Computer Sciences and Data Science alum Sreya Sarathy shares advice on how students can find community, navigate the job market, and explore her new city, Milwaukee.
On evenings and weekends, Sreya Sarathy often finds herself answering questions from students eager to break into tech. The questions range from how to prepare for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (the world’s largest annual gathering of women and nonbinary technologists) to what it takes to land that first role in tech. But they often share uncertainty, a feeling Sarathy remembers well:
I remember how isolating it could feel to navigate tech for the first time. Having someone who had been there — even just a little ahead — would have made a huge difference. That’s what motivates me now: being a point of reassurance for students who are standing where I once stood.
Now a software engineer at Northwestern Mutual, headquartered in Milwaukee, Sarathy uses artificial intelligence and cloud technologies to build systems that help people and families plan for their financial futures. Outside of work, she has been settling into life in the city she now calls home. Sarathy spends her time attending Bucks games, exploring local landmarks like the Milwaukee Public Market, and riding her electric scooter through downtown.
But alongside her full-time role and exploring the city, she has made mentorship a consistent part of her work. Through monthly panels and an active presence on Instagram and TikTok, she shares what she’s learned in the hope of making tech careers feel more navigable for students and early-career professionals.
Advice for students finding their own path
Sarathy’s first piece of advice for current students is to explore widely. “Try everything that sounds interesting in college,” she says. “I was a student tech consultant, front desk administrator at the Fluno Center, a notetaker, and a web developer. These experiences really helped me find what excited me and what didn’t. They helped me realize what I wanted my future to look like.”
Second, she suggested, try not to compare your journey with everyone else’s. “I was always comparing myself to peers,” Sarathy reflects. “For example, ‘Why don’t I have a startup already? Why haven’t I won a hackathon yet?’ But once I stopped comparing myself to other people, I started working on opportunities that truly excited me.”
Lastly, Sarathy highlights the importance of community. “The tech field can seem daunting, so try to create a good support system,” she says. For students not sure where to start, exploring student organizations and attending student-centered events can be a great way to start building community outside the classroom.
Leveraging the alumni network
When it comes to entering today’s job market, Sarathy advises students to embrace new tools rather than shy away from them.
“Use artificial intelligence, rather than steering away from it,” Sarathy advises. “Use it to improve your resume, check your ATS [applicant tracking system] score, and optimize the job search process. Most places encourage you to use AI to drive optimal results and improve your already existing work.”
Sarathy notes, however, that complementing AI by leveraging the alumni network is a winning strategy: “Badgers are everywhere, and we always want to help.”