Pratima grew up and got her education in India, then followed her husband to Silicon Valley, where she’s been living for over 20 years.
When she got her work permit, she wanted to do it all: work in technology, raise her family, and continue her education.
But “it was too much,” she said. “Family was a priority, work was a priority,” and going back to college fell by the wayside.
For a long time, that was good enough. For 15 years she worked for a large tech company, managing teams doing enterprise software testing for mobile industries. “I was learning and enjoying the work, doing well … but the balance was always between home and work and somewhere in that time I missed out on upskilling myself,” she said. “Big changes were happening in technology, in the industry around me, but I was just going along focusing on the projects in front of me, and at some point there was a huge disconnect between myself and the industry.”
When the company she worked for decided to downsize their Silicon Valley office, Pratima found herself in need of an education to continue her career.
“This was a blessing in disguise,” she said. “I was researching to see what options I had – I couldn’t go back to a traditional school: Doing exams, following their timelines, projects, I wasn’t sure that could ever work without sacrificing another part of my life. I initially considered enrolling in a traditional Masters program, but it felt overwhelming and impractical for my situation. I also tried other online certification courses which were more flexible, but they were short courses. While convenient, they left me unsatisfied and did not provide the in-depth training I was looking for.”
Then she learned about Calbright. “I was a bit skeptical, but I took my chance and decided to learn more.”
She was impressed by what she found. “When I saw the programs, they were amazing. They were industry relevant,” Pratima said. “Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Networking, IT Support … these are things that someone can learn and apply and even get into a job in that industry even if they’re transitioning into the industry from anywhere. So that’s what attracted me.”
Calbright’s flexible programs were what made it possible. Because she could study on her own time, setting her own deadlines, Pratima wouldn’t have to sacrifice family time or responsibilities to get her education. Plus it was free with accommodations and support!
“At first,” she said, “I was excited and wanted to apply to every program available!” However she decided to enroll in Calbright’s program in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Platform Administration, where she’d learn hands-on how to administer Salesforce software.
In her previous role leading teams in the tech industry, she had worked with Salesforce to integrate data into their applications, but never gained in depth knowledge of CRM software. “I saw this as an opportunity to build a strong foundation in tools that have practical, real-world business applications in the industries I know.”
When she signed up and got started, she was amazed at all the support Calbright offers.
“There were interactions off-line, online, the communities on Slack, the announcements, those were all very accessible,” she said. “There’s a lot of opportunities to receive tutoring, and I really bonded with a couple of tutors who helped me through my whole journey. Anytime I wanted to ask someone ‘what happens next?’ Someone was there to support me. And I know there were other services, wellness centers, support, that I did not utilize. I wasn’t even ready for the career counselors who approached me!”
She also appreciated the fact that Calbright is designed for adults. “Other colleges and online courses, I had a consciousness of young people joining too, a sense that I was competing with them.” At Calbright, she didn’t have that pressure. “That is one comfort I felt.”
Most importantly, she learned a lot. Pratima completed the CRM program in just four months, and is confident in the new skills she has.
“Calbright’s program is structured well,” she said. “It is detailed. It gives good examples, and opportunities to practice in digital playgrounds, that is something very useful. And it uses real business cases. Those projects were very useful and helpful.”
Now that she has her CRM Platform Administration certificate from Calbright, she is studying to take the Salesforce certification exam.
She’s also re-enrolled at Calbright. This time in the Data Analysis program. She’s planning to take it, and then the Cybersecurity course. “I’m so excited to dive in and learn more about what’s happening in the industry. I want to be stronger and better prepared when I rejoin the workforce!”
She also wants to serve the Calbright community, becoming a peer tutor and student ambassador herself.
“I’m spreading the word to those who I know live in California and are looking for upskilling and career transition. Calbright is such an amazing resource. Where was this all along! I wish we had this 10 years ago!”
