessenov Foundation’s Summer School for data analysts in 2023, prepared for the competition, and won the Yessenov Foundation’s grant. That same summer, she completed a 4-week training at Yessenov Data Lab (YDL). How has this experience impacted the Kazakhstani’s future career, and how does it affect her passion for drawing? In this interview, Aigerym shares her life hacks and plans for the future.

What is your current occupation, and what do you specifically do?
I work as a data engineer at a technology company that sells auto parts and car accessories in Europe. My responsibilities include developing and optimizing data processing workflows, as well as automating ETL processes, and integrating various data sources to ensure their convenient and efficient use for analytics and machine learning.

What excites you about this field?
I like that working with data combines analytics, logic, and creativity. Every day I face new challenges, and have to find effective ways to process and structure data, which makes the work very dynamic. Moreover, the results of this work directly impact business decisions and help companies optimize processes and save resources.

What do you remember most about the YDL grant competition?
The preparation process for submitting the application. I was working on my portfolio, writing the motivation letter, and spent a long time trying to get my diploma transcript from the Office of the Registrar at the university, since I still had one pending course at that time. I had to complete it quickly in order to submit my application for the Yessenov Foundation competition on time. It was a challenging but very valuable experience that taught me perseverance and how to work under tight deadlines.

What can you tell about your Summer School experience?
The Summer School lasted for 4 weeks. We studied Python programming for data analysis, statistical methods, data preprocessing, visualization, forecasting, and machine learning. There were lectures, lab work, and practical sessions. Additionally, every week we worked on individual projects, which we presented every Friday. The most important thing was that the knowledge we gained was immediately applied to solve real problems, which helped us better understand their practical significance.

Aigerym, what did you learn from the YDL intensive program?
When I applied for the Program, I was graduating from university and searching for opportunities to advance in the field of data, while also trying to determine what I wanted to do next. The trainers at YDL were experienced professionals working in the industry. The Summer School taught me how to solve actual cases that companies face every day, and provided me with practical experience which strengthened my portfolio.

Which trainer left the most impression on you?
Aigerym Sadykova. During the one-week intensive course she conducted, I realized that data analytics is not just about working with numbers, but rather a creative process that encourages unconventional thinking. Since there are no universal algorithms that work for every problem in this field, it’s important to think creatively adapting to the data you have.

What are you currently engaged in, and what are your plans for the next couple of years?
I am currently working as a data engineer and plan to continue developing in this field. Later, I would like to focus on cloud technologies and scalable data processing systems. I am also interested in advancing in the areas of data architecture and optimization of infrastructure for storing and processing large volumes of information. These are my plans.

Where are you from? What are your brightest childhood memories?
I am from Astana. One of my brightest childhood memories is the winter season, when the city would turn into a fairy tale — ice skating, snow games in the yard, and the New Year lights on the main streets of the city. Even in winter, Astana reminds me of warm family traditions and coziness, despite the freezing cold.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I try not to focus only on IT. Currently I am passionate about acrylic painting on canvas. This activity helps me relax, unwind, and shift my focus from logical thinking to intuitive thinking. While painting, I enjoy listening to podcasts on a variety of topics, which actually makes the entire process even more inspiring.