36M, 10+ years as a software developer, starting a Communication degree — what career paths could combine both backgrounds?

I’m 36 and I’ve been working as a software developer for more than 10 years. I currently work full-time and remotely as a freelancer, mainly in the fashion industry. I’m not unhappy with my job and I’m not desperately trying to leave tech.

This year I’m starting a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Communication (L-20, the Italian degree class for Communication Studies) while continuing to work full-time.

I’m doing it mainly because I’ve become increasingly interested in what happens around technology rather than just how technology is built: communication, digital platforms, media, AI, society, ethics, regulation/governance and how technology affects people and organizations.

My degree includes subjects such as semiotics, sociology, psychology, digital media, platform/influencer culture, law, communication and AI-related topics.

I’m not looking to graduate and restart from zero as a junior social media manager or marketer. Ideally, I’d like to use my existing technical experience together with what I’ll learn over the next three years.

Some areas that currently sound interesting to me are AI governance, tech policy, consulting, digital strategy, developer relations, technical communication and training/education, but I’m deliberately keeping an open mind because I’ve only just started the degree.

So my question is: what career paths or roles would you investigate for someone with this combination of experience?

Have you met people who successfully combined a strong technical/software background with communication, humanities or social-science skills?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who changed or broadened their career in their 30s or 40s without throwing away the experience they had already built.