Digital transformation is neither a simple nor an easy path to follow. Narek shares his personal experience, the challenges he has overcome, and his journey in choosing a future profession.

Since childhood, he had dreamed of becoming a police officer and helping people, but certain life circumstances did not allow him to pursue that path. There was only one thing he knew for sure—he wanted to create real value for the country through his work. Inspired by this goal, during his third year of university, he applied to the “Young Professionals Program” and began his journey at the Information Systems Agency of Armenia alongside his studies.

When he joined the Agency’s team, the process of digitizing car sales had already started. Digitizing life events is a comprehensive program that requires a broad range of capabilities. By joining the “User Experience and Service Delivery” team, he began exploring all possible directions where he could contribute. His very first project required him to learn at a pace and intensity he was barely prepared for—from programming to project and stakeholder management.

Narek admits that in the first few months, he found himself at the center of challenges. He had to learn very quickly, from frontend programming to teamwork and project management. Today, Narek has developed into a full-stack developer, able to participate in the creation of complete web services—from concept to launch. Yet, the most significant transformation was not only professional.

This entire process was not just about programming. At first, he would resist being involved in processes beyond technical tasks, but he quickly realized that to achieve real change, he needed to learn across different areas and develop soft skills. “I had to improve in all directions. Technical knowledge alone was not enough. It was necessary to communicate effectively, collaborate closely, and manage processes…” he notes.

Initially, he saw himself simply as a developer, but during the program, he realized he also wanted to engage in management. “It was necessary to manage processes and have command of the situation; otherwise, you wouldn’t succeed,” Narek emphasizes. He began to take an interest in engineering management, understanding that to have a real impact, one must see the full process, have a broad perspective, and develop diverse skills. Beyond day-to-day tasks, one must see the complete picture of processes.

Recently, Narek was awarded by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Arpine Sargsyan, for his efforts aimed at cooperation, the implementation of digitalization reforms, and the improvement of public service accessibility. 

The “Young Professionals Program” is not merely training. It is an opportunity to work on real projects, see the impact of your work, and shape your professional path through practical experience.

If you are a student and still unsure about the exact profession you want to pursue, Narek’s story suggests that at ISAA, you can try, make mistakes, learn, make mistakes again, and ultimately find your path.