Tony Galati Found That Doing What He Loved Changed Thousands of Lives

Written from an interview with Tony Galati, Founder, MyComputerCareer

After more than 17 years leading MyComputerCareer, founder Tony Galati is retiring as CEO and passing the torch to Amy Onuska. While he is transitioning out of day-to-day operations, Tony will remain involved as the founder and a member of the board. However, this shift marks the close of an extraordinary chapter for a visionary who transformed his own life and helped thousands of others do the same through IT education.

Tony's journey into the world of technology was not a straight line. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in accounting and began his career in that field. However, it did not take long for him to realize that accounting was not his calling. “Frankly, I don't think I was very good at it, and I didn't enjoy it very much,” Tony admits. “There came a point where I thought, I have to do something I actually enjoy.”

That turning point came through a friend who worked in IT as a technical trainer. The friend introduced Tony to the world of information technology and explained the wide range of opportunities available. Tony was intrigued by the idea of starting with basic knowledge and growing through experience. Encouraged by this conversation, he decided to make a change.

With dedication and support, Tony secured a help desk job, and it was there that he discovered how much he enjoyed working in IT. “I had so much fun on the help desk,” he recalls. As his career progressed, Tony found his greatest fulfillment in training. He loved being able to share his knowledge and help others launch their careers.

While working in various training roles, Tony became frustrated with organizations that did not genuinely care about the success of their students. He realized that in order to truly make a difference, he would need to start his own school. This vision became a reality in 2007 when he founded MyComputerCareer in Raleigh, North Carolina, after identifying the Research Triangle as a top region for IT jobs.

What began as a small venture soon grew into a nationally recognized institution with multiple campuses and a strong online presence. Throughout this growth, the mission remained focused on student success. “If our students aren’t successful, we’re not going to be successful,” Tony explains. “Their success is at the core of everything we do.”

Tony attributes the school’s expansion to a few key factors. Student outcomes were always the priority, but the school also became accredited and benefited from a strong leadership team. “My focus was on hiring people smarter and more capable than I am,” Tony says. “They played a big role in enabling us to grow.”

From the start, Tony emphasized a results-driven approach to education. The curriculum was designed to be fast, practical, and relevant to the needs of the job market. Recognizing that many students were adults changing careers, MyComputerCareer offered programs that provided essential skills in a short amount of time. Courses prepared students not only for entry into the workforce but also for advancement once employed.

One of the school’s most popular courses is the Cyber Warrior Program, a 12-week intensive track focused on cybersecurity. “We designed this program for those who want to enter the workforce quickly,” Tony explains. “It is intense, but it gives students the skills they need to get a job and start a career in just three months.” For students with work or family responsibilities, the school also offers evening and weekend options to ensure flexibility.

As the landscape of education continues to evolve, Tony has been at the forefront of adapting to meet students where they are both geographically and academically. While his institution continues to operate nine physical campuses, the majority of students today are enrolled in online programs, a shift that Tony says was carefully designed for student success.

“Most of our students today are actually online,” Tony shared, highlighting how the institution has intentionally developed its virtual programs to closely mirror the experience of a traditional classroom. “These online courses are structured to feel just like being in a live, brick-and-mortar setting.”

Recognizing the common pitfalls of online education, particularly for students who haven't yet completed a four-year degree, Tony and his team set out to create an environment that maintains the engagement, accountability, and support typically associated with in-person learning. “We knew going in that online programs generally struggle. So we knew we had a big hurdle ahead of us.”

To overcome that challenge, the institution invested heavily in replicating the supportive structure of a campus environment. From live instruction and interactive content to consistent communication and accessible support services, the goal was to ensure online students received the same level of quality and attention as their on-campus peers. The results speak for themselves. According to Tony, online students are performing just as well as those attending in person.

The School’s commitment to student success extended beyond academics. MyComputerCareer provides counseling and support services to help students overcome personal challenges. An example Tony shared was about one student who became homeless during their training, the school helped them find shelter and stay enrolled. That student went on to graduate and secure a well-paying job in IT.

Tony has always held a special place in his heart for U.S. military veterans. “We love our veterans and want to serve them in any way we possibly can,” he says. This commitment was especially evident during the company-wide family reunion. At the 2016 event, while many troops were stationed overseas, MyComputerCareer employees teamed up with an organization to assemble care packages stocked with essential items.

One employee requested that a package be sent to her neighbor, a soldier on active duty. Due to a shipping error, the entire shipment was sent to his base. What started as a simple act of kindness turned into a major morale boost for the whole unit. The troops appreciated the practical contents of the packages and felt genuinely supported. In gratitude, they flew an American flag on one of their missions and returned it with a certificate and photo. Tony received the flag during a senior leadership meeting, calling it one of the most meaningful moments of his career.

Now that Tony is retiring as CEO, he reflects proudly on what he and his team have built. MyComputerCareer remains grounded in the values of student success, practical training, and personal support. He is optimistic about the future of the school under the leadership of Amy Onuska. “The mission is bigger than me,” Tony says. “And I know it is in good hands.”

Looking ahead, Tony plans to focus on family, faith and service. A devoted Christian, he sees this next chapter as a chance to deepen his involvement in ministry and community work. “My faith has always been a cornerstone of who I am and how I lead,” he says. “Now I’m looking forward to mentoring, volunteering, and giving back through my church and community.”

Tony’s advice to others considering a major career shift or thinking about launching a business is simple and powerful. “Find something you are passionate about, and do it with everything you have,” he says. “The path will not always be easy, but with the right mindset and a commitment to helping others, anything is possible.”