Artificial intelligence is often described as a force that will replace jobs and reshape entire industries. For Kanishka Dhir, a graduate of Centennial College’s Software Engineering Technology – Artificial Intelligence program, the reality is much more practical. Her story shows what learning about AI looks like in the classroom, how those skills apply in real workplaces, and how Centennial College helps students move from education into careers in software engineering, data engineering, and AI-related fields.
Preparing for a Future in Technology at Centennial College
Before enrolling at Centennial College, Kanishka already had several years of experience working in the technology sector in India.
"I've been in the field for approximately seven years before joining Centennial," she says. But when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted industries around the world, it also gave her time to rethink her career Dhirection.
"While I was working, Covid hit," she explains. "During that period, I was looking at my opportunities, what was next for me. I was familiar with the AI boom that was going to come, and I knew that everyone was going to be working in that area, so I wanted to learn it, because I did not in my undergrad." She also wanted to better understand Canadian workplace culture and plan for a sustainable long-term career.
"I was already planning on coming to Canada," she says, "because I wanted to understand what corporate culture looks like in the West. I had work-life balance in mind." As she researched postsecondary options, Centennial College stood out.
"I knew from my cousin that Centennial was a very reputed college in the region," she says, "And the very first semester that I started over here, I knew I was in for good."
Understanding What AI Really Is and How It Is Used
One of the most important lessons Kanishka gained from Centennial’s Artificial Intelligence program was a clear and realistic view of what AI can and cannot do.
"There's a lot of misconceptions about artificial intelligence," Kanishka says. "Somebody who's not familiar with what AI is, and the scope of AI, would say AI is going to take our jobs, we might be unemployed, and all sorts of stuff like that. But as an AI student, I know that AI is not here to overtake human power. It's going to be walking hand-in-hand with human power. If we implement AI into our jobs, it's going to make our work more efficient, rather than take those jobs away. That's the main misconception that people who are familiar with software engineering would like to break." Her coursework helped reinforce this perspective through hands-on learning.
"Learning through these various courses and implementing various projects related to it, I could really grasp the idea that AI is here to empower humans," she says. "It's not here to overtake us." She was also working with new technologies as they were emerging.
"I was actually building a chatbot back when ChatGPT had only just come out, and everybody was using it and learning," she adds.
Learning Through Projects and Real-World Applications
For Kanishka, one of the strongest features of the Software Engineering Technology – Artificial Intelligence program was its focus on project-based learning.
"The best thing about my program was that for every course that I was doing, there was a project associated with it," she says. "Each project made a huge difference for me, not just academically, but also because I could use those projects in my resumé. I could benefit from those projects and talk about them in my interviews. Even during my job, I can refer back to those projects." These projects helped her connect classroom theory with real industry needs, giving her practical examples to discuss during interviews and apply while on the job.
How Co-op Experience Builds Career Momentum
In addition to technical training, Kanishka credits Centennial College’s co-op program with helping her move smoothly into the workforce.
"Apart from those academic things, I would say the most useful things for me were the co-ops that I did," Kanishka says. "I had two co-op semesters in my program. For the first one, I was working with the Government of Ontario – Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery. And for the second one, I was working with TD Bank. Whatever I learned in first couple of semesters, I was able to implement it straight away into my co-op programs." The connections Kanishka made during her co-op placements played a major role in launching her career after graduation.
"I was already working with TD as a co-op student," she says, "and once I completed my program, I reached out to my networks that I made during my co-op, to ask how I get back into the industry. The manager that I worked with during my co-op semester helped me get back into the company. I was grateful for that, that I could transition back into the field very smoothly." Her first role after graduation helped her build deeper technical skills.
"I was working in the data department for TD Bank as a business systems analyst," she continues. "After that, I got the opportunity to be full time with them and to transition into a data engineer. All of the knowledge that I was gaining during that first role helped me to transition into a data engineer, and be hands-on with the technology that I was working with."
Working as a Data Engineer in Today’s Tech Landscape
Today, Kanishka works as a Data Engineer at TD Bank, where she is gaining experience with modern cloud technologies.
"I've been data engineer with TD now for a few months," Kanishka says, "working with TD on their Microsoft Azure platform. We are transitioning from legacy systems to the Cloud Platform, similar to what other banks are doing. Working on that, I am learning about the most up to date technology." Outside of work, she continues to learn and build her professional network.
"I actively try to widen my professional network by attending various tech events," she says. "One of them was Google Dev Fest. I also volunteered with Google Cloud Developer Groups earlier this year as part of a hackathon, and attended another conference on cybersecurity. The motive behind attending all of these different events is to broaden my circle of knowledge, and network with different kinds of people to try and understand what goes on behind the scenes of that technology." Her long-term goals are to build on her current role.
"I want to become an expert in this role, and gain more professional certifications," she says. "Then, I want to transition into becoming a data scientist."
Advice for Students Entering AI and Tech Careers
For Kanishka, success in tech requires more than technical skills. Building relationships is just as important.
"One thing that has very much helped me is the networking that I've done," she says. "Since there's a lot of remote jobs, people are working in isolated places. It doesn't come to us that we should go out and meet people, have those networks in place. Having those in-person human connections, that goes a long way. Even when I was a student, having those classes in person and meeting my professors in person, that helped me build a rapport that would go beyond my two years of being a student." She believes these strong connections can accelerate career growth.
"If you reach out to new people," she continues, "if you build those connections, that gives another push to your career. Being a student at Centennial, you’re already setting yourselves up for success." Her advice to new graduates reflects her own experience in the industry.
"Students who are graduating, and just starting out in the industry, I would say, grab any opportunity that comes your way, and then go look for your ideal job," she says. "Being in the industry, and being in the data space itself helped me to transition into a data engineer, and hopefully into a data scientist."
Kanishka’s journey shows how Centennial College’s Software Engineering Technology – Artificial Intelligence program prepares students with practical skills, real industry experience, and strong professional networks. For students who want to move past the hype and build real, career-ready AI expertise, Centennial College offers a clear path from classroom learning to meaningful work in the technology sector.