At Cloud Elemental, nurturing fresh talent is at the core of our mission. The Elemental Academy programme is designed to seamlessly integrate recent graduates into our team and the DevOps world, providing them with the skills and knowledge needed for Cloud consultancy success.
Sandra Sahnoune, one of our current Elementals, has written a short piece reflecting on her Elemental Academy journey so far. Check out her article below to learn how the Elemental Academy is helping her build confidence in her skills through collaboration.
My name is Sandra, and I am a Graduate DevOps Consultant at Cloud Elemental. I’ve been with Cloud Elemental for three months now, but the team has been so welcoming and supportive that it feels like I’ve been here much longer.
After graduating with a degree in Computer Science from the University of the West of England in Bristol, my exposure to Cloud technologies was quite limited. Starting a new chapter in London, I was eager to learn more, and Cloud Elemental became the perfect environment to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world experience.
While at university, I built a strong foundation in Computer Science and had some exposure to Cloud technologies like AWS and Azure, but I never had the opportunity to use them in-depth. Given how much Cloud tech dominates the industry now, I was highly motivated to dive in and expand my skills in this exciting field.
Why Cloud Elemental?
The world of IT is rapidly evolving, with new developments emerging every day. Cloud technology, in particular, has become a transformative force in the industry, offering the ability to access resources anywhere, anytime. This ubiquity makes Cloud not just a trend, but the future of IT.
At Cloud Elemental, I’ve immersed myself in a variety of Cloud topics, constantly learning and researching new areas. This experience has sharpened my problem-solving abilities and helped me design innovative solutions. However, what truly sets Cloud Elemental apart for me is that beyond growing as a technical professional, I’m also developing essential consultancy skills. I’ve learned how to present solutions and ideas, collaborate effectively with a team, and tailor my communication to different audiences—whether clients or colleagues, high-level or low-level stakeholders.
Cloud Elemental’s unique workplace environment is a major factor in this growth. The team is always ready to offer support, allowing me to learn, contribute, and have a meaningful impact on the company. The combination of technical development and consultancy training makes this experience truly invaluable, and it’s why I’m so passionate about being part of the Cloud industry.
My Experience at Cloud Elemental so far
My first month at Cloud Elemental presented its challenges. Entering a new field with all new knowledge and domain expertise required a lot of initial groundwork. I had to familiarise myself with various AWS services like S3, EC2, IAM, KMS, and Bedrock, while also learning to use new tools such as Terraform.
Fortunately, I’m not alone in this journey. With the support and mentorship of my colleagues and fellow Academy members, I was able to overcome these early challenges easily. Cloud Elemental fosters an environment where learning is encouraged, and there are numerous resources (such as Confluence pages, documentation, and Mob Session recordings) that helped accelerate my understanding. Being a fast learner, along with my motivation and determination to succeed in the cloud space, allowed me to quickly gain knowledge in Cloud Technology and Services, Security and Compliance and Cloud Concepts. This groundwork helped me earn my Cloud Practitioner certification early on.
I’m excited to continue diving deeper into Cloud technologies and preparing for even more advanced challenges ahead.
How about the culture?
The culture at Cloud Elemental goes beyond just being a technical environment. While we’re all passionate about Cloud, it’s not 100% focused on that – there’s a vibrant social side too. The team knows how to balance work with fun, which helps everyone relax, bond, and get to know each other outside of our daily tasks.
Being a woman in STEM, I’ve encountered my fair share of challenges, but Cloud Elemental has been a breath of fresh air. The company promotes equal opportunities and genuinely supports diversity. I’ve never felt sidelined or underestimated. Instead, I’ve been encouraged to share my work, present my ideas, and dive into client projects right from the start. This inclusive environment has empowered me to succeed and thrive, proving that the tech world can be both welcoming and dynamic and helped me in understanding the broader Cloud industry.
In just three months, I’ve learned an incredible amount, and I’m excited to keep progressing, take on more responsibilities, and excel further in my role at Cloud Elemental.
As Sandra continues on her Elemental Academy journey, we’re excited to support her by bridging theoretical learning with real-world experiences. The Elemental Academy is more than just a programme – it’s a key part of our commitment to growth and excellence.
We look forward to seeing how Sandra will help contribute to Cloud Elemental’s success!
For more information on the Elemental Academy and how we work to support Computer Science grads, click here.
Sandra Sahnoune
Graduate Consultant & DevOps Engineer
Sandra Sahnoune
Graduate Consultant & DevOps Engineer
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