Westminster University | 2st semester, level 6

Hey there! It's time for my final reflections on my time at Westminster International University in Tashkent. Can you believe how quickly the last semester flew by? With three engaging modules under my belt, let's delve into the highlights.

Okay, so first up, let's talk about the Business Information Systems Project (BISP). I've previously shared insights on this module, but this semester brought a newfound appreciation for our module leader, Shirin Primkulova. Her receptiveness to feedback and proactive adjustments enhanced the learning experience. Plus, I got to organize numerous guest lectures enriched my soft skills and organizational acumen, offering invaluable encounters with accomplished alumni. Oh, and about my project? I developed a SaaS application streamlining PDF document management with AI integration. Even though I only really dove into it for a couple of weeks during winter (busy times, you know?), I managed to pull off some MVP features and garnered favorable feedback, culminating in a commendable grade exceeding 70.

The Computer-generated Imagery module opened my eyes to the world of 3D design, where we delved into creating models and honed our skills in lighting, shading, materials, and scene composition. It was an exhilarating experience, akin to artistic expression. Throughout the module, I shipped some existing projects that I'm eager to showcase in this post. I highly recommend choosing this module, not just for the valuable skills learned, but also for the fresh perspectives and humor provided by our module leader, Bekzodaka.

The Information Security module immersed us in the world of cybersecurity, covering essential concepts and ethical hacking techniques using Kali Linux on virtual machines. Our dedicated module leader went above and beyond, arranging an additional lecture featuring cybersecurity experts from the national bank. Prior to taking this module, hacking seemed like a murky realm to me, but through engaging with topics such as cryptography and the history of cybersecurity, I gained valuable insights. Overall, I'm pleased with the knowledge and experiences gained from this module, which opened up a new and fulfilling learning journey for me.

Looking back, I'm pumped to say I've wrapped up all my assignments and I'm on track to graduate with a first-class honors diploma. While the Business Information Systems course demanded diligence, its flexibility enabled a harmonious balance between my studies and full-time job. Engaging with like-minded peers, running the clubs, and organizing guest lectures have not only enriched my academic journey but also improved my personal brand and soft skills.

👉 Thanks for sticking with me through my series of university reflections. Let's stay tuned to see what the future holds!

Angular Ecosystem: Resources, Challenges, UI Libraries

If you're interested in staying updated with the latest trends in Angular and web development, I've put together a post with some helpful links and resources. It's a collection of courses, community updates, and insights that I find useful for keeping up with Angular's evolving ecosystem. Whether you're looking to learn something new or just keep an eye on what's happening, I hope you find it helpful

#podcasts

I’ve decided to post systematically about the podcasts I find useful and inspiring. These shows often touch on tech, self-development, or unique stories that resonate with me. Here are some recent episodes I’d highly recommend:

🎙 Как недостаток превратить в силу? Арсен Томский о роли смыслов, трудном детстве и особой миссии

This episode dives into the incredible story of Arsen Tomsky, the founder of InDrive, and explores the company’s mission and values. InDrive stands out as more than just a business—it’s a movement, originating in Siberia (Yakutsk) and now one of the top 3 apps in its industry, with over 200 million downloads and operations in 45+ countries.

Tomsky’s journey is deeply inspiring. He openly discusses his childhood struggles, including his experience with stuttering, and how he transformed what some might see as a disadvantage into a powerful symbol of authenticity. His story is a testament to the idea that anyone, regardless of location or personal challenges, can make a global impact.

🎙 Асель Машанова: Как за 5 лет создать компанию с годовым оборотом в 6 млрд тенге?

I came across this episode while exploring nFactorial’s most popular shows, and it did not disappoint. What stood out to me were her insights into operations and decision-making at the top management level. She also shared simple yet effective advice about nutrition, steering clear of trendy supplements and focusing on basics.

Arman, the host, is phenomenal—his thoughtful questions, attentive listening, and engaging style make him one of the best interviewers I’ve come across.

🎙 «Про семью — в разряде хобби». Как собеседуют топ-менеджеров в США

These series are a real gem. The point here is on interviewing senior and top-level specialists in tech, providing feedback on their responses, and showcasing what makes a great interview.

I found the recruiter’s questions and the constructive feedback incredibly valuable. The host’s voiceovers added another layer of depth, helping to highlight key points and maintain focus.

What do you think of this format?

Leadership Program | 1-on-1 Meetups

As you may know, I work at TBC x Payme as a Frontend Engineer. Recently, my responsibilities have expanded to include making team decisions, such as participating in project planning stages, hiring new developers for my team, and managing small teams within my business vertical. To support leaders in these roles, the company's Learning & Development (L&D) department offers a Leadership Program. I was fortunate to be invited to join this program, where we have monthly sessions on various topics aimed at enhancing leadership skills.

This blog post focuses on the key takeaways from our second session, which was dedicated to organizing effective 1-on-1 meetings.

What Are 1-on-1 Sessions?
A 1-on-1 session is a dedicated meeting between a manager and a team member to discuss professional goals, challenges, feedback, and growth opportunities. These meetings are critical for building trust, fostering open communication, and aligning expectations within a team.

Key Takeaways from the Session
- Allow employees to schedule meetings themselves.
Initially, I thought only managers could initiate 1-on-1s. However, we discussed how empowering team members to schedule these meetings creates a more collaborative dynamic and builds trust.

- Hold initial 1-on-1s in informal settings.
Meeting in a casual environment helps people feel at ease, especially junior colleagues. This could be over coffee, during a walk, or touching grass together

- Announce meetings with context and inform the team.
One of my earlier mistakes was not providing enough notice about 1-on-1s. Letting everyone know about upcoming meetings and sharing topics for discussion helps prepare the participants and fosters transparency.

- Document agreements and follow up.
For 1-on-1s to be productive, they should result in actionable agreements. After the meeting, document what was discussed and agreed upon so you can track progress in subsequent sessions.

Suggested 1-on-1 Structure
Our team collaboratively designed a structure for conducting effective 1-on-1s:

1. Small talk (sincerity) or introduction
2. "What do you want to talk about?"
3. Previous agreements
4. Achievements should include timelines
5. Issues and criticism
6. Solution plan
7. Areas for growth
8. Agreements

The key point is that you shouldn't strictly adhere to this exact structure, as every situation is different. Instead, focus on practicing to become comfortable with transitioning between steps naturally and learning to actively listen.

Also, ask, "Is there anything else you'd like to add?" This gives them the chance to bring up any remaining concerns or ideas.

Questions for Delegating Responsibility
When assigning responsibility or encouraging team members to take ownership, consider asking:

- "How would you assess this situation yourself?"
- "How do you plan to address this?"
- "What steps are you planning to take?"

Do you have one-on-one sessions at your company, how do you feel about them?

TBC x payme Office Tour

Our office tour is live! Check out TBC x Payme Office Tour to see where your everyday-use products come to life

digging into Leetcode lately — thought I'd share this resource in case you need it

https://leetcodetherapy.com/

Trying despite disbelief

I am very good at finding reasons why something will NOT work out, and pessimistically hyper-focusing on them. In my past they were enough to immediately give up on an idea. One thing that my wife taught me is what I call trying despite disbelief.

I think the first time it happened was ~9y ago. The company I worked for made me a H1B work visa and offered $56k/year salary. I took the deal without negotiations and moved to the US. When my wife, girlfriend at the time, heard that my salary is just $56k, she was like "WTF, they low-balled you, go and ask for 20% more". I laughed because nobody gets 20% raises, but she convinced me to TRY. I went to my boss and asked for 20% raise with zero belief that I will get it. The funny thing is, when I try I appear like I know what I am doing, smiling and such, and what do you know, to my surprise I got ~15% increase.

Another time I left my backpack with a laptop in a coffee shop. I called them up and they said they don't see one. Past me would give up, because I got a pretty strong signal that it isn't there. By that time I already had a few experiences where trying helped, so I simply drove there and there it was, on the floor. I don't know how they couldn't notice it.

There were many other examples. Some still required encouragements by my wife and others, like trying for L7, and asking for more money. Another example is me accepting the L7 high-risk high-reward offer -- I'll do my best and hopefully survive. Even publishing this post is an example -- the reason not to post it is that this is possibly bullshit.

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I am not saying that it will help everyone, but it might certainly help those competent but not confident. Quoting Wikipedia "The Dunning–Kruger effect is a hypothetical cognitive bias stating that people with low ability at a task overestimate their own ability, and that people with high ability at a task underestimate their own ability" (I encourage to read the rest of article). If you believe you belong to the second group, or sometimes you find yourself thinking "if even he/she did it, then I should be able too!", then it might help. Or if you are a woman, because the ever-present patriarchy makes you feel small.

A part of this is accepting a possibility of failure. In fact, I usually go with low expectations and just do my best. If you fail, that's OK. It isn't the end of the world.

Another thing is, you might luck out. An interviewer might not ask you topics that you are weak at (I am weak at parsers). In my Google interview I wasn't prepared for system design. I failed one; the other was quite algorithmic (=easier) and the interviewer was from Android (not working distributed systems themselves), so I got lucky. You cannot get lucky if don't even try 😉.

Like I said, I tend to hyper-focus on reasons why something will NOT work out, in a pessimistic way. While it is discouraging, it also guides me to work on the weakest parts. If you think about chances of success as a confidence interval, then working on the weakest parts maximizes the lower bound. You can see an example of this in my obsessive preparation for the behavioral interview which I never did before and which isn't very technical. This attitude also poses the question "What am I missing?" and you can see an example of this in researching my Microsoft interviewers and discovering new topics to learn. Thinking how a system might fail (failure modes, unhappy cases) is one difference between L4 and L5.

Overall I can say that this simple technique made a big difference in my life. The first step is the hardest.

I recently wrote an article on a topic that often seems simple but can become a real performance challenge: working with lists in web development.

It covers key concepts like virtual scrolling, infinite scroll, and how proper keying can make a difference — with practical examples for both React and Angular.

Would love to hear your thoughts or experiences around this too

https://medium.com/@mansurisakov.dev/working-with-lists-in-web-development-performance-patterns-and-examples-0ccdaaea34d5