Cloud Certification Spotlight #11

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👋 Hello to our Cloud Learners! It’s always a joy to connect with this incredible community of cloud enthusiasts and professionals. We hope this week’s newsletter brings you fresh inspiration and practical insights for your certification journey.

Today, we have Elena V., sharing her inspiring journey into cloud computing. From the vibrant streets of Barcelona to the world of AWS, Elena’s path shows how curiosity and determination can open the door to a brand-new career. Let’s hear from her as she walks us through her path to AWS certification and beyond…

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Personal Background 

Geographical Location: Living in Barcelona means waking up to Mediterranean sunrises, a vibrant culture, and an ever-growing tech scene. It’s a city that fuels both my creativity and my ambition to grow professionally. The mix of tradition and innovation here is inspiring—and it’s helping me envision a career that blends my passion for travel with the power of technology.

Educational Background: I earned my bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Communications, which gave me a strong foundation in understanding customer needs and building relationships. Over the years, I’ve complemented that with on-the-job learning in data analysis, CRM tools, and digital systems—skills that have naturally led me toward exploring cloud technologies.

Family Life: I live with my partner, Marco, and our rescue dog, Sombra. My two younger brothers are close by, and we have regular weekend family dinners where my mother insists that every dish tastes better with “olive oil and love.” These moments keep me grounded while I pursue my career goals.

Professional Journey 

Current Role: I work as a Marketing Coordinator at a mid-sized travel agency specializing in luxury European tours. My favorite part of the job isn’t just planning dream vacations—it’s improving the behind-the-scenes tech that makes them possible. Managing booking systems, integrating software tools, and analyzing customer trends have become the most exciting parts of my role.

Career Path: While I’ve always worked in marketing, my growing involvement in technical projects has made me realize I want to be on the tech side full-time. This has pushed me toward AWS certifications, starting with the Cloud Practitioner and then aiming for the Solutions Architect Associate.

Professional Level: I’m currently mid-level in my career and know that adding cloud expertise could significantly increase my earning potential while opening doors to roles in the travel technology industry.

Outside Interests 

Hobbies and Passions: Hiking is my way of clearing my mind—my ultimate goal is to complete the Camino de Santiago within the next two years. I also love photography, from sunsets over Barcelona to tapas spreads, often with Sombra photobombing. In the kitchen, I experiment with Catalan recipes infused with flavors from my travels.

Community Involvement: I’m part of a local hiking group and occasionally volunteer at an animal shelter. I also informally help friends and colleagues navigate digital tools, which I see as my first small steps into a tech-focused role.

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Learning and Development 

Learning Techniques: I combine online AWS training resources with hands-on practice in free-tier cloud environments. Breaking down study sessions into small, consistent blocks has helped me balance learning with a busy work schedule.

Passion Projects: I’m experimenting with a side project to optimize travel booking workflows using cloud-hosted tools—something that could benefit both my current role and future employers.

Cloud Certification Pursuits 

Motivation for Certification: Cloud certifications give me a structured way to prove my technical skills, especially since I’m transitioning from a non-technical background. They’re a clear signal to employers that I’m serious about making this shift.

Specific Certifications: I’m starting with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and plan to follow it with the AWS Solutions Architect Associate to deepen my technical expertise.

Study Resources: AWS Skill Builder, practice exams, and YouTube tutorials are my go-to. I also create mini-projects—like building a mock booking database—to make the learning stick.

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Experiences and Insights 

Certification Journey: I’m early in my journey, but already I can see how understanding the cloud’s capabilities could transform the travel industry. Learning isn’t just about passing the exam—it’s about imagining real-world solutions.

Helpful Strategies: Break your study into manageable pieces and apply every new concept in a practical way. Even small test projects help reinforce your skills. Use the Learn AWS app to validate learnings.

Other Advice: Don’t be intimidated if you’re not from a tech background. Curiosity and persistence are your biggest assets—just start and keep going.

Future Aspirations 

Post-Certification Plans: I want to move into a cloud-related role within the travel technology sector, helping companies innovate how they serve customers.

Long-Term Goals: Ultimately, I’d like to specialize in designing cloud-based customer experience platforms that blend my marketing expertise with advanced cloud capabilities.

Additional Thoughts 

If you love what you do but feel drawn toward the tech that makes it possible—follow that curiosity. Cloud skills can open doors you didn’t even know existed.

That was great, thanks Elena!

We’re looking for more inspiring certification journeys like Elena’s to feature in our spotlight series this September through December! If you’d like to share your story and inspire our community, simply reply to this email. We’ll provide you with a simple template to guide you through the process. Your experiences make a huge difference, and the feedback from our readers has been incredibly positive!

Until next week, keep learning and building.

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