When Akerke Menilbekova arrived in America from Kazakhstan to pursue her master's degree, even though she was interested in technology, she didn’t really consider herself a "tech person." Coming from a teaching background where she sometimes faced unmotivated students, Akerke was searching for a new direction.
51±¬ÁÏ's Emerging Media and Technology (EMAT) master's program caught her attention. What particularly appealed to her was the program's interdisciplinary approach and flexibility.
"I read the description, and it said, 'tech up your skills.' And I was like, ‘OK. I think this really fits my situation and my goals,’" Akerke recalls. "It doesn't matter if you're coming from a different background. EMAT accepts people with very different backgrounds."
The program allowed her to tailor her education through specialization. Akerke chose applied creative technology, with classes in creative coding and data analytics. This combination prepared her to understand the tech world comprehensively — from design and coding to project management.
Drawn to user experience design, Akerke also discovered new interests during her studies. She was surprised by how much she enjoyed the Creative Coding course as she created an expressive piece of gaming art using only code. This newfound interest and skill, combined with her design interests, positioned her perfectly for her future role.
"I took the user experience courses and initially I was really interested in UX," she explains. "Being interested in that helped me get my current job because I closely work with UX designers and they use the same Figma design platform that I used while I was in the EMAT program."
One of the requirements of the EMAT program is that students find an internship. For Akerke, as an international student, this opportunity was pivotal.
"The internship was part of the EMAT curriculum. We're supposed to find an internship or even a full-time job, and I was lucky enough to find this internship at MRI Software," she says.
MRI Software, LLC, where Akerke now works, is a property tech company creating solutions for residential and commercial property owners. Her performance was so impressive that the company extended her internship and eventually offered her a full-time position as a Product Owner in January 2025.
"As an international student, it's really hard to find a job. From this perspective, I would say I am very lucky," Akerke reflects.
Today, Akerke manages two significant projects at MRI Software. She works with the Commercial Management team and, her personal favorite, heads work on the PMX On the Go mobile app. Her role involves coordinating between development teams, quality assurance specialists, support analysts, UX/UI designers and other stakeholders.
"I do 90% of the stuff in the app except for the coding and UI mockups," she proudly states about her mobile app project.
The skills she acquired during her EMAT program, particularly understanding both technical requirements and design principles, have proven invaluable in this role.
For Akerke, the EMAT program wasn't just educational: it was transformational.
"The courses I took and learned from the EMAT program are really helping me to build my career in PropTech. So yeah, I would say EMAT changed my life," she emphasizes.
The program's interdisciplinary nature provided Akerke with a unique combination of technical skills, design thinking and project management expertise that made her stand out in the job market. It bridged her transition from education to technology, opening doors that would have otherwise remained closed.
When asked what advice she would give to those considering the EMAT program, Akerke emphasizes the importance of attitude and adaptability.
"My advice to them is to always be enthusiastic about what you're going to learn. Overall, you know, be open-minded," she recommends.
Her story serves as evidence of EMAT's ability to transform careers, particularly for those looking to pivot into the tech industry from other fields or looking to advance in their current career along a tech-related path. Through its flexible curriculum, practical experience requirements and focus on industry-relevant skills, the program equips students like Akerke to thrive in the digital economy — whether or not they initially consider themselves a "tech person."