Welcome to Gratitude Driven, a weekly newsletter where I share practical ideas and insights across personal growth, professional development, and the world of AI/ML. ✨

This week’s video is a round-up of the non-technical AI skills that I truly believe everyone needs to master to stay competitive in the job market of 2026.

And I’d argue that for AI/ML folks, it’s even more important that you stay up-to-date on both the technical and non-technical side of AI developments. So check it out!

Blog version is here 😀

I want to talk about something most career advice completely ignores.

When people ask how I went from managing a jewelry store to becoming a Senior Applied Scientist — with nearly an 8x increase in income along the way — they expect to hear about the technical skills I built, the degrees I earned, or the study habits I developed. And of course all of that mattered.

But as surprising as it might sound, the biggest factor was actually my husband.

Having a partner who believed in me, moved across the world for my degree, and held things together when I had nothing figured out changed the entire trajectory of my life. That kind of support is a genuine competitive advantage — professionally, financially, and emotionally — and almost nobody talks about it.

There's a story we tell ourselves, especially in ambitious circles, about how we have to build ourselves first. Get the degree, the career, and the financial foundation (maybe even buy a house). Become the best version of yourself. Then find someone worthy of that version.

It sounds logical. It's also a fairly recent idea, and I think it often ends up costing people a lot.

For most of human history, the assumption was the opposite: you found someone to grow with. You didn't arrive at a relationship polished and complete, looking for the perfect puzzle piece to slot into your already-built life. You showed up as a work in progress, and so did they, and you figured it out together.

I met my husband when I was 23. I was barely earning above the poverty line in the Bay Area with no clear direction for my career. He was a few years older, more established, and he took a risk on me.

When I decided to pursue a master's degree in Berlin, he came along. He supported us while I earned almost nothing. He put his own career growth on pause while I figured out mine. That was an enormous act of faith.

And it paid off, not just financially. Eleven years later, we're both completely different people than we were in our twenties. But we've navigated so much together that we've built something many relationships don't have: a combination of flexibility for whatever life throws at us, and deep stability in how we support each other. That's not something you can manufacture after the fact. It came from going through hard things together before either of us had it figured out.

So if you're single and chasing big goals, I want to offer a suggestion: finding the right partner isn't something you have to do after you've arrived. It can be part of how you get there.

That doesn't mean rushing, or settling, or making partnership the center of your identity, but it does mean giving it the same kind of intentional energy you give your growth in other areas of life.

And don’t stress about looking for a perfect person. Look for someone trustworthy, with values that align with yours, who wants a similar kind of life, and who's willing to grow with you for the long haul. Someone you can take a risk on, and who will take one on you.

The people in our lives shape us as much as any degree or opportunity, and sometimes more. The quality of my relationships isn't a footnote to my success story. It’s kind of the whole thing.

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

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