Quick note: If this is the first email you’ve gotten from me in a while, that’s because my newsletter provider had a bug where my emails weren’t being sent properly (for literally six months). 😭

But we’re back! Each week, I share a combination of technical content for AI/ML roles (roadmaps, learnings, recommendations — that kind of thing) and mindset tips for success in challenging fields.

If that’s not your thing, there’s a link to unsubscribe at the bottom. No hard feelings. But I hope you’ll stick around!

This week I wanted to talk to all the machine learning students who reach out to me scared about their future prospects. This is my honest advice for what I would do in the job market of 2026.

If you’d prefer to read, the blog version is here.

If you're anything like the people I work with in my coaching practice, you have a checklist: Finish the course, build the portfolio project, get the job…check, check, check.

There's nothing wrong with that — goals give you direction. But something I've noticed after coaching nearly 200 people is that the ones who get the furthest aren't just checking boxes. They're building an identity.

Think about it. When you're laser-focused on "complete X certification by Friday," every decision gets filtered through that one narrow objective. You skip the gym because you need more study time. You stop calling your friends because you're “too busy.” You drink four coffees a day. And maybe you hit the goal — but you also feel like shit, and you're not sure how much longer you can keep this up.

I know this loop well, because I just lived it.

A few months ago, the stress in my life ramped up significantly and uncovered some things I hadn't dealt with. My first instinct was my usual default: just work harder. Wake up earlier, drink more caffeine, and power through.

It worked for about a month, and then I hit a wall. I stopped going to the gym. I was sleeping ten hours a night and still couldn't focus. Things started to unravel — not because I lacked motivation, but because I'd been optimizing for output without thinking about the system producing it.

Here’s the mindset that’s been helping me, and it's one I think works especially well for people who think in systems: Instead of starting with what do I want to accomplish and working forward, start with who do I want to be and work backward.

When you define the identity first — how that person thinks, what they prioritize, how they treat people, how they handle setbacks — the right actions tend to follow naturally. You don't need a rigid checklist because your decisions start flowing from something deeper than a to-do list.

My ideal self is calm, kind, and motivated. She's ambitious, but from a place of gratitude, not anxiety. She's patient. She sees the humor in stressful situations instead of spiraling. She's focused on helping others and enjoying the small things. She reads and goes to the gym every day. She meditates, eats her vegetables, and stays steady even when two kittens and a puppy are losing their minds at 4am.

So now when I feel overwhelmed I don't ask "what should I do next on my task list?" I ask: What would my ideal self do?

We’re in a field that moves fast. There’s always something new to learn or build. If you tie your identity to checking off a static list of skills or projects, you'll always feel behind. But if you work towards becoming the kind of person who learns with curiosity, handles ambiguity well, takes care of themselves, and lifts others up — that person is going to thrive no matter what the field throws at them.

So here's my challenge to you: take some time this week and ask yourself who you actually want to become.

It's not an easy question. It requires patience and some honest self-reflection. But I promise you, it's the highest-leverage investment you can make — in your career and in your life.

Reply to this email and let me know what you come up with.

Like I shared in last week’s newsletter, I’m launching a learning community in a couple of weeks!

This will be a place where you can ask questions and get feedback from me in a group setting for an affordable rate. I’m still working out the exact details, but it’ll definitely include a-sync and live support, learning resources, accountability, and networking.

I’m sharing this because I’m excited, but also to give you a heads up: Once the community launches, my rates for one-on-one coaching will go up significantly. So, if you want to meet to discuss your career individually, I’d highly recommend booking now!

Here’s the link.

Thank you all for your support. I’m really looking forward to this and I hope it will be helpful. <3

Want to chat 1:1? Book time with me here.

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