Learn how Valentina went from employee to self-employed by advancing her project management skills

Meet Valentina, who’s learning from Charlotte, North Carolina! Valentina is a certified Scrum Master and project management professional (PMP) working in the IT industry. Read about her inspiring journey from learner to team lead.

I originally received my degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad del Norte. After graduating, I spent years working in the industrial and IT sectors in Colombia, starting as a project coordinator and advancing to lead project manager. My motivation for seeking specialized courses came from my desire to become more of an expert in what I do. Through my research, I stumbled across Coursera.

I enrolled in and have completed Foundations of Project Management and Project Planning: Putting It All Together offered by Google. I now better understand the significance of the initiation phase of the project life cycle, and I’ve learned about the key components of project charters and how to develop a project charter for project initiation. This has given me the confidence to become a consultant who juggles multiple IT and industrial clients’ projects—which includes team monitoring, timeline and budget keeping, and stakeholder engagements. 

I have decided to set a goal for myself: I plan to complete the Google Project Management: Professional Certification and that is why I have incorporated new daily habits into my routine. I am so committed to becoming the best version of myself, and that means studying and continually expanding my knowledge. Although it is difficult to find motivation, the practical and applicable knowledge I have acquired through my courses has been an invaluable incentive. 

For those contemplating enrolling in online courses, my advice is as follows: Prepare to carefully manage your time, dedicate yourself to completion, and maintain an unwavering commitment to your endeavors. Seek sources of motivation to sustain your progress.