Spotlight on FDM Returner: Saumya Mishra

Saumya Mishra had a successful career in tech management before taking a professional break to look after her young daughter. At the end of two years, when she was ready to return, she came across FDM and joined the Returners Programme in September 2025. Within the first week of her coaching, she secured an assignment with a large public sector client as a Data and Information Management Analyst.

We caught up with Saumya in our London centre shortly before she went on assignment, to find out a bit more about her story –

Changing recruitment landscape

The recruitment process had changed significantly from the last time Saumya was on the job market in 2018 with fewer and fewer responses to her applications sent in. She found out about FDM through LinkedIn and got in touch with the Returners team and was soon accepted into the programme.

Reskilling and upskilling

The FDM coaching was a combination of refreshing her knowledge of familiar technologies and upskilling in new ones. From weekly project submissions to picking up new programming languages like Python, it was a steep learning curve, but Saumya believes “the learning materials were excellent quality… and an amazing opportunity to skill up”.

Transferable skills

Saumya’s last role before her career break was as Marketing Automation and Technology Manager at a tourism shopping tax refund company. During her “tech break”, she learned yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and spirituality – skills she believes give her the patience and perseverance to work towards her goals.

Support at FDM

Saumya believes she found FDM at the right moment and is grateful for the support she received to help her settle back into work after an extended time away. “It feels like a community, working towards building/ shaping careers. The Skills lab is a genius idea, invaluably special for graduates and people returning from long breaks.”

Looking forward

She’s now looking forward to her first assignment since returning to work and using her FDM learnings in her new role. Her advice to other returners –

“You may have to push yourself, work hard, change your schedule. But it’s all worth it, if this is what you wish to do!”

Are you a professional looking to return to work after a career break? Register now for one of our upcoming Returners Programme Open Mornings to find out how we can help you get back to work.