CCI Program Student Works to Level Playing Field with Technology

After completing one year of study at NOVA as a sponsored Community College Initiative (CCI) Program international exchange student, Gomolemo Mohapi has charged ahead in the IT industry. Gomolemo, who goes by Gomo, has accepted a position as a consultant product manager for Microsoft. In this role, he works with Microsoft’s Power Platform to “help lead the charge in upskilling up to 100K students worldwide.” Gomo says, in this new position, he hopes to bring about a positive impact in youth development.

Gomo’s passion for programming began in high school, but quickly extended beyond a personal interest. At university in South Africa, Gomo began developing tutorials to help his classmates who were struggling to grasp basic programming concepts. His tutorials ended up making their way around campus and became a primary study guide for his classmates. As Gomo tells it, “This unknowingly ignited in me a deep passion for helping students in tech.”

To further expand his technical skillset, Gomo applied for the CCI Program which led him to study IT at NOVA. Aside from the academic and technical knowledge he gained, Gomo says that learning about self-discipline, time management and emotional intelligence were major contributors to his future success. By addressing his tendency to procrastinate head-on, creating effective schedules and learning that professional relationships are built on a foundation of respect and open mindedness, Gomo was able to succeed and excel. In addition to earning an academic certificate in web design and development, he also completed over 150 hours of volunteering and 75 internship hours. Gomo also noted that the CCI Program’s emphasis on seizing opportunity made a lasting impression on his professional career.

Upon returning to South Africa in the fall of 2018, he earned a spot in the prestigious Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) program. As an MSP, Gomo led a variety of tech workshops for students in South Africa. After connecting with Dona Sarkar, the lead for Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program, Sarkar invited Gomo to help build #InsiderUp, a global initiative to teach technology skills to users at all levels. Working with this initiative led to an invitation to Microsoft’s premiere developer conference—Build—in Seattle. Shortly thereafter, in June 2019, Gomo was named one of the #Top15YoungGeeks in South Africa and was featured in Microsoft’s Insider Stories video series. Earlier this year, Gomo was invited to lead a session for the Microsoft Ignite the Tour event in Johannesburg and most recently was highlighted in a blog about empowerment on Microsoft’s Learning Blog.

Despite Gomo’s long list of successes, he has centered his academic and professional journey on how he can help others succeed. He says, “It is important to note that I’ve encountered more failure than success, more rejection than acceptance but I’ve always tried to be resilient. My mission was never about the glory or the recognition. It has always been about giving students the chance to shape the future that they live in, where technology levels the playing field and affords everyone access to its benefits; where every student is empowered to achieve more.”

The Community College Initiative (CCI) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides opportunities for individuals from other countries to develop leadership capabilities, professional skills, and English language proficiency, while studying at a community college in the United States.To learn more about the CCI Program, contact Leeza Fernand, LFernand@nvcc.edu.