Ramani Akkati studied English literature in college because she felt she could get good grades and liked to analyze different texts.Ramani AkkatiRamani Akkati transitioned from studying English literature to working in AI and data science.She self-studied coding and AI through online courses and resources like MIT OpenCourseWare.Akkati secured jobs in part by directly reaching out to startup CEOs and explaining how she could use her skillset.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ramani Akkati, a 22-year-old tech employee.