Charmaine Musheko’s journey in the world of technology
Combining academics with practical knowledge
Software developer and data analyst Charmaine Musheko shares how she navigated the opportunities that led to her finding her footing at Green Enterprise Solutions.
Charmaine Musheko not only has four years of experience and skills at Green Enterprise Solutions (Green) as a data analyst and software developer, but she also possesses a passion for growth in the industry and for expanding the economy through statistical and well-organised data.Although she was unable to complete her studies in mechatronics engineering at the Assumption University of Thailand, she returned to Namibia with a wealth of knowledge that has enabled her to think outside the box.
Upon returning to Namibia, Green welcomed her and provided her with industry knowledge in mobile development after she completed an interim course with Google Africa in mobile app development.
“I found that industry knowledge coupled with academic knowledge gave me a different perspective, which helped me think beyond the normal reach,” said Musheko.
With a diploma in alternative dispute resolution from the University of Namibia (Unam), Musheko is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science with a focus on software engineering at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust). Additionally, she holds certifications in data engineering and data analysis from DataCamp and Microsoft.
Overcoming obstacles
It is evident that Musheko has capitalised on her industry knowledge, academic background and practical field experience.
“Having experienced a difference in my acquired knowledge, I wonder why there aren’t more entities out there who couple the two because practical meets academic brilliance, given the appropriate environment,” she said.
However, everyone encounters challenges at some point in their career, and for Musheko, her biggest challenge was to practically apply the theory she had learned.
“One of my biggest challenges was transitioning from a theoretical understanding of programming to practical application in a professional setting,” she explained.
Success with determination
She said overcoming this challenge required her to quickly adapt to new technologies and methodologies, which was both challenging and rewarding for her.
Despite facing challenges, Musheko found immense joy in recognising one of her biggest accomplishments: the business development of the FinTech app.
“While it’s still a work in progress, it’s definitely a game-changer for the market,” Musheko said.
What's next? The software developer said her goal is to delve deeper into AI and data through machine learning. Additionally, she plans to gain a better understanding of the economy through the continued development of her app.
“I believe that understanding the data we have in hand will enable us to make the necessary predictions as well as decisions that will aid us in growing our energy sector as well as human capital,” she explained.
When asked what advice she has for the youth, Musheko said: “You miss 100% of the opportunities you don't take, so never stop growing. No matter how discouraging a situation might look, keep going and cross the finish line.”