In this episode, Naveen sits down with Mahitha Sudhakar Voola to unpack how careers in tech can go far beyond the “software engineer” track—and how she discovered data analytics through a single course that changed her direction.

Mahitha shares how her interest in analytics started during her master’s program, when a friend pointed her toward the “next big thing” and a healthcare data analytics class made data feel instantly relatable. Working with real-world healthcare examples (like cancer stages and BMI) helped her connect the dots between technical skills and meaningful impact—especially because she had always seen healthcare as a purpose-driven field, even if she didn’t want to become a doctor.

From there, the conversation becomes a practical guide for students and early-career professionals. Mahitha explains what a real “lightbulb moment” feels like: not choosing a path for convenience (salary, remote work, hype), but finding something that organically pulls you in, makes you curious, and sparks the desire to learn more.

On career advice, she emphasizes two key phases:

• During school: competition is intense, so you need a clear way to stand out—either by building a strong portfolio/projects or by choosing a university that gives you stronger networking and recruiting exposure.
• In your first job: your career starts after you get hired. Be proactive, explore different projects, find mentors, communicate your interests early, and keep learning through certifications and self-driven skill-building.

Mahitha also talks candidly about self-advocacy—how shyness and self-doubt can hold you back early on, and how confidence grows through experience, recognition, and honest communication. Her definition of being proactive is simple and actionable: tell your manager what you want to learn, ask for work aligned with those interests, keep sharpening skills outside your day-to-day tasks, and take on challenges even when intimidated.

For continuous learning, she shares her top methods:

• Online courses (Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, YouTube)
• Newsletters + LinkedIn updates from people and companies she follows
• Certifications to validate and solidify skills
• Occasional meetups/webinars/conferences (when time allows)
• Hackathons/Kaggle as great portfolio builders (even if she hasn’t done them yet)

Looking ahead, Mahitha’s biggest recommendation for anyone entering data is to build strong fundamentals:

• SQL as the “bread and butter” foundation across data roles
• Focus on problem-solving, data structures, algorithms, and pseudo-code because tools and languages change fast
• For BI/visualization, she believes Power BI is a strong bet given Microsoft’s expanding ecosystem and AI integrations

Mahitha closes by sharing that she keeps a low social profile and is easiest to find on LinkedIn, and Naveen hints at a future Part 2 to go deeper.

Core takeaway: You don’t need to be a hardcore coder to build a strong tech career—follow what genuinely interests you, learn continuously, advocate for yourself, and anchor your growth in fundamentals that outlast any tool trend.

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