A LinkedIn post by tech leader and author Priyanka Vergadia has struck a chord online after she shared a candid account of failing the IIT entrance exam twice, struggling with student loans, and starting her career behind peers—before eventually rising to leadership roles at global tech giants.
In a detailed timeline spanning more than two decades, Vergadia traced her journey from an aspiring IIT student to leading developer strategy roles at companies such as Google and Microsoft. Her post resonated widely for its honesty about setbacks, delayed success, and the emotional toll of not fitting into conventional definitions of achievement.
From IIT rejection to starting from scratch abroad
Vergadia wrote that she decided to become an IIT engineer in 2000 but failed to secure admission in 2004 and again in 2005, eventually enrolling in a non-IIT engineering college. After graduating in 2009, she moved to the US for graduate studies.
She described struggling to secure internships while peers advanced faster and recalled starting her career as a quality assurance engineer, questioning whether she truly belonged in the tech industry. Over time, she transitioned into customer-facing engineering roles and discovered her passion for solving real-world business problems.
Her career took a decisive turn when Google recruited her in 2017, followed by her move into developer relations and advocacy. She later led Developer Advocacy for North America at Google Cloud and, in 2024, joined Microsoft to head Developer Strategy for go-to-market initiatives.
‘Your timeline is your own’
In her post, Vergadia emphasised that success did not come from being the smartest person in the room, but from consistency, resilience, and self-belief.
“Failing IIT twice felt like the end of the world. But it wasn’t my destination—it was just the beginning.”
She noted that her journey included becoming a bestselling author, launching zero-to-one products, earning a Wharton MBA, and speaking on the TED stage—milestones that arrived years after early disappointments.
Vergadia underlined the importance of rejecting comparisons and societal timelines, urging young professionals not to let fear or failure dictate life choices.
“The entire time, one truth kept me going: I had to believe in myself before anyone else would.”
She said, “The entire time, one truth kept me going: I had to believe in myself before anyone else would.
Failing IIT twice felt like the end of the world. But it wasn’t my destination—it was just the beginning.”
Vergadia further added, “From a “Not-IIT” engineering school to leading developer strategy at the world’s biggest tech companies wasn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It was about showing up consistently, learning relentlessly, and never letting failure or fear make my decisions.”
At last, she said, “Don’t give up on yourself. Your timeline is your own. Dream!
Dream big! You can only achieve what you can imagine..so don’t hold back.”
