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Career paths don’t always follow a straight line. Sometimes they begin with a degree that doesn’t quite fit, a job that doesn’t fully reflect your potential, and a quiet sense that there has to be more.
For Nayaran, that moment came after earning a degree in accounting and finance, moving to the United States in 2008, relocating to Cincinnati in 2015, and finding himself “underemployed”.
“My education wasn’t matching where I was,” he shared. “I knew I needed a path to be in a better place; I just didn’t know where to start.” That path began with the community.
Discovering a Way into Tech
Coming from another country and navigating work in a non-native language came with challenges. While he was confident in math and problem-solving, technology felt intimidating, not because of the work itself, but because he didn’t know how to enter the field.
A family connection introduced him to Per Scholas, a program designed to make careers in tech more accessible. The Software Quality Assurance program offered more than technical exposure; it provided context for how real teams operate, how projects flow, and how professionals collaborate.
“It didn’t feel rushed,” he said. “It felt like preparation for the real world.”
Through Per Scholas’ partnership with Thrive at Ingage, he began to see a tangible next step, one that didn’t require a traditional tech background, just curiosity and commitment.
Entering Thrive at Ingage
Joining Thrive wasn’t without uncertainty. While he believed doing well in the program could lead to an opportunity, nothing was guaranteed. Still, Thrive provided something critical early on: mentorship.
After completing the program, graduates were paired with experienced mentors and placed into real client environments. The classroom laid down the groundwork, but the learning accelerated once he was on the job.
“At first, I wasn’t sure,” he admitted. “I didn’t see the whole picture yet.” That clarity came with time and trust.
Confidence Through Experience
Early projects focused on foundational work, helping him understand quality assurance processes and team dynamics. As he gained experience, his confidence grew, especially when his contract continued to be renewed.
“That’s when it clicked,” Narayan said. “When my work kept getting extended and I received direct feedback, I realized I was doing what was expected of me.”
Those moments mattered. They validated not just his skills, but his decision to pursue tech in the first place. He began investing in himself, attending conferences, learning technical skills independently, and asking questions without fear.
“That’s when I started believing I belonged.”
More Than a Job
Beyond professional growth, Thrive at Ingage offered something equally important: belonging.
From Thrive Days to company trips, the culture emphasized connection, shared experiences, and showing up as whole people, not just job titles.
“It felt like a place where you were supported,” he shared.
Giving back also became a meaningful part of his journey. Through Thrive, he connected with causes that aligned with his values and found purpose beyond his daily work.
Ready to Fly
After about a year with Thrive, he reached an important milestone: transitioning into a consultant role with Ingage Partners. What began as an opportunity to break into technology had grown into a career.
Over the next several years, he continued building his experience through Ingage and Thrive before taking another major step forward: accepting a full-time position with Fifth Third Bank.
Moving on felt a little like leaving the “nest,” but by then, he knew he had been prepared for what came next.
“You learn how to work, how to communicate, how to keep learning,” he said. “That stays with you.”
Today, he looks back on his Thrive experience as a turning point, not just in his career, but in his life.
His story reflects what Thrive at Ingage is built to do:
- Create opportunities that help confidence grow
- Recognize potential beyond a traditional résumé
- Invest in people and the skills that help them build lasting careers
Sometimes, a career changes because someone sees what you’re capable of and allows you to prove it.
For him, Thrive opened that door. Becoming an Ingage consultant showed how far he had come. And when the opportunity arose to take his experience to Fifth Third Bank, he was ready to take that next step.
