How Vidiah built a new career in data at 54

When Vidiah stepped into a logistics admin role at the age of 54, she was starting from scratch in more ways than one. “I knew nothing about Excel,” she recalls.

Her role required her to track incoming materials, monitor production outputs, and report on environmental impact – work that depended heavily on data accuracy and analysis. It quickly became clear that to succeed, she needed to build entirely new skills. So she turned to learning.

Opening the door to a new world

Vidiah’s journey began with a single course: Microsoft Excel – Data Analysis with Pivot Tables by Maven Analytics. “That course changed everything,” she says. “It made me an expert in the office.”

What started as a practical need – to do her job better – quickly became something more. Learning didn’t stop at Excel. It accelerated. She progressed from Excel fundamentals to advanced data analysis, data visualization, Power Query, Power Pivot, Power BI and VBA. Today, she’s continuing her journey by learning Python and AI. “Analytics has become my new hobby,” she says. “It opened the door to a whole new world.”

From learner to expert

Today, Vidiah is the person her colleagues turn to for help. “I’m the oldest in the office – and now everyone asks me for support.” Her skills aren’t just theoretical – they’re shaping real business decisions. She’s been asked by managers to analyze farming test runs, including assessing how different chemicals affect fruit quality and pest control, and evaluating the impact of shade netting on production output.

Her insights help guide future investments and operational decisions. Perhaps most impressively, Vidiah independently created a carbon impact report for her company’s farming and packhouse operations. “It was accepted by auditors and helped us secure accreditations,” she says.

Rebuilding a career – and confidence

Vidiah’s journey wasn’t just about skills – it was about rediscovering purpose. After an earlier career in banking, her professional life had been interrupted. Following personal changes, she spent many years out of the workforce. “But staying at home was never in my nature,” she explains. “I needed something that challenged my mind.”

Learning gave her that – and more. “Being able to stay employable past retirement age is a huge plus,” she says. It also gave her the confidence to keep going. Even now, as she tackles Python – her toughest challenge yet – she’s still pushing forward.

Looking ahead: a third career?

Vidiah isn’t slowing down. She’s already exploring a new direction – social media marketing – designing content with Canva and building her own website on WordPress. “I now know that analytics and creative design are what I want to do with my life,” she says. “Learning has become a hobby.”

Why Udemy worked

For Vidiah, the flexibility of learning made all the difference. “Lifetime access means I can learn at my own pace. And the instructors – especially Maven Analytics – are incredible.”

Her advice for others? “Find a skill you use in your work and become the expert. Then keep exploring. Never stop learning.”

And for anyone wondering if it’s too late to start: “It is never too late to build a new career.”