We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Shah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, what do you attribute your success to?
I think hard work is one of the most important factors behind my success thus far. I’m a huge basketball fan, and Kevin Durant has a strong quote saying, “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” I also study Kobe Bryant because his mindset was just different, he mentions working hard as well, stating, “Great things come from hard work and perseverance. NO excuses.” People just see your achievements, but never see how much time and work you put into getting those achievements. For me, they see all of my success, but don’t see all the hard work and dedication it took to get me here. All the sleepless nights studying, applying, and hours networking. So I’d say how you respond and act when the world isn’t watching will determine all of your success. What are you doing behind the scenes to achieve your goals? Are you being lazy and doing nothing, or putting in work?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey into tech hasn’t been easy, but it’s the challenges that have shaped who I am today. I graduated from Kennesaw State University in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and entered one of the worst tech job markets in years. Like many new grads, I was excited, hopeful, and ready to work—until reality hit.

Over the next 11 months, I manually submitted over 1,000 job applications and went through more than 100 interviews with 55+ companies. I made it to the final rounds repeatedly, only to be told I came in second. It was discouraging, but I held on to one thought: I only needed one “yes.”

That “yes” finally came in April 2025 when I accepted an offer to join Yardi, a leading real estate software company, as an Associate Technical Account Manager. After so many setbacks, landing this role felt like everything finally clicked—and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of a supportive team that aligns with my long-term goals.

My path to this point wasn’t traditional. I started college in August 2020, during COVID, as a Software Engineering major. I pushed myself hard—maybe too hard—taking summer classes like Calculus and even Human Anatomy (yes, 5 hours a day for anatomy… as a tech major—never again!). In 2022, I decided to switch to Information Technology because I didn’t want to limit myself to just software engineering. That shift turned out to be one of the best moves I’ve made—it gave me the flexibility to explore different areas of tech and helped me discover that I love technology as a whole.

During my job search, I also made networking a priority. I attended every major tech event I could in Atlanta—Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Salesforce—and connected with everyone from recruiters and directors to fellow job seekers. Those relationships and conversations kept me motivated when things got hard.

In my free time, I still do full-stack software engineering as I’m working on startups and AI projects. Yardi supports my long-term goals, so growing into an SWE role is still on the table. I’m just happy to say I finally landed my first good tech job, especially in this market after all the years of hard work and dedication it took to get me here.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s that timing doesn’t define you—persistence does. It may take a lot of noes, but that one “yes” can change everything. Keep going.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting Atlanta, one of the first places I’d take them is the Atlanta Beltline. It’s hands down one of my favorite spots in the city—great for walking, people-watching, and trying out all kinds of food along the way. It has a welcoming vibe, and it’s a cool mix of nature, art, and city life. Plus, you’re surrounded by some of the biggest names in tech and business, which adds to the energy of the area.

We’d spend time at Ponce City Market—it’s a must. The food options alone are worth the visit, but the rooftop is where it gets fun. There are bars, games, rides, live music, and an amazing view of the city. It’s one of those places where there’s always something going on, and the people you meet there are just as interesting as the events themselves.

Whether it’s grabbing a bite, catching a rooftop sunset, or just soaking in the city’s culture, the Beltline and Ponce are my go-to spots to show someone a great time in Atlanta.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out LSAMP and NSBE for helping me on this journey and allowing me to become a better person. These organizations put a huge emphasis on leadership and volunteering, which is something I now love doing thanks to both of these organizations. Specifically, I am now focused on helping mold the next generation of STEM leaders from elementary, middle, high school, and even college students. I’ve been extremely blessed, now it’s time to give back.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanshahtech

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanshah2025

Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ryanshah2025

Image Credits
Microsoft

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