From Exile to Empowerment: How Nejla Gul-Saglam’s Determination Led to a Degree

When Turkish native Nejla Gul-Saglam began her journey in computer programming at Sakarya University back in 2007, she didn’t yet know how many times her dreams would evolve—and be tested. Today, as a full-time employee, mother, and proud 2025 graduate of the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management from CU Boulder, Nejla’s story is one of courage, resilience, and adaptability in her relentless pursuit to further her education.

A Passion for Teaching, Interrupted

Nejla’s career began in tech, but her heart had always been drawn to teaching. Influenced by her grandparents, she first pursued an associate degree in programming, and later enrolled in a Turkish language degree program with the hopes of teaching at a nonprofit school in Turkey. Once her associate’s degree was complete, she fulfilled her dream and began teaching. Soon after, Nejla resumed her education and started working toward her bachelor’s degree. But everything changed before she could finish.

“I only had three courses left before we had to pack up and move to the United States.”

After marrying her New York native husband, Nejla learned she was pregnant. Simultaneously, there was national disruption in her home country of Turkey, causing her and her husband to flee the country, leaving behind her unfinished degree, her job, and the life they’d built.

Starting Over, One Course at a Time

“When we arrived in the U.S., I was heartbroken,” Nejla recalls. “I wanted to get a job, to contribute… but my English was very basic.”

Determined to adapt and thrive, Nejla discovered learning opportunities on Coursera. “I signed up for a lot of classes—maybe more than 200!” she laughs. What started as an effort to improve her English quickly evolved into a deep dive back into the tech world where her education originally began. She took courses in programming, AI, product development, project management, and communication, including prestigious certifications from organizations like IBM.

But challenges persisted. Economic limitations and an incomplete bachelor’s degree made formal education difficult. Her attempts to retrieve her transcript from Turkey dragged on for years. But Nejla, now a new mother and facing obstacles at every turn, continued doing courses with her Coursera Plus membership and pressed forward. Eventually securing a job at Paramount Studios, things would soon turn around. 

“I understood there were a lot of biases when people looked at me. But I still kept going.”

A Turning Point: ChatGPT and a New Path Forward

At her lowest point, Nejla started to question whether university was even an option anymore. “I thought maybe I should just focus on certificate programs. I even ordered over 20 leadership-related books and just started reading.” 

Then she asked ChatGPT a pivotal question: “Is there a university that offers a master’s degree without a bachelor’s?” That search led her to the University of Colorado Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management, and its Performance-Based Admissions (PBA) pathway. This was the moment everything changed. Nejla submitted an inquiry and was contacted by Coursera enrollment representative, Carolyn. 

“I was about to cry,” Nejla says. “Carolyn was amazing—she told me, ‘Nejla, you can make it.’ She believed in me.”

Learning Like a Pro

With her manager’s full support, Nejla began the performance-based coursework that would determine her eligibility for the master’s program. She excelled, completing multiple specializations in leadership and project management with top grades.

Even better, with course stackability, Nejla was able to upgrade some of the coursework she’d been doing on Coursera for credit toward her degree once she enrolled. After years of struggle, Nejla was elated to learn this was an option, finally have her hard work pay off, and save time as an enrolled student.

“I broke up the costs, worked with my employer, and just kept going.” By the end of 2024, she had completed several specializations and continued into 2025 with more. 

Nejla notes that one of her favorite aspects of the program was its self-paced format. “It aligned perfectly with my productive morning routines and my hectic schedule as a corporate professional and a mom.” The program’s flexibility also allowed her to juggle all the priorities of her busy life and actually helped solidify her decision to enroll and continue her passion for education.

“As long as I live, I don’t want to stop learning,” Nejla says. “Coming from a different culture, it’s not easy to make our voices heard. But we keep knocking, and eventually, doors open.”

A Proud Graduate

“It’s a huge milestone for me. I now have a recognized diploma in the U.S. I’m one step closer to my dreams—and I’m not stopping.”

Now a 2025 graduate of the program, Nejla’s learning journey has far from stopped. This year, she was accepted into a doctoral program in Strategic Leadership at Liberty University.

Nejla credits her success to a blend of strong inner drive, innovative online learning platforms, and the incredible support of people like her manager and Carolyn from the Coursera enrollment team. “I am one step closer to my dreams,” she says. “And I’ll never forget those who helped me along the way.”

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