NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Indian-origin technology executive and author Priyanka Vergadia has shared a powerful career story that is resonating with professionals and students across the world. In a widely discussed LinkedIn post, Vergadia reflected on failing the Indian Institutes of Technology entrance exam twice and starting her career behind peers, before eventually rising to senior leadership roles at Google and Microsoft. Her message is simple and clear. Early failure does not define long-term success.
Vergadia wrote that she decided to become an IIT engineer in 2000. She failed to clear the highly competitive entrance exam in 2004 and again in 2005. At the time, the rejection felt overwhelming.
“Failing IIT twice felt like the end of the world,” she wrote. “But it wasn’t my destination—it was just the beginning.”
She later enrolled in a non-IIT engineering college. Like many students in India, she struggled with comparisons and social pressure. She said those years tested her confidence and sense of direction. What kept her going, she explained, was self-belief.
“I had to believe in myself before anyone else would,” Vergadia wrote.
After graduating in 2009, Vergadia moved to the United States for graduate studies. The transition came with financial pressure, student loans, and uncertainty. She struggled to secure internships while classmates moved ahead faster.
She began her career as a quality assurance engineer. She said the role made her question whether she truly belonged in the tech industry. Many of her peers had already moved into high-growth engineering positions. Instead of quitting, she focused on learning. She improved her technical skills and sought roles that allowed her to work closely with customers.
Over time, Vergadia shifted into customer-facing engineering roles. She discovered a passion for solving real-world business problems through technology. That shift changed the direction of her career. In 2017, Google recruited her. The opportunity marked a major turning point. She later moved into developer relations and advocacy, where she worked closely with global developer communities.
She went on to lead Developer Advocacy for North America at Google Cloud. In 2024, she joined Microsoft to head Developer Strategy for go-to-market initiatives. Vergadia said her progress came from consistency, not credentials. She emphasized that success did not depend on being the smartest person in the room. It came from showing up every day and learning continuously.
Vergadia’s career includes milestones that arrived years after her early disappointments. She became a bestselling author. She helped launch zero-to-one products. She earned an MBA from the Wharton School. In 2025, she spoke on the TED stage. She said these achievements did not follow a traditional timeline. They came after long periods of doubt and delayed success. Her story challenges the idea that elite institutions alone define professional worth.
Vergadia’s post drew strong reactions. Many users praised her honesty and resilience. One commenter wrote that more students need to hear such stories to avoid falling into the “IIT mirage trap.” Another said her journey offered hope and motivation to those who feel left behind. Others highlighted her willingness to explore new paths and accept non-linear growth.
Vergadia urged young professionals not to compare their journeys with others. She warned against letting fear or failure dictate decisions. She stressed that each person’s timeline is different.
“Don’t give up on yourself,” she wrote. “Your timeline is your own.”
She encouraged readers to dream big and imagine more for themselves.
“You can only achieve what you can imagine,” she added.
