When Turkish native Nejla Gul-Saglam started her journey in Pc Programming at Sakarya College, in Turkey, again in 2007, she didn’t but know what number of occasions her goals would evolve—and be examined. As we speak, as a full-time engineering administration skilled, mom, and proud 2025 graduate of the Grasp of Engineering in Engineering Administration from CU Boulder, Nejla’s story is one among resilience, assist, and flexibility in her relentless pursuit to additional her schooling.
A Ardour for Instructing, Shifted
Nejla’s profession started in tech, however her coronary heart had all the time been drawn to educating. Influenced by her grandparents, she first pursued an affiliate diploma in pc programming and later enrolled in a bachelor’s diploma program with the hopes of changing into a instructor. Whereas pursuing her bachelor’s, she started to meet her dream by educating at a nonprofit group in Istanbul. Nonetheless, she knew that with a view to transfer ahead, she wanted to finish her diploma.
Amidst the beginning of her expertise as a instructor, and shortly after marrying her husband, Nejla discovered she was pregnant, quickly placing her goals on maintain. Her husband’s work required him to maneuver between america and Turkey, a scenario that may solely develop into more difficult with a new child within the image. So, with simply three lessons remaining in her bachelor’s diploma program, her life started to shift.
Beginning Over, One Course at a Time
“Once we arrived within the U.S., I used to be conscious that it was not gonna be straightforward to achieve acceptance, particularly as a lady who was coming from a completely totally different tradition,” Nejla remembers. “However I by no means stopped believing. It has all the time been my dream to review overseas, expertise world-class schooling, discover new cultures, and construct bridges between totally different cultures.”
Decided to adapt and thrive, Nejla found new studying alternatives on Coursera. “I used to be seeking to discover a place the place I might add significant worth, regardless of my English abilities being very primary.” With this objective in thoughts, Nejla refined her English abilities on Coursera, all whereas taking lessons in enterprise and pc science, too. “I signed up for lots of lessons—perhaps greater than 200!” she recounts.
What began as an effort to enhance her English shortly advanced right into a deep dive again into the tech world, the place her schooling initially started. She took programs in software program growth, AI, product growth, venture administration, and communication, together with certifications from organizations like IBM, Google.
Nonetheless, financial limitations and a nonetheless incomplete bachelor’s diploma made formal schooling troublesome. Nejla says, “I solely had three programs left earlier than we needed to transfer to america.” Moreover, because of challenges that she confronted in ready for her transcripts to be despatched from Turkey, re-enrolling at school grew to become a fair greater hurdle. Whereas she waited, she accomplished over 40 certificates applications by way of Coursera Plus and different on-line platforms — an effort that considerably boosted her profession and helped her to land extra senior roles in expertise.
“I used to be decided to beat biases and rework my variations right into a power for management. I’ve all the time genuinely cared about these round me and have been pushed by a want to assist make the world a greater place. My securing a decent job in New York Metropolis and proving that success is feasible even with out being a local English speaker or having studied within the U.S. impressed many ladies in our group to begin to imagine in their very own potential, too.”
A Turning Level: ChatGPT and a New Path Ahead
Regardless of her onerous work with on-line certificates and sleepless nights finding out over 20 managerial books she had ordered for unbiased examine, Nejla was feeling hopeless in her pursuit of reaching a level. Along with her bachelor’s nonetheless incomplete and her transcripts seemingly stalled out, she started to query whether or not college was nonetheless a practical possibility. She then requested ChatGPT a pivotal query: “Is there a college that gives a grasp’s diploma with no bachelor’s?”
That search led her to the College of Colorado Boulder’s Grasp of Engineering in Engineering Administration, and its Efficiency-Primarily based Admissions (PBA) pathway. This was the second every thing modified. Nejla submitted an inquiry and was contacted by Coursera enrollment consultant, Carolyn.
“I used to be on the verge of tears,” Nejla says. “Carolyn was unbelievable—she acknowledged my deep dedication to schooling and private progress. She inspired me, saying, ‘Nejla, you are able to do this.’ She believed in me as a result of she might see the journey I had taken by way of Coursera historical past and different exterior schooling.“
Leveling Up Her Studying
Along with her supervisor’s full assist, Nejla started the performance-based coursework that may decide her eligibility for the grasp’s program. She excelled, finishing a number of specializations in management and venture administration with prime grades.
Even higher, with course stackability, Nejla was capable of improve among the coursework she’d been doing on Coursera for credit score towards her diploma as soon as she enrolled. After years of wrestle, Nejla was elated to be taught this was an possibility and eventually had her onerous work repay.
“It was precisely what I had been in search of — a versatile program that permit me transfer at my very own tempo. I used to be already coming from the center of the tech business with confirmed expertise, and I had accomplished prestigious certificates applications. I managed the prices step-by-step, partnered with my employer for assist, and simply stored shifting ahead.”
Nejla notes that one among her favourite features of this system was its self-paced format and adaptability. “It aligned completely with my productive morning routines and my hectic schedule as a company skilled and a mother.”
A Proud Graduate
As a 2025 graduate of this system, Nejla’s studying journey has removed from stopped. This yr, she has been accepted right into a doctoral program in Strategic Management at Liberty College.
“It is a large milestone for me. Now, with a diploma acknowledged within the U.S., it seems like I’m lastly being seen. I’ve come a great distance, and I’m happy with the journey I’ve taken. I’ll maintain working onerous to make those that stood by me witness yet one more milestone alongside the way in which.”
Gratitude and Inspiration
“I do know I couldn’t have finished this alone,” she says. “I’ll all the time be grateful for the individuals who stood by me by way of all of it. This can be my story, however their assist is woven into each a part of it. They’ve every been a invaluable a part of my journey as guiding lights alongside the way in which.”
Nejla’s story is an inspirational one, to say the least, and paints a transparent image that with dedication, assist, and the flexibleness of on-line studying, any private objective could be achieved.
A Notice of Thanks, from Nejla
Nejla credit her success to a mixture of unwavering internal drive, the alternatives provided by on-line studying, and the unbelievable assist of key individuals in her life. Her husband Kemal stood by her as a real companion, taking up homemaking so she might deal with her targets. Zeynep, her daughter, confirmed outstanding persistence, standing by her each step of the way in which as she proved herself. She would all the time provide encouragement that made all of the distinction. Her mentor, Mike, was the primary individual to really imagine in her potential when she arrived within the U.S. He provided unwavering assist, offering invaluable options on find out how to create a wholesome work-life stability whereas growing a management journey. Her supervisor Eric was very supportive with diligently following up on all of the back-and-forth emails to make sure her tuition assist was accredited and processed. Past that, he created a supportive house that allowed her to stability class obligations with out burning out at work. And Carolyn, from the Coursera enrollment group, not solely launched her to this system but in addition answered each one among her many questions with kindness and care.
