Working at a unicorn company for four years was an exhilarating experience, though incredibly exhausting. Tackling significant projects that few have ever attempted means Google can’t offer much help. Surrounded by highly talented colleagues, many of whom you may never encounter again in one place, all while facing a relentless pace and high expectations from leadership, it eventually takes a toll. After a while, you just need to pause, rest, and reflect. That’s why I left Motional—to take several months to recharge, spend time with family, and reconnect with my hobbies.

The irony is, after more than 20 years in IT, I’ve become somewhat of a workaholic, so proper rest eludes me. Just last weekend, I found myself speaking at the DevFest ’24 conference, sharing insights on best practices in project development with the local IT community. The event exceeded all my expectations. It’s been incredibly gratifying to see how much Kyrgyzstan’s IT sector has grown since I left in 2003. I sincerely hope this growth continues and that, eventually, talented engineers will want to stay here or return to the country instead of trying themselves outside, as I did. However, I’m also acutely aware that I’m now overqualified for most roles in the Kyrgyz job market, which is a bit bittersweet. So, my journey will likely inevitably take me elsewhere after my sabbatical. Continue reading →