My career path to Google included bartending and working at a nursing home. Here's what it taught me. (www.businessinsider.com)

Milica Cvetkovic’s journey to becoming a senior technical solutions consultant at Google underscores the value of unconventional career paths in the AI/ML space. Cvetkovic, born in Serbia and now based in Chicago, moved through various roles—from bartending in New Orleans to caregiving in a nursing home—before eventually pivoting towards technology. Her diverse experiences taught her valuable life lessons in discipline, hard work, and the importance of effective communication, especially in conveying technical concepts to non-specialists. Her transition into the AI field began with a career in curriculum design and graduate studies in statistics, where she focused on teaching machine learning to non-technical audiences. This unique combination of technical expertise and educational skills ultimately led her to Google, where she leverages her background to bridge the gap between complex AI technologies and everyday users. Cvetkovic's narrative highlights that success in tech does not solely depend on traditional educational paths or networking; rather, it can stem from a wide array of experiences, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges.