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 techniques engineering. Right now, he’s not solely a tech founder and cloud marketing consultant primarily based in Central New York, however he’s additionally a proud graduate of the web Master of Information Technology program from the nationally ranked college Illinois Tech, accomplished on-line via Coursera.

Abijah’s story is one in every of ambition, group, and perception within the energy of know-how to uplift others.

“The area I come from has a really younger inhabitants going through important challenges, specifically 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 wish to give again.”

Constructing the Expertise to Construct Options

Together with his engineering and important IT background, Abijah had already developed a powerful foundational skillset. However with the data that IT is quickly evolving, he searched for added technique of schooling. He in the end discovered this at Illinois Tech via a versatile, hands-on schooling that will let him develop professionally whereas empowering his long-term imaginative and prescient, which might finally assist him launch tasks that profit the youth of his hometown.

“I’ve a ardour for know-how and knowledge techniques,” he says. “That’s one cause 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 attainable.”

The Master of IT program at Illinois Tech, Chicago’s main tech-focused college, supplied Abijah an opportunity to deepen his expertise whereas making use of what he discovered in actual time. From full-stack software program improvement to deploying cloud-based functions, the curriculum coated all of it.

“This program begins from the fundamentals and builds up. You be taught to develop an utility from scratch: {hardware} to deployment. It completely crammed in my data gaps, particularly round cloud computing. Right now, cloud is central to my consulting work.”

Confidence, Certifications, and Profession Development

The abilities Abijah developed via 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 effectively that when you full it, you’re effectively ready to earn certifications like AWS Cloud Architect. I used to be in a position to full the certs rapidly as a result of know-how fundamentals have been greater than coated 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 a hit coach labored,” Abijah admits. “However India proved to me how worthwhile it was. She made key strategies 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 way of and Giving Again

Abijah accomplished the diploma in simply 14 months, graduating on Could 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 via Coursera: 

“It meant burning the midnight oil,” he laughs. “I took a month off simply to concentrate on my closing tasks 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 means that in the event you full it, it’s very simple so that you can get these further certifications. So it was a pure development for me.”

Trying forward, Abijah plans to maintain increasing his consulting apply and develop his startup, which is targeted on creating employment alternatives for younger folks again dwelling 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 price it.

“The underside line is: when you have the eagerness 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 a must to plan, handle your time, and be practical about your course load.”

He additionally stresses the significance of the labs and hands-on work. “The lectures construct on the labs. Comply with your professors intently. Do each lab. The final two programs convey every thing collectively and so they’re virtually oriented.”

Above all, Abijah hopes extra learners from underrepresented and deprived communities can entry applications like this one.

“This program made me notice what’s attainable. I want extra folks with my background may expertise that. The best way Illinois Tech made this out there to me…if they might make it out there to extra folks, the affect can be unbelievable.”

🎓 In regards to the Program:

The Illinois Tech Master’s in Information Technology is obtainable 100% on-line via Coursera. This system equips learners with sensible, superior expertise in software program improvement, techniques structure, and cloud computing, making it preferrred for working professionals aiming to develop or pivot of their careers. This system additionally gives performance-based admissions, pay-as-you-go tuition, and credit for prior learning choices via certificates just like the one Abijah talked about in his story. To be taught extra concerning the Grasp of IT, attain out under!