(Jun 8, 2026) When Mohsina Farheen stepped into the corporate world few years ago, she carried a bachelor’s degree in English literature and little knowledge of technology. Surrounded by colleagues with engineering backgrounds and technical expertise, she wondered whether she could survive in a field that felt completely unfamiliar.
Today, the Chennai-based professional has over nine years of experience across business analysis, customer relations and validation processes, and currently works as a Senior Validation Specialist at Sectigo, helping businesses abroad secure their digital infrastructure.
“I thought I would not be able to sustain a career in IT. But then I told myself, ‘Let’s give it a try.’ I started from zero and kept learning,” she remarks in a chat with The Global Indian.
Competing with engineers, learning on the job
Unlike many of her peers who entered technology roles armed with engineering degrees, Mohsina began her career with a humanities background and little understanding of data or computer systems.
Her first job was with Falcon Seven Exim in Chennai, where she worked in business analysis and client management. Over the years, she became a bridge between the company and customers, handling products, sales and operations. But the initial days were intimidating. “There were BTech employees around me who knew computers and data, while I was completely from a literature background,” she recalls.
Rather than allowing the gap to discourage her, she immersed herself in training for months and gradually built her expertise. Within a year, she achieved something she still considers one of her proudest milestones. “After one year, I got promoted as a trainer for my process. Coming from a zero background, I felt so proud of myself,” says Mohsina who went on to get recognised as the Best Performer of the Year 2022 at the organisation for exceptional contributions to training and process improvement.
Handling overseas clients
One of her earliest tests involved handling a demanding overseas client during her time at one of her previous organisations, Falcon Seven Exim. A customer in Africa urgently required a large shipment of spices, but company policies made immediate dispatch impossible.
The pressure was intense. “That night I didn’t sleep. Even in my dreams, I was thinking about emails and calls. It gave me anxiety for the first time in my life,” she says.
Working closely with her manager, she eventually found a solution by splitting the shipment and obtaining the required permissions. Looking back, she sees the episode as a turning point. “Now when challenges come, I tell myself, ‘Okay, let me sort this out.’ Experience changes you,” she says.
Working with clients across borders
Mohsina’s career later expanded into international customer-facing roles. At Teleperformance, she worked on American Airlines operations, communicating flight updates and handling customers from Europe, the United States and Canada.
Today, at Sectigo, she provides validation support for SSL, email and signing certificates while handling escalations and maintaining relationships with clients and partners based abroad.
These international interactions, she says, have taught her lessons that go beyond work. “They taught me professionalism. They trust us, and they understand situations. That changed my perspective,” she says.
While she focused on improving communication and understanding different cultures, visits from overseas clients left a lasting impression. “They would sit next to us, listen to calls and guide us. They were friendly and professional at the same time,” she recalls.
A lifelong student
For Mohsina, learning has become both a necessity and a passion. Although she once worried that her English literature degree had little relevance to her technology-oriented career, she gradually shifted her mindset. “I thought I had wasted my degree. But once I entered IT, I wanted to learn more and more,” she says.
Over time, she added skills in Python, SQL, Power BI and data analytics to her repertoire. And she is not stopping there. Artificial intelligence is next on her list. “I just want to learn, learn, learn, learn and learn,” she says with a laugh.
Her drive to stay relevant stems partly from the increasingly competitive environment around her. “People come from very strong backgrounds. I only had one degree. So I started learning data and technical skills.”
Travel and learning
Travel and learning remain her favourite hobbies. She has visited destinations such as Dubai and Vietnam and hopes to explore many more countries in the future.
Interestingly, long before corporate life, Mohsina dreamt of becoming a cabin crew member. She was selected by IndiGo and also received an opportunity related to Qatar, but her parents preferred that she focus on studies instead. While that dream did not materialise, she has no regrets. Life, she believes, often takes people to unexpected destinations.
Future plans
Mohsina now hopes to move abroad with her family, possibly to Australia, where several members of her extended family already live. More than geography, however, what excites her is the opportunity to learn and grow further. “We should never look back. We should always look forward,” she remarks.