Portland Reed had a small business until the COVID-19 pandemic. Portland had to shut down her business and relocate to be close to family while searching for a job.

“Amazon was the only company hiring. I’d never worked in a warehouse before, but I thought, how do I turn this into an opportunity?” Through Amazon Career Choice, I found Pathstream’s certificate and thought ‘Why not look into this program?’ I reviewed the syllabus, and this is where Pathstream knocked it out of the park. The curriculum is not fluff; it’s practical and what you need to learn to break into the data industry. So I thought, why not enroll?” 

Portland was thrilled about Amazon’s Career Choice Program, saying. “My company wants its employees to thrive. They are looking for innovators, entrepreneur-like minds, and employees to think big. Offering education benefits helps us learn valuable skills and advance our careers while improving the organization, customer service, and increasing revenue.” 

After Portland started the Pathstream program, she began using her new skills at work to change warehouse operations and got a promotion. “I went from managing one small trailer door to four and now nine because I look at data differently. I analyze operations through a lens that allows me to make changes in real time. I got this promotion because I did exactly what the course taught me. I put together a spreadsheet, analyzing how many people were needed to process freight hourly to improve our warehouse’s numbers. I was no data expert before the program. The program equipped me with the right tools to execute and excel. I would recommend Pathstream’s program without reservation.” 

A piece of advice Portland gave Amazon employees was:
“I was intimidated when I first saw the course materials. I didn’t think I could learn a whole new language like SQL. I also noticed many students discussing their insecurities. But you don’t need to be afraid. It doesn’t matter what age you are or how tech-savvy you are. The program was designed to help you unlock your potential. What matters is your competence and do you have the skills to do it. Throw away your insecurities and enroll in the right program for you. You can do this, embrace the future, and go forward. My advice is to trust the process, the program, and the team.”