Abijah Mashava: From IT Ardour to Cloud Computing at Illinois Tech and a World Mission
Abijah Mashava’s journey started in Highfield, a small city in Harare, Zimbabwe, and has carried him throughout continents, into boardrooms, and thru numerous roles in software program and programs engineering. Immediately, he’s not solely a tech founder and cloud marketing consultant based mostly in Central New York, however he’s additionally a proud graduate of the web Grasp of Info Expertise program from the nationally ranked college Illinois Tech, accomplished on-line by means of Coursera.
Abijah’s story is one among ambition, group, and perception within the energy of know-how to uplift others.
“The area I come from has a really younger inhabitants dealing with vital challenges, particularly an absence of sources,” Abijah says. “They’re those that raised me. I’ve been lucky to be right here in america, with entry to an establishment like Illinois Tech, and now I need to give again.”
Constructing the Abilities to Construct Options
Together with his engineering and vital IT background, Abijah had already developed a robust foundational skillset. However with the data that IT is quickly evolving, he searched for extra technique of schooling. He in the end discovered this at Illinois Tech by means of a versatile, hands-on schooling that may let him develop professionally whereas empowering his long-term imaginative and prescient, which might finally assist him launch initiatives that profit the youth of his hometown.
“I’ve a ardour for know-how and knowledge programs,” he says. “That’s one purpose I selected this program. The opposite is the research comfort. I used to be working full-time at a monetary establishment in New York, and later launched my very own startup. With the ability to research on my phrases made this potential.”
The Grasp of IT program at Illinois Tech, Chicago’s main tech-focused college, provided Abijah an opportunity to deepen his abilities whereas making use of what he realized in actual time. From full-stack software program improvement to deploying cloud-based functions, the curriculum lined all of it.
“This program begins from the fundamentals and builds up. You be taught to develop an software from scratch: {hardware} to deployment. It completely stuffed in my data gaps, particularly round cloud computing. Immediately, cloud is central to my consulting work.”
Confidence, Certifications, and Profession Progress
The talents Abijah developed by means of this system didn’t simply keep within the classroom, they translated on to his work.
“By the point I completed, I had the boldness to develop my enterprise and tackle high-level consulting,” he explains. “This system is structured so nicely that when you full it, you’re nicely ready to earn certifications like AWS Cloud Architect. I used to be capable of full the certs rapidly as a result of know-how fundamentals had been greater than lined within the superior Grasp’s coursework.”
He credit the professors and help workers for his success, particularly his Coursera enrollment consultant he deemed a “success coach”, India Viera.
“At first, I didn’t perceive how successful coach labored,” Abijah admits. “However India proved to me how invaluable it was. She made key solutions for navigating course procedures and electives. She inspired me and gave essential ideas for achievement, which made the distinction. She was rock stable.”
Pushing By and Giving Again
Abijah accomplished the diploma in simply 14 months, graduating on Might 17, 2025, and he proudly shared that his diploma was not the one credential he did on this time-frame. Along with his diploma, Abijah collected certificates, additionally on-line by means of Coursera:
“It meant burning the midnight oil,” he laughs. “I took a month off simply to deal with my last initiatives and my AWS Certification. However I felt assured sufficient to complete my diploma whereas doing the certificates. This diploma program is designed in such a method that if you happen to full it, it’s very straightforward so that you can get these further certifications. So it was a pure development for me.”
Wanting forward, Abijah plans to maintain increasing his consulting apply and develop his startup, which is targeted on creating employment alternatives for younger folks again residence in Southern Africa. Long run, he hopes to maneuver into philanthropy and produce schooling and alternative to underserved communities.
Recommendation for Future Learners
Abijah doesn’t sugarcoat the expertise—it’s rigorous. However for him, the payoff was value it.
“The underside line is: in case you have the fervour and the starvation to do it, nothing can cease you. Nevertheless it takes effort and dedication. This program isn’t any stroll within the park. It’s important to plan, handle your time, and be life like about your course load.”
He additionally stresses the significance of the labs and hands-on work. “The lectures construct on the labs. Observe your professors intently. Do each lab. The final two programs deliver every little thing collectively they usually’re virtually oriented.”
Above all, Abijah hopes extra learners from underrepresented and deprived communities can entry packages like this one.
“This program made me understand what’s potential. I want extra folks with my background may expertise that. The best way Illinois Tech made this out there to me…if they may make it out there to extra folks, the affect can be unimaginable.”
🎓 Concerning the Program:
The Illinois Tech Grasp’s in Info Expertise is obtainable 100% on-line by means of Coursera. This system equips learners with sensible, superior abilities in software program improvement, programs structure, and cloud computing, making it very best for working professionals aiming to develop or pivot of their careers. This system additionally provides performance-based admissions, pay-as-you-go tuition, and credit score for prior studying choices by means of certificates just like the one Abijah talked about in his story. To be taught extra concerning the Grasp of IT, attain out under!
