August 26, 2025
Just a year ago, Neil Bhika was in a very different place working as a personal banker in a role that was repetitive, stressful, and offered little room to grow. “It felt like there was a ceiling above me,” he says. “The career path was linear, and I kept asking myself - is this really where I want to be?”
That question sparked a turning point. Neil wrote down his strengths, weaknesses, and, most importantly, what he enjoyed. The answer? Technology — especially data science and AI. Even while working full-time, he pushed himself through a part-time tech course. It was exhausting, but his work was good enough to be used as an example for future learners. Yet when he applied for roles, the rejections stacked up. Confidence dipped. The dream was put on hold.
But the bank job was taking its toll. Neil took the biggest risk of his life: he quit. The job market was tough, but he took time to reset, explore certifications, and speak to industry friends. That’s when he discovered Mission Ready’s Accelerators. The unique advantage? Real industry experience through a 10-week mentored internship.
Neil’s mentored work experience placement was at Salesforce New Zealand as a Solutions Engineer. He started later than most and felt the nerves. With a Mission Ready mentor by his side, he quickly made an impact. In his first week, he was already building demos for enterprise clients. He learned new tools fast, using AI to accelerate his work, and even created a Marketing Cloud demo from scratch. By week five, one of his clients loved his work so much that it helped move a major deal forward.
When the internship ended, a Salesforce contact recommended him for a role at Cinch + Strike. The advertised job was far above his formal experience, but after an unexpected one-hour conversation, the directors created a new role just for him as a Salesforce Consultant.
Today, Neil works across Salesforce development, business analysis, training, data, and Tableau implementation. “The growth opportunities I have each day are unbelievable,” he says. “The rejections, the self-doubt, the career risk — it was all worth it. Mission Ready gave me the launchpad I needed.”
For those thinking of making the leap, Neil’s advice is simple:
“Back yourself. Be willing to learn fast. And get real-world experience — it changes everything.”
Neil also points out that beyond the accelerator, one of the most important things he did was to network and build relationships during his mentored work experience. Those connections became invested in his success and actively helped open doors for him.