For Paige Caskey, Break Through Tech’s AI Program equipped her with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue a career in the tech industry. She launched her career as an Associate Applied AI/ML Scientist and a 2025–2026 Break Through Tech Fellow Ambassador.
Published
12/19/2025
Written By
Fatima Asif
- Impact Stories
For Paige Caskey, Break Through Tech equipped her with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue a career in the tech industry. Graduating from Chapman University with a degree in Data Science, Paige is now an Associate Applied AI/ML Scientist at Sprout Social.
Currently serving as a Fellow Ambassador for the 2025–2026 academic year, Paige is also one of Break Through Tech’s passionate advocates, helping to uplift and expand the community that played such a pivotal role in shaping her journey.
Like many undergraduate students, Paige faced the challenge of balancing demanding coursework while preparing for a highly competitive career. Through her time in the AI Program, she found support and structure that made a lasting difference.
Paige explains that Break Through Tech’s AI Program “really helped me refine my knowledge of machine learning concepts, and I stepped into fall semester feeling prepared and excited for my classes.” Even better she can attest that she “felt ready to apply and interview for roles.”
Finding Break Through Tech
For many undergraduate students, it can be a challenge to find opportunities that help them stand out in the tech industry, especially as it continues to evolve and grow at a rapid pace. Paige was navigating that same uncertainty when she first learned about Break Through Tech through a classmate who spoke highly of the program.
Through opportunities like the AI Program, Break Through Tech is expanding access to AI/ML education that prepares college students for lasting careers in tech. This dedication to changing the path to power and influence in a tech-enabled world cultivates a community of undergraduates that can lean on each other while they make their mark on the ever-changing tech industry.
“I was inspired to pursue a career in technology through my passion for innovation and creativity,” Paige shares. “In this field, there is always something new to learn and explore.”
Professional growth is essential for undergraduate students preparing for their next steps, and the AI Program helps ensure that each fellow is equipped for what lies ahead.
Hands-On Learning and Career Growth
After completing the Machine Learning Foundations course, Paige advanced to AI Studio, where she worked on a Challenge Project with American Express. There, she helped develop a recommendation system using deep learning techniques and gained valuable experience with both technical execution and real-world collaboration.
“This project challenged me technically, but also helped me develop project management and effective communication skills, which I’ve used daily in my professional career.”
Experiences like these equip fellows with more than just a resume addition. They gain exposure to industry-relevant problems, teamwork in professional settings, and confidence to enter the workforce as well-rounded candidates.
A Vision for the Future
Paige is deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with working in such a powerful and fast-growing field.
“As the abilities of artificial intelligence continue to progress, now more than ever there’s a need for diverse ideas and opinions to be contributing to its development,” she says. “I hope that as this industry grows, we continue to create innovative and ethical technology.”
Looking ahead, she aspires to keep pushing boundaries, creating solutions, and leaving a positive impact on the future of tech.
Advice for Future Fellows
Paige encourages students to take the leap and apply.
“The opportunities given to you from this program are truly one of a kind. Whether you’re feeling nervous about entering the professional world or eager to dive into it, the resources that Break Through Tech offers will give you the guidance to help you reach your goals.”
Today, Paige continues to explore new technologies that refine her craft. When she is not building AI solutions, she enjoys discovering new thrift stores, going to concerts, and spending time at coffee shops with a good book in hand.
Break Through Tech played a pivotal role in helping Paige transform potential into purpose, and as she moves forward in her AI career and her role as a 2025-2026 Fellow Ambassador, she does so with confidence, and a commitment to innovation.