As documented by Nilesh Chand
For as long as I can recall, I have wanted to be a program director. Taking action is the difference between just dreaming of a new career and achieving it. I got educated, improved my skill set, and put myself in a position to achieve my career goals. Plus, I did it without moving or switching companies.
I live in Fiji and have worked in telecommunications since 2000. After earning a diploma in electrical and electronics engineering from the Fiji Institute of Technology, I began working for Vodafone as a telecommunications and prepay billing technician. I soon was elevated to a senior prepay billing engineer and then to prepay billing and VAS manager. In this role, I managed billing domains and transformational network projects through the evolution from 2G to 3G and then to 4G/LTE.
In 2016, I earned an MBA from the University of the South Pacific. While our company prepared for the evolution of 5G in the Pacific Islands Market, I decided to pursue my long-term vision of becoming a project director. This pursuit led me to Simplilearn’s PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner Certification Training course, where I learned about project organization, planning, and control. After completing the online course, I obtained a promotion with a 25 percent salary hike.
Today I am responsible for Vodafone’s overall program management and building group synergies in all ATH regional markets, including Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, and Papua New Guinea.
Using Change to Your Advantage
With all the technological changes, I saw significant growth in my field. I wanted to develop additional skills and envisioned how a project management certification would help me achieve my long-term goals. My Simplilearn certification helped me obtain my current position as Vodafone’s regional program manager.