In today’s fast-paced world, driven by advances in science and technology, career paths are changing in unprecedented ways. The traditional model of dedicating one’s life to a single profession is gradually becoming obsolete. A recent study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights that rising life expectancy and the digital revolution are encouraging individuals to embrace career mobility. Those who make mid-career changes are more likely to remain employed at age 60 and are less inclined to retire early.
Artem Ziborev, a top-ranked software developer recognized among the nation’s leading IT professionals, exemplifies success in a new field. After building a solid 15-year career in law, Artem transitioned to IT, where he has made significant contributions across various industries. His ability to adapt quickly and achieve outstanding results in diverse sectors demonstrates how a talented individual can excel in a completely new field. Artem shares his insights on how to decide to switch careers, what steps to take to prepare, and how to succeed in a new role.
Thank you for joining us, Artem! Your story is truly inspiring! Could you share what motivated you to leave a successful career in law for a completely new field in IT?
Yes, at some point I decided to leave my successful career in the legal field and start from scratch. In many ways, I have to thank my family for their support, without which I could not have done this.
While working at Pravo.ru, a leading Russian legal publication, I had the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of legal practice and project management in a virtual legal advice project.
Observing the work of developers and seeing how the project was growing, it was fascinating for me to look at the lines of code and analyze how it all worked. This was probably the main trigger for me to change my career. I’ve always been passionate about computers and technology, so I decided to pursue this field. It was very challenging because I had to start as a junior developer. However, from the very beginning of my career, I was able to participate in major innovation projects. One of them was a virtual assistant for Russia’s largest bank, Sber – I optimized the address book search algorithm, which shortened the user’s path and increased the conversion rate of payments and transfers.
We know that you were part of the development team that created an online vehicle–sharing platform that has gained global recognition and is currently present in over 50 countries. Can you tell us more about this project?
Yes, it was a great experience. I’ve been working on scooter and car-sharing software and had a great opportunity to use my skills. Having launched as a startup, this project attracted the attention of investors who widely supported it and prompted it to become a significant part of the vehicle-sharing field.
What makes this project unique is that due to its presence in different countries, we had to take into account the regional specifics of car sharing and rental, such as legal subtleties and mentality. Due to the large number of users, it was important to choose the right architectural solutions and infrastructure to ensure stable operation despite the increased load. All in all, I can say that it was challenging but very interesting work.
You have also contributed to the development of a video analysis system for large manufacturing companies. This project has had a great positive impact on improving safety in hazardous industries. Can you please tell us the effect of its implementation?
This system eliminates the need for human presence in hazardous areas, minimizes the number of accidents, and prevents the so-called ‘human factor’ that can lead to dangerous incidents. Moreover, a wide range of metrics and statistics is collected during the system’s operation, helping to analyze the efficiency of the use of raw materials and the time of technological processes. All the above-mentioned are helpful for management decisions.
You’ve created recommendation systems for one of Russia’s largest real estate developers and computer vision systems for NLMK, a leading steel producer globally. Does your professional background help you in your current role?
As a professional with a background in law and finance, I approach projects from both a technical and business perspective. I assess the project’s value, analyze its development trajectory, and identify the critical functionalities required.
For instance, my work led to a 50% reduction in network infrastructure load, which significantly lowered the need for additional servers and reduced monitoring and maintenance costs, thereby optimizing overall business expenses.
With your experience and unique approach, you can easily see the nuances in the transformation of a modest project into a thriving IT service. We know that you want to share these insights in a book. Can you tell us more about the topics you’ll be covering?
The main idea of the book is to show how to turn a pet project into a full fledged commercial service. It’s crucial to start even a simple project understanding that it could rapidly scale and potentially serve millions of users. So it’s important to design the architecture and choose the tools and technologies with high loads in mind, and to optimize the code and methods for data-intensive applications as well.
My goal is to demonstrate this with examples of modern frameworks, architectural solutions, and development best practices. In the book, I will guide the reader through all the stages of growing a small project into a successful business. I will share my experience working with high-load services and focus on monitoring and early detection of business-critical bugs. This approach will help readers create high-quality products, ensure smooth operations, and respond quickly to potential problems, enabling newcomers to learn the basics faster and handle tasks of varying complexity more efficiently.
Your achievements in IT were recognized with the prestigious Time for Innovation Award, securing the title of Breakthrough of the Year 2023 among over 1500 competitors. Could you describe the level of competition you faced and share what was most impressive about the experience?
I am very grateful to the organizers for their trust and for the fact that my application and the project I implemented were considered and recognized. The competition was intense, as it included a large number of industry leaders, both companies and professionals who have made significant contributions to their fields.
The Breakthrough of the Year Award is given to projects that have made notable advances in their field over the past year. The judges selected my project, which involves the development of an artificial intelligence recommendation system for real estate developers. This system increases investment efficiency, predicts sales, improves marketing activities, and helps make more accurate strategic decisions.
In your role as a jury member for the Runet National Award and the Trends competition, which focus on blockchain, FinTech, content, and AI, what is your take on the new wave of developers? Have you noticed any particularly innovative ideas or emerging trends?
Being a member of the jury at events such as the Runet National Award and the Trends competition gives me the opportunity to be among the first to notice current industry trends and stay on the cutting edge of technology. Judging these competitions provides a unique chance to closely examine a vast number of innovative solutions and to influence the industry’s development by selecting projects that, in some way, revolutionize the field.
Today, I observe that blockchain is actively expanding beyond the financial sector into other areas, such as logistics and insurance. This opens up new opportunities and presents exciting challenges for developers.
You have published numerous research papers in international scientific journals, including those of the Eurasian Union of Scientists and the Agency for Advanced Studies. What excites you most about the field?
Software development is engaging because you need to constantly evolve and learn new things. You must incorporate new techniques and approaches to be of value to businesses. The huge advantage is that you can read an article or post on X (formerly Twitter) about a new tool in the morning and implement it in your project in the evening. Everything is open, available, and moving at light speed.
Speaking about these systems, it is a pleasure for me to see how the practice of their implementation has shown an increase in investment efficiency and profit maximization. Also, the developer gets a clear business plan with construction timelines, budget and related documentation.
As a member of the International Association of Honored Developers (IAHD), do you think joining professional communities is crucial for software developers? What advice do you have for those transitioning to programming from other fields?
Today, there are many courses and educational platforms that allow individuals to enter the world of IT and change their professional path. I strongly believe that these trainings provide a solid foundation, but the job of a developer requires continuous growth and self-learning.
Unfortunately, inexperienced software developers often struggle to receive offers from large companies. Securing key positions at FAANG (Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google), Yandex, or Sber can be challenging, but many of these companies offer free internships and bootcamps. Participating in these programs can help candidates prove themselves and secure valuable job offers.
I recommend that aspiring developers engage in internships, even if unpaid initially, and contribute to open-source projects. This will help them gain experience and build a portfolio to support their job search.
I would also emphasize the importance of participating in professional communities and associations to expand professional connections. Building a strong network can help one find a job or get valuable projects for the portfolio.
