Transitioning careers can be daunting, especially when shifting from a long-term, stable profession to a completely new field. Fiona Kempton's journey from being a teacher for 25 years to becoming a global digital platforms and product manager at Pearson. We explore Fiona's inspiring journey, highlighting the key moments and lessons that defined her path.
The Decision to Shift
After 25 years of teaching, Fiona reached a crossroads in her career. Her involvement with Google for Education and various consulting roles had ignited a passion for educational technology. She realised that to make a significant impact in this field, she needed to upskill. The opportunity to join a 12-week software development boot camp came at the perfect time.
“I wanted to make a shift into EdTech for real,” Fiona explained. The boot camp promised to provide the technical skills necessary to build apps, improve websites, and understand the deeper mechanics of technology.
Boot Camp Beginnings
The boot camp began with a taster session, where participants built a simple web page. Although Fee had some background in HTML, CSS, and Python, the session was an eye-opener. “The taster session was fantastic,” she recalled. “It gave a real flavour of what was to come.”
The boot camp was intense. Fee spent countless hours learning new concepts and working on projects. Her biggest challenge was understanding relational databases and APIs, balancing both academic pressures and those of personal life, which over a 12 week course is to be expected.
“My biggest struggle was with relational databases and understanding APIs,” Fiona admitted. “But the support from my cohort and instructors was crucial. They pushed me to keep going.”
Triumphs and Breakthroughs
Despite the challenges, Fee excelled. The boot camp taught her to be resourceful and proactive. “I learned that I could find things out for myself,” she said. This newfound confidence was instrumental when she started applying for jobs.
While still on the course, Fee came across a job opening at Pearson. Encouraged by the Tech Educators, she applied, even though she felt it might be beyond her reach. The application process was rigorous, involving three rounds of interviews. Each stage tested her knowledge, experience, and determination.
“My teaching experience played a significant role,” Fiona noted. “But the skills and confidence gained from the bootcamp were essential.”
Landing the Job
Fee’s perseverance paid off. She landed the job at Pearson as a global digital platforms and product manager for standards and strategy. This role perfectly aligned with her mission to enhance education through technology.
“The reason I was so delighted to get Pearson was that their vision aligned with my own,” Fiona said. “Our mission statement is to realise the life you imagine through learning, and that is definitely what I’ve done.”
Reflecting on the Journey
Fiona’s journey from the classroom to a tech-driven role in a multinational company is a testament to the power of lifelong learning and adaptability. She continues to leverage her teaching skills and new technical expertise to drive innovation in educational technology.
“Never stop learning,” Fiona advises. “The boot camp was an essential part of my journey, but it’s just the beginning.”
About the Author
James has 8 years with Fortune 200 US firm ITW, experience of managing projects in China, USA, and throughout Europe. James has worked with companies such as Tesco, Vauxhall, ITW, Serco, McDonalds. James has experience in supporting start-up and scale up companies such as Readingmate, Gorilla Juice and Harvest London. James completed his MBA at the University of East Anglia in 2018.
