Advancing Business and Marketing Skills To Pursue a Nonprofit Career

According to Thelma, a children’s book author and journalist, it’s never too late to start learning. Below, she shares how she’s working her way through both IIMBx’s Business Management MicroMasters® Program and the BUx MicroMasters® Program in Digital Product Management in hopes of transitioning into a career with nonprofits, along with her first experiences with online classes at age 60.

How was your experience learning online?

My online learning experience went way beyond my expectations! Initially, I thought I wasn’t disciplined enough to complete an online course. Still, the lockdown situation provided me an opportunity to take all the courses I have ever wanted to learn. It’s been a great ride. I’ve been under lockdown for close to seven months, and within that period, I have completed seven classes.

How has your learning impacted your career, life, or community?

It has allowed me to share these learnings with various nonprofit organizations I am involved in. For example, by taking a journalism course on edX, I was able to share what I learned with a few people from the Filipino American Press Club of California.

How do you plan to use your learning in the future? What’s next for you?

I hope to use what I learned to transition into a career in a nonprofit organization so that my professional life becomes more mission-driven and aligns with my personal goals.

What advice would you give new edX students?

Just do it. Don’t let fear get in the way. If I can manage to succeed in these MOOCs at the age of 60, anyone can.

Anything else you'd like to share about your experience learning on edX?

The professors are superb, the schools are top-notch, and most of all, the case studies are such a great way to learn. More power to edx.org and the brave edX warrior-learners!

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Last updated: January 2021