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 desires would evolve—and be examined. Right now, 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 adaptableness in her relentless pursuit to additional her schooling.
A Ardour for Instructing, Shifted
Nejla’s profession started in tech, however her coronary heart had at all times been drawn to instructing. 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 trainer. Whereas pursuing her bachelor’s, she started to satisfy her dream by instructing 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 trainer, and shortly after marrying her husband, Nejla came upon she was pregnant, briefly placing her desires on maintain. Her husband’s work required him to maneuver between america and Turkey, a state of affairs that might solely turn out to be more difficult with a new child within the image. So, with simply three courses 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 simple to realize acceptance, particularly as a girl who was coming from a very totally different tradition,” Nejla recollects. “However I by no means stopped believing. It has at all times been my dream to check 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 may add significant worth, regardless of my English expertise being very fundamental.” With this purpose in thoughts, Nejla refined her English expertise on Coursera, all whereas taking courses in enterprise and pc science, too. “I signed up for lots of courses—perhaps greater than 200!” she recounts.
What began as an effort to enhance her English shortly developed 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, challenge 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, as a result of challenges that she confronted in ready for her transcripts to be despatched from Turkey, re-enrolling in class grew to become an excellent larger 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 at all times genuinely cared about these round me and have been pushed by a need 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 neighborhood to begin to imagine in their very own potential, too.”
A Turning Level: ChatGPT and a New Path Ahead
Regardless of her arduous work with on-line certificates and sleepless nights finding out over 20 managerial books she had ordered for impartial examine, Nejla was feeling hopeless in her pursuit of attaining 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 choice. She then requested ChatGPT a pivotal query: “Is there a college that provides a grasp’s diploma with out a bachelor’s?”
That search led her to the College of Colorado Boulder’s Grasp of Engineering in Engineering Administration, and its Efficiency-Based mostly Admissions (PBA) pathway. This was the second every part 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 unimaginable—she acknowledged my deep dedication to schooling and private development. She inspired me, saying, ‘Nejla, you are able to do this.’ She believed in me as a result of she may 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 might decide her eligibility for the grasp’s program. She excelled, finishing a number of specializations in management and challenge administration with prime grades.
Even higher, with course stackability, Nejla was capable of improve a number of 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 study this was an choice and eventually had her arduous work repay.
“It was precisely what I had been on the lookout for — a versatile program that permit me transfer at my very own tempo. I used to be already coming from the guts of the tech trade 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 transferring ahead.”
Nejla notes that one among her favourite facets 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 12 months, she has been accepted right into a doctoral program in Strategic Management at Liberty College.
“This can be 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 good distance, and I’m pleased with the journey I’ve taken. I’ll preserve working arduous to make those that stood by me witness one more milestone alongside the best way.”
Gratitude and Inspiration
“I do know I couldn’t have completed this alone,” she says. “I’ll at all times 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 precious a part of my journey as guiding lights alongside the best way.”
Nejla’s story is an inspirational one, to say the least, and paints a transparent image that with willpower, assist, and the flexibleness of on-line studying, any private purpose might be achieved.
A Be aware of Thanks, from Nejla
Nejla credit her success to a mixture of unwavering interior drive, the alternatives supplied by on-line studying, and the unimaginable assist of key individuals in her life. Her husband Kemal stood by her as a real companion, taking over homemaking so she may give attention to her targets. Zeynep, her daughter, confirmed outstanding persistence, standing by her each step of the best way as she proved herself. She would at all times supply 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 supplied unwavering assist, offering precious options on the best way to create a wholesome work-life steadiness whereas creating 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 authorised and processed. Past that, he created a supportive area that allowed her to steadiness class tasks with out burning out at work. And Carolyn, from the Coursera enrollment crew, not solely launched her to this system but additionally answered each one among her many questions with kindness and care.
