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Turning Transferable Skills into Career Success: Priya Venkatesan's Journey from Break to Breakthrough

What happens when a 16-year career break becomes the foundation for a more purposeful professional life? Priya Venkatesan's story challenges everything we think we know about linear career paths and proves that "starting over" can actually mean starting stronger.

From computer science in India to business systems analysis at UC Davis, Priya's journey through immigration, visa restrictions, motherhood, and career re-entry offers practical insights for anyone navigating non-traditional career paths—especially immigrant professionals rebuilding their careers in new countries.

About Our Guest

Priya Venkatesan is a Business Systems Analyst at UC Davis, where she champions process improvement and employee development. With a background spanning finance, education, and technology, she brings expertise as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified Scrum Master, and Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach.

After returning to the workforce following a 16-year career break, Priya now empowers others on similar journeys by sharing resources and guidance. At UC Davis, she revitalizes the Lean Community of Practice, facilitates Yellow Belt trainings, and designs engaging e-learning tools that make process improvement accessible and impactful. A passionate public speaker, Priya frequently presents at conferences on topics ranging from process improvement to Ikigai, where she shares her knowledge of purpose and fulfillment.

The Journey: From India to Career Break to UC Davis

Early Career in India: Priya earned her Bachelor's and Master's in Computer Science, working as a trainer at computer institutes during the Y2K boom and later as a project analyst at ICICI Bank in Hyderabad.

Immigration and Visa Challenges: Marriage brought relocation to California on an H4 dependent visa—which didn't allow her to work. This experience highlights a reality many immigrants face: having qualifications but legal barriers to employment.

The 16-Year Break: What started as a visa restriction evolved into full-time parenting and family management. Priya emphasizes this wasn't lost time—it was skill-building time, just in different areas.

Re-entry Strategy: Personal challenges motivated her return to work. Rather than jumping back into her old field, she took time to reflect, reskill, and discover new passions in business analysis and process improvement.

Essential Insights for Career Re-entry

Use This Time to Reflect: "This is the time to think about: do you want to get back into the same career path you were before? Take time to reflect on where your passions lie and learn something new if you want to reskill yourself."

Recognize Your Transferable Skills: Organizing school events, managing family schedules, coordinating with other parents—these aren't just "mom duties," they're project management, communication, and strategic operations skills.

Don't Self-Reject: "Women usually don't apply if they don't match 100% of requirements. Even if you have 50-60% match in a job description, go and apply. Don't self-reject. You never know who comes knocking."

Start Where You Are: Priya's first job back was part-time proctoring online exams. "I felt like I failed miserably the first day—all my colleagues were young college kids who could do everything fast. But I learned on the job. No job is inferior to another job."

From Computer Science to Business Analysis

Priya's career pivot illustrates how skills transfer across industries:

"I realized through volunteering at my kids' schools that I enjoyed organizing, communicating with other parents, and putting together events. I love to act as a liaison between technology and business—that's where business analysis comes in."

Her current role combines presentation, training, instructional design, and process improvement—skills she developed through years of community involvement and natural strengths.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Age Bias

Address the Inner Critic: "Don't think 'I'm so old, I cannot do this.' Never. Every job you do is a learning experience."

Embrace Learning: At UC Davis, Priya says, "I'm not working here, I'm actually studying here" because of the continuous learning opportunities in higher education.

Volunteer for Growth: She chairs committees and serves on employee resource groups as volunteer opportunities that develop leadership skills and visibility.

Resources Shared for Career Re-entry

Organizations:

  • iRelaunch Women Back to Work
  • The Mom Project
  • Professional associations in your target field

Learning Platforms (special benefits access available through the non-profit Immigrants in Corporate- become a member):

  • Udemy
  • Coursera
  • LinkedIn Learning

Connect with Priya

LinkedIn: Priya Venkatesan
Expertise: Career Re-entry Consultation, CliftonStrengths Coaching, Ikigai Research
Focus: Process Improvement, Business Analysis, Professional Development

About the Host

Dr. Lola Adeyemo is the CEO of EQI Mindset and founder of the nonprofit Immigrants Incorporate Inc. She works with organizations to build inclusive workplaces and amplifies the voices of leaders and immigrants in the corporate space.

Want to Get Involved?

Are you an HR, Culture, or DEI Leader? Email [email protected] to Get Your Workplace Community Employee Resource Groups (ERGs / BRGs) Launched, Leveraged, and Thriving!