When Turkish native Nejla Gul-Saglam started her journey in Laptop 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. At present, as a full-time engineering administration skilled, mom, and proud 2025 graduate of the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management from CU Boulder, Nejla’s story is one among resilience, assist, and adaptableness in her relentless pursuit to additional her schooling.

A Ardour for Educating, Shifted

Nejla’s profession started in tech, however her coronary heart had at all times 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 turning into a instructor. Whereas pursuing her bachelor’s, she started to satisfy her dream by educating at a nonprofit group in Istanbul. Nevertheless, she knew that as a way 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, briefly placing her goals 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

“After 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 completely different tradition,” Nejla remembers. “However I by no means stopped believing. It has at all times been my dream to review overseas, expertise world-class schooling, discover new cultures, and construct bridges between completely different cultures.”

Decided to adapt and thrive, Nejla found new studying alternatives on Coursera. “I used to be trying to discover a place the place I may add significant worth, regardless of my English expertise being very fundamental.” With this aim 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—possibly greater than 200!” she recounts. 

What began as an effort to enhance her English rapidly 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 development, project management, and communication, together with certifications from organizations like IBM, Google.

Nevertheless, financial limitations and a nonetheless incomplete bachelor’s diploma made formal schooling tough. Nejla says, “I solely had three programs left earlier than we needed to transfer to america.” Moreover, resulting from challenges that she confronted in ready for her transcripts to be despatched from Turkey, re-enrolling at school turned a fair greater hurdle. Whereas she waited, she accomplished over 40 certificates packages by means 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 good 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 exhausting work with on-line certificates and sleepless nights learning over 20 managerial books she had ordered for unbiased research, 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 sensible possibility. She then requested ChatGPT a pivotal query: “Is there a college that gives a grasp’s diploma and not using a bachelor’s?” 

That search led her to the College of Colorado Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management, and its Performance-Based Admissions (PBA) pathway. This was the second all the things 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 may see the journey I had taken by means 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 high grades.

Even higher, with course stackability, Nejla was capable of improve a few of the coursework she’d been doing on Coursera for credit score towards her diploma as soon as she enrolled. After years of battle, Nejla was elated to be taught this was an possibility and eventually had her exhausting work repay.

“It was precisely what I had been searching 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 business with confirmed expertise, and I had accomplished prestigious certificates packages. 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 points 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 enormous 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 pleased with the journey I’ve taken. I’ll hold working exhausting 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 performed this alone,” she says. “I’ll at all times be glad about the individuals who stood by me by means 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 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 aim might be achieved. 

A Word of Thanks, from Nejla

Nejla credit her success to a mix of unwavering interior drive, the alternatives provided by on-line studying, and the unbelievable assist of key folks in her life. Her husband Kemal stood by her as a real associate, taking up homemaking so she may give attention to her targets. Zeynep, her daughter, confirmed exceptional persistence, standing by her each step of the way in which as she proved herself. She would at all times 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 precious solutions on easy methods 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 permitted and processed. Past that, he created a supportive house 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.