From the Classroom to Customer Experience: My Journey from Education to EdTech (Pt.3)

When I first decided to leave the school system and explore a career in EdTech, I didn’t have a clear roadmap, I had a strong sense of purpose, transferable skills, and a lot of questions. What I quickly realized was that making the leap wasn’t about abandoning who I was as an educator, it was about translating those experiences into a new context. Here’s how I did it, step by step.

I got clear on my “why.”

I started by asking myself what I was looking for in this next chapter. I didn’t just want another job, I wanted a mission-driven organization where I could still make an impact on students and teachers, just from a different angle. That clarity helped me filter out roles and companies that didn’t align with my values.

I researched like an educator.

I approached my career transition the same way I would build a new unit plan: I studied the field. I learned common EdTech job titles, read job descriptions, and followed industry leaders on LinkedIn. I paid close attention to the language they used, terms like “stakeholder alignment,” “customer lifecycle,” “product feedback loops” and began learning how to speak that language myself.

I reworked my resume and my mindset.

Instead of listing “taught 9th grade Social Studies,” I framed it as “designed and implemented engaging instructional plans for diverse learners using data to drive outcomes.” I highlighted communication, project management, and stakeholder collaboration. More importantly, I stopped thinking of myself as “just a teacher and assistant principal” and started owning my identity as a leader, strategist, and customer advocate.

I leaned into networking, even when it felt uncomfortable.

Talking to people in the field was a game-changer. I reached out to former educators in EdTech, joined virtual panels, and sent thoughtful messages on LinkedIn. I wasn’t asking for a job, I was asking for insight. Those conversations not only helped me understand the industry, they also gave me the confidence to believe I belonged in it.

I invested time in learning new tools.

I didn’t need to become an expert in every platform overnight, but I familiarized myself with the basics. I explored tools like Salesforce, Pendo, Zendesk, and others. I watched YouTube tutorials, signed up for free trials, and attended webinars. I also started learning the basics of how product teams work, how support tickets are triaged, and how customer success teams manage onboarding and retention.

I embraced the shift to a corporate environment.

The culture shock was real, meetings that started and ended on time, using Slack instead of hallway conversations, and navigating roles like “product operations” or “solution engineering.” But I reminded myself that I’d adapted before: to new curriculums, new schools, new leadership. I asked questions, took notes, and reminded myself that it was okay not to know everything right away.

I didn’t wait until I felt 100% ready.

I applied before I felt completely “qualified.” I reminded myself that educators are constantly learning on the job. I focused on roles where I could grow into the rest of the skill set and demonstrated my ability to learn quickly, work hard, and lead with empathy.

Transitioning into EdTech wasn’t a single leap, it was a series of intentional steps grounded in curiosity, courage, and a deep belief in the value of my past experiences. From building new connections to learning the language of tech, I gradually carved out a space where I could thrive. But landing the role was just the beginning.

In the next part of this series, I’ll share the lessons I’ve learned on the job, how CX truly works, how it mirrors what we do in education, and why this field is such a natural fit for former educators ready for their next chapter!

This blog post expresses the opinions of the author, not South Asian Success.

Featured Image created with Dall-E.