When Sanya Setia enrolled in the Cambridge PACE Data Science with Machine Learning & AI Career Accelerator, she wasn’t just chasing a certificate. She wanted to grow her confidence, build stronger technical skills, and keep pace with how data and AI were changing her field.
At the time, she was working as a Business Intelligence Developer at a healthcare technology scale-up in Cambridge. The conversations around her were changing fast. Automation, machine learning and AI were becoming part of everyday discussions, and she felt the need to be part of it.
“It was almost criminal not to know what’s happening around me.”
During her seven months on the Career Accelerator, Sanya developed a strong portfolio of real-world projects and built new technical confidence. Shortly after graduating, that transformation led her to John Laing – a leading infrastructure investment firm in London – where she started as a Business Information Analyst, doubling her previous salary.
We spoke to Sanya during a recent Ask Me Anything event hosted by Cambridge PACE and FourthRev, where she discussed her journey of juggling study, work and life, and how it led to her dream role in London.
Before Cambridge PACE: Searching for credibility and confidence
Sanya was already familiar with data, but she wanted to deepen her understanding and connect it to what was happening in the wider world of AI.
“I wanted to disrupt my workplace using the cutting-edge.”
She began looking for a programme that combined academic credibility with practical, hands-on experience. She wanted something that would stretch her thinking while also helping her apply it in context.
“I decided to do a programme that was backed by a university that's well-renowned and also was long enough to go into the depths of the topic itself.”
That search led her to the Cambridge PACE Data Science with Machine Learning and AI Career Accelerator.
The learning experience: Real projects, real growth
From the start, Sanya knew the programme would be demanding, but her instinct has always been to face challenges head-on.
Balancing study time with work and personal life meant planning and setting clear boundaries.
“I had dedicated time slots in my calendar for self-study and classes…I used it extensively, and this kept my expectations set.”
The real-world projects became a turning point. Each week introduced new concepts that she could immediately put into practice, helping her connect theory with action.
“...we were learning on the go and applying on the go, which meant everything I learned was solidified.”
By the later stages of the course, Sanya was confidently experimenting with cutting-edge tools, using models like Hugging Face and FinBERT to create small applications she could test and adapt on her own.
“My achievements were my projects that I was doing week in and week out because I could always go back to them and see how I approached a problem and how I could solve it and make it fit into my new project.”
Building a portfolio that proves what you can do
Over seven months, those weekly projects became something much bigger – a tangible portfolio of work that Sanya could show to future employers.
By the time she completed the programme, she had a comprehensive GitHub repository showcasing data visualisations, predictive models and advanced AI applications, all evidence of her technical growth and creativity.
“This programme gave me an immense portfolio of projects on every machine learning topic that I have, and to put that on my GitHub, to put that on my website, and to be able to showcase that to my new employers.”
Confidence that translates into opportunity
Technical growth was one part of the story. The other was learning to trust her own capability.
“I definitely feel more confident in Python programming.”
Before starting, she questioned whether someone without a computer science background could truly succeed in such a data-heavy environment. But the mentorship, community support and structured learning soon changed that.
She credits much of her growth to the people around her: success managers, tutors, industry mentors and fellow learners who were always ready to help.
“They never made you feel like there is a bad question, or what you're asking is too basic…”
By the end of the programme, she no longer felt like an outsider in the world of AI and data science.
“The programme gave me an upper hand and the self-confidence to know that knowledge about AI and technology isn’t out of reach anymore.”
Landing the role: From learner to analyst at John Laing
Midway through the programme, Sanya made a bold decision to leave her job because it “wasn’t progressing enough.” With the help of her FourthRev Career Coach and Cambridge PACE industry mentor, she refined her LinkedIn profile, strengthened her CV and turned her project portfolio into clear, confident stories for employers.
That support, combined with the projects she completed, gave her the confidence to step into interviews knowing her value.
“As a result of that, I did get placed in a job right after my course. A big part of it, in terms of my CV and my confidence, was having done this course, where I knew what I was talking about.”
Just weeks after completing the Career Accelerator, Sanya received an offer from John Laing. The role came with double her previous salary.
Looking ahead: Encouraging others to take the leap
Reflecting on her journey, Sanya offers clear advice for others considering the programme, particularly those standing where she once was, curious, ambitious, but uncertain.
"...my recommendation is to prepare well, prepare in advance, know what you're getting into, and go in with… the learning mindset."
She also wants learners to focus on the right goal.
“Don’t do it for the sake of finishing. Do it for the sake of learning something new.”
And for those still unsure whether this programme is right for them, she offers this:
“...I would recommend it to someone who is stuck somewhere, or feels saturated somewhere, and wants to make that leap to implementing machine learning or AI solutions.”
Explore how the Cambridge PACE Data Science Career Accelerator can help you take the next confident step in your career – just as it did for Sanya.