Cloud Certification Spotlight #12

In partnership with

👋 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.

Meet Sarah C., a Junior Systems Administrator from the suburbs of Southwest London, who's charting an ambitious path into cloud computing while balancing her tech career with a passion for urban sketching. Fresh out of university and just one year into her fintech role, Sarah is already studying for her AWS certification and dreaming of a future in cloud engineering...

If someone forwarded this email to you, please consider clicking the button below to join 100K+ other cloud professionals on their cloud certification journey!

Also check out our Learn Azure and Learn AWS apps to help pass those exams on the first try.

Personal Background 

Geographical Location: I live in the southwest suburbs of London, which gives me the best of both worlds—quiet neighborhoods for reflection and creativity, with quick access to the fast-paced energy of the city. London’s fintech and tech scenes are thriving, so I feel like I’m in the right place to build my career in cloud computing.

Educational Background: Last year, I graduated from King’s College London with a degree in Computer Science. University wasn’t just about lectures and exams—it was where I learned how to think like a problem solver. Courses in networking and distributed systems opened my eyes to how technology powers everyday life. That curiosity is what’s now driving me toward cloud computing, because I see how it’s becoming the backbone of every industry.

Family Life: I’m still early in my personal and professional journey, so family life isn’t as demanding yet. But I’ve found balance through creative outlets like urban sketching, which keeps me grounded. Capturing moments in watercolor helps me pause and notice details—skills that surprisingly translate to tech work as well.

Professional Journey 

Current Role: I’m working as a Junior Systems Administrator at a mid-sized fintech company. It’s my first proper role out of university, and I’ve been lucky to get exposure to real-world infrastructure management. Day to day, I troubleshoot systems, monitor performance, and help keep everything running smoothly. While it’s a great learning experience, I’ve noticed that so many of our systems are either already in the cloud or moving there fast, which is why I know I need to level up my skills in that direction.

Career Path: My career is just beginning, but I’ve already mapped out where I want to go. The fintech sector is evolving quickly, and cloud adoption is at the heart of that. I realized early on that being “cloud fluent” isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential if I want to stay relevant and move up. That’s what motivated me to start my certification journey now rather than waiting.

Professional Level: At this stage, my role is junior, but I see it as a launchpad. Certification is the bridge that will take me from support and administration tasks into engineering and architecture. It’s not just about chasing a job title—it’s about building the skills that give me long-term career flexibility.

Outside Interests 

Hobbies and Passions: Outside of work, my biggest passion is urban sketching. London is such a visually rich city, with its mix of historic architecture and modern glass towers. Spending my weekends exploring neighborhoods and capturing those contrasts in pen and watercolor has become a ritual. It’s not just art—it’s mindfulness. When I post my sketches on Instagram, it’s like building a diary of London through my own lens.

Community Involvement: On Saturday mornings, I volunteer at coding workshops for teenagers. Teaching them programming basics is so rewarding because I know how intimidating tech can feel at the beginning. Watching a student light up when something finally clicks is the best feeling. Plus, explaining concepts forces me to simplify and clarify my own understanding—which ends up reinforcing my learning for cloud certifications too.

Keep This Stock Ticker on Your Watchlist

They’re a private company, but Pacaso just reserved the Nasdaq ticker “$PCSO.”

No surprise the same firms that backed Uber, eBay, and Venmo already invested in Pacaso. What is unique is Pacaso is giving the same opportunity to everyday investors. And 10,000+ people have already joined them.

Created a former Zillow exec who sold his first venture for $120M, Pacaso brings co-ownership to the $1.3T vacation home industry.

They’ve generated $1B+ worth of luxury home transactions across 2,000+ owners. That’s good for more than $110M in gross profit since inception, including 41% YoY growth last year alone.

And you can join them today for just $2.90/share. But don’t wait too long. Invest in Pacaso before the opportunity ends September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

_{Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.}

Learning and Development 

Learning Techniques: I’ve found that mixing structured study with experimentation works best for me. I’ll read through AWS documentation or take a short course, but then I immediately jump into the AWS console and try it myself. The Free Tier has been a lifesaver for building little projects and testing concepts without worrying about cost. I also take notes as if I’m preparing to teach someone else. That mindset shift makes me focus on clarity rather than memorization.

Passion Projects: While my sketching is a creative outlet, it parallels my approach to cloud learning: both require patience, consistency, and the ability to break down a big picture into smaller, manageable details. I also see my volunteer coding workshops as a passion project—they remind me why I got into tech in the first place and keep me motivated to grow.

Cloud Certification Pursuits 

Motivation for Certification: For me, certification is about direction. There’s so much to learn in tech, and certifications give me a structured path forward. They’re also proof to employers that, even though I’m new to the workforce, I’m serious about investing in my skills. In a competitive job market, having that extra edge matters.

Specific Certifications: I’m currently preparing for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam. It feels like the right starting point to build my foundation in cloud fundamentals. After that, I’m aiming for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate, which aligns with my goal of transitioning into a cloud engineering role. My two-year vision is to have both under my belt and be working hands-on in cloud projects every day.

Study Resources: I rely on a mix of AWS training resources, online tutorials, and lots of console practice. Practice exams help me understand how questions are framed, while actually creating and tearing down services in the Free Tier gives me confidence that I can apply what I’m learning in real-world settings.

Business as usual? No thanks.

The problem with most business news? It’s too long, too boring, and way too complicated.

Morning Brew fixes all three. In five minutes or less, you’ll catch up on the business, finance, and tech stories that actually matter—written with clarity and just enough humor to keep things interesting.

It’s quick. It’s free. And it’s how over 4 million professionals start their day. Signing up takes less than 15 seconds—and if you’d rather stick with dense, jargon-packed business news, you can always unsubscribe.

Check it out

Experiences and Insights 

Certification Journey: Although I haven’t taken my first exam yet, I can already feel the impact of the process. Studying for Cloud Practitioner has shown me the value of consistency and of approaching learning as a marathon, not a sprint. It’s helped me understand that certifications are less about passing a test and more about building habits of continuous learning.

Helpful Strategies: I’ve learned that shorter, regular study sessions work much better for me than cramming. I also make sure to connect each new concept to something I already know. For example, when learning about cloud storage options, I compare them to file structures I’ve managed as a systems admin—it helps anchor the new material in something familiar.

Other Advice: If you’re early in your career like me, don’t wait for the “perfect moment” to start with certifications. The earlier you dive in, the more time you have to grow your skills and confidence. Also, don’t be afraid of making mistakes in practice labs—that’s where some of the best learning happens.

Future Aspirations 

Post-Certification Plans: Once I earn my Cloud Practitioner certification, I plan to start applying what I’ve learned at work by suggesting small cloud-related projects or optimizations. My goal is to gradually shift my role so I can get more exposure to cloud technologies on the job.

Long-Term Goals: Over the next two years, I want to transition fully into a cloud engineering role. Beyond that, I see myself specializing further—possibly in cloud security or architecture. I also want to continue giving back through mentoring and volunteering, because I believe tech careers are stronger when we build communities around them.

Additional Thoughts 

Community Impact: The tech community has already given me so much—from free resources to mentors who share their experiences online. That’s why I feel it’s important to contribute back, whether it’s by volunteering, sharing study tips, or even posting about my journey to encourage others.

Feedback: For beginners, I’d love to see more guided, project-based resources that bridge the gap between “theory” and “practice.” Sometimes the documentation feels overwhelming, and having step-by-step examples tied to real-world scenarios would make learning even more accessible.

Thank you so much for that, Sarah! Another great example for pursuing cloud certification.

We’re looking for more inspiring certification journeys like Sarah’s to feature in our spotlight series this Fall (we have a couple in the queue)! 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.

Sponsor Us:

Want to reach 100,000+ cloud and data enthusiasts? Sponsor our newsletter and gain valuable exposure for your brand! Send us an email to learn more.

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!