When dreams become reality

Mhlengi Zindela’s story began in his birthplace, Nkandla, South Africa — a village without electricity or running water. He lived with his great-grandmother who taught him lessons in compassion, humility, and something that stuck with him forever: the value of education.

Although school was a long walk from his home and the education system was far from perfect, Mhlengi always felt a “burning desire to conquer the world through knowledge.” Things started looking up when he and his family eventually got electricity and tap water, making it easier for him to focus on his studies outside of the classroom.

After high school, Mhlengi took a gap year due to financial issues and spent much of his time networking, growing eager to learn more about the transformative power of technology. In 2018, he began attending Mangosuthu University of Technology. He was accepted into an internship program at The Academy of Accelerated Technology Education (AATE). During his internship, Mhlengi had access to online learning on Udemy Business, which he used to develop his tech skills. This was a busy time for Mhlengi — he was supporting his family while working, attending university, and leveling up his skills beyond formal education.

All his hard work paid off when he landed a full-time job as a software engineer at Investec Bank where he continues to learn with Udemy Business. Now, Mhlengi has a solid career in IT — a dream that has become a reality.