Finding the Sweet Spot of Data and Strategic Planning

Early in her career, Emilia Polletta wanted to do more than analyze past performance. Working as an audit associate at CohnReznick LLP after earning her bachelor’s degree in finance, Emilia began to develop strong analytical skills, but found herself increasingly interested in how data and strategic planning could shape future business decisions.

The common denominator of the two? Project management.

“What initially drew me to project management was how universally valuable the skill set is across industries and career paths,” Emilia explains. “I believe project management skills—such as communication, organization, collaboration and strategic planning—are beneficial in almost every professional role.”

Even in public accounting, she was already practicing many of those skills.

“During the busy season, I was constantly balancing deadlines, coordinating across teams, managing priorities and ensuring projects stayed on track,” she recalls. “Pursuing the certificate allowed me to strengthen and formalize skills that I was already applying in a professional setting.

“I chose your project management certificate because it combines academic credibility with practical, real-world application,” Emilia continues. “I wanted a flexible program that would help me grow professionally while expanding my long-term career opportunities.”

I believe project management skills—such as communication, organization, collaboration and strategic planning—are beneficial in almost every professional role.

A Perfect Fit

Not only was the flexibility an absolute must, but the value of a Berkeley credential made our program an obvious choice.

“I was researching project management programs designed for working professionals, and UC Berkeley Extension immediately stood out because of your strong reputation, flexibility and emphasis on practical learning,” Emilia adds.

“The flexibility of the online format was extremely valuable and allowed me to continue advancing my education while managing professional responsibilities. The courses were highly interactive and collaborative.”

One of Emilia’s favorite parts of the program was interacting with professionals from many different industries.

“The diversity of perspectives made classroom discussions especially engaging,” Emilia reflects. “The instructors also brought significant real-world experience into the classroom, which made the coursework feel both relevant and impactful. The curriculum felt highly practical and immediately applicable to real-world work environments.”

How so?

“The program helped me become more intentional and proactive about planning, communication, prioritization and workflow management,” she responds. “I found myself approaching projects more strategically and developing stronger organizational habits in both academic and professional settings.”

She also adopted new ways of working.

“One habit I developed through the program was breaking larger goals and initiatives into smaller, more manageable phases with clearly defined priorities and timelines,” Emilia describes.

The program helped me become more intentional and proactive about planning, communication, prioritization and workflow management.

A Catalyst for Career Growth

Perhaps the biggest impact of the certificate was the clarity it provided.

“Professionally, earning the certificate strengthened my confidence, expanded my skill set and helped clarify the direction I wanted my career to take,” Emilia says.

Looking back, she sees the program as a turning point.

“The program reinforced my interest in strategic decision-making, process improvement, analytics and cross-functional collaboration rather than remaining solely focused on traditional accounting work,” she describes. “That realization ultimately motivated me to pursue and complete my master’s degree in business analytics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“I hope to continue building a career focused on strategic decision-making, analytics and business improvement initiatives,” she offers. “I’m excited to continue combining analytical thinking with the project management and leadership skills I developed through the certificate program.”

For students considering the program, her advice is simple: “Stay organized, remain engaged in discussions and actively connect the coursework to real-world experiences whenever possible.” Because, she says, “Balancing work and education can certainly be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding.”