Turning the Impossible Dream Into Reality — Together
What does it take to pursue a graduate degree while raising a family, working full time, and pursuing a shared dream? For Sanjay Mathan and Sreejisha (Sree) Purushotham, the answer was determination, partnership, and Georgia Tech’s OMS Analytics program.
When Sanjay Mathan and Sreejisha (Sree) Purushotham received their master’s degrees in December 2024, the milestone marked far more than a professional achievement. Together, the husband-and-wife duo had just completed Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Analytics (OMS Analytics) program — at the same time.
Their accomplishment represented career investments, a shared family journey, and a dream realized. Over the course of three years, they balanced full-time jobs, raised two teenagers, and carved out time for demanding coursework.
In the process, they modeled what lifelong learning can look like for the next generation.
A Shared Vision
Sanjay, already equipped with an MBA and decades of leadership experience in fintech, telecom, and healthcare, knew that data was transforming industries. “I recognized the exponential growth of organizational data and the emergence of next-generation job opportunities for data analysis experts,” he said. “I saw a clear path forward.”
For Sree, the decision was equally compelling. As a product lead at a data management solutions company, she wanted to deepen her expertise while seizing the moment as her daughters became a bit more independent.
But there was also a deeper motivation. “Georgia Tech wasn’t just a university for me,” she explained. “It was a dream, a symbol of everything I wanted to achieve.”
Having lived in Atlanta for more than 20 years, the couple often drove past Georgia Tech’s downtown campus. Each time, it stirred something inside them.
“Whenever I passed the billboard,” Sanjay recalled, “attending Georgia Tech always felt like a distant dream. I used to wonder if we had missed the opportunity. But when I received my acceptance letter to the OMS Analytics program and saw my wife’s acceptance on the same day, it truly felt as if the universe were saying, “now is your time.”
Choosing Georgia Tech
The decision to enroll in OMS Analytics wasn’t based on emotion alone. The program’s rigor, reputation, and flexibility made it the clear choice.
Ranked among the nation’s top five analytics programs, Georgia Tech offers the same world-class curriculum as its on-campus counterpart, with the added benefit of 100% online access. And with tuition under $12,000, the decision became even clearer.
“The Georgia Tech brand, combined with the flexibility of the program, was unbeatable,” Sree said.
The program’s design allowed them to manage demanding careers and family responsibilities while gaining skills they could immediately apply in their respective careers. It was the combination of prestige, practicality, and accessibility that made OMS Analytics the perfect fit.
Building a Family Study Routine
Though motivated individually, the couple saw an opportunity in enrolling together. Sanjay admitted some hesitation at first, unsure if balancing graduate school with a senior-level role was realistic. But when they discussed Sree’s aspirations, the solution became clear: why not do it together?
That decision transformed their home life. After dinner, while their daughters worked on homework, the couple sat down with laptops open.
“After some thoughtful conversations, we realized we could turn the experience into a shared strategy,” Sanjay said. “It became a true partnership — we discussed assignments, shared insights, and supported each other throughout.”
They even found humor in their studies. “Having attended the same course lectures, we could better relate, discuss, and even share funny moments, like references to Justin Bieber in simulation class!” Sanjay laughed.
Still, they emphasized maintaining integrity.
“We strictly adhered to Georgia Tech’s academic code,” Sree explained. “Our discussions were about ideas, not assignments. We each had our own projects, our own groups, and our own responsibilities.”
The Balancing Act
Managing two jobs, two teenagers, and two graduate degrees required precision.
“We maintained a schedule that allocated time for work, family, and school,” Sree said. “Maintaining this balance was essential to ensure our education did not affect the well-being of our children.”
Of course, that also meant sacrifices.
Sanjay recalled, “At times, we had to take rain checks on birthday parties, dinner meetups, and card games with friends. Fortunately, our social circle was extremely supportive. Ultimately, these sacrifices, coupled with the invaluable support from our friends, cultivated a stronger sense of discipline and highly effective time management.”
The online format of the program proved critical.
“Given the demands of our busy household, packed schedules, and daily on-site work commitments, it was impossible to consider any program that required commuting and in-person attendance,” Sanjay said.
The Finish Line
By December 2024, both had crossed the finish line, completing the program in just under three years.
For Sree, the moment was deeply personal. “Earning my master’s degree at Georgia Tech was more than just an accomplishment. It was the culmination of a deep-seated aspiration. The pride, the sense of belonging, the thrill of finally reaching that goal — it was exhilarating!”
Sanjay agreed, noting that the journey was just as significant as the destination.
“Education doesn’t have an age limit,” he said. “By earning our degrees together, we hoped to show our kids that no dream is too big — even going back to school at midlife to attend your dream institute.”
New Chapters
The skills and confidence gained through OMS Analytics quickly translated into new opportunities for both.
Sanjay became a principal at S2S3 Labs, a start-up focused on delivering innovative data and AI solutions for small businesses. The role allowed him to blend decades of engineering leadership with fresh capabilities in analytics.
Meanwhile, Sree took on the role of director at PwC ITSCo, leading a global data warehouse team.
“My work requires ensuring both accessibility and compliance in enterprise data,” she said. “The OMS Analytics program equipped me with the technical foundation and strategic perspective to lead with confidence.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
For many professionals, earning a graduate degree while raising a family would be a formidable challenge. However, Sanjay and Sree saw it as an opportunity to lead by example.
“The family study hour brought us closer together,” Sanjay said. “We wanted our daughters to see that learning is lifelong, that it doesn’t stop after your first degree.”
Sree echoed the sentiment. “By going through this program side by side, we didn’t just advance our careers. We showed our children that dreams are worth pursuing, even if they seem impossible at first.”
For Sanjay and Sree, the impossible dream wasn’t just realized — it was shared. Their journey shows what’s possible with dedication, partnership, and the support of a world-class online program like Georgia Tech OMS Analytics.
Credits
Author: Laurel-Ann Dooley
Editor: Teresa Daniel
Hacking Online Student Connection
