Acquiring the skills for the world of work in the Master in Computer Science & Business Technology

Kwenzakonke Mncwango completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town. During her final year, she decided she wanted to continue her studies by focusing on something that would allow her to work in an area that would place her at the intersection of technology and business.  After a bit of research, she chose IE University for her master’s degree.

Kwenzakonke soon discovered the Master in Computer Science & Business Technology because it offered everything that she was interested in studying and provided her with the deep technical skills to place her at the center of business and technology.

After the program, Kwenzakonke began applying to different roles across Europe and South Africa, but given the restrictions in place due to the global pandemic, she decided to move back home to where she felt she had more opportunities.

“And I think where the Master in Computer Science & Business Technology helped was that it broadened the various aspects of the financial services industry that I could apply to.”

“I was more focused on the company and the work due to the foundation I had built.”

Despite studying in the midst of the global pandemic, the program prepared Kwenzakonke for what the world of work would look like. She did feel there were gaps due to the pandemic, but these gaps helped her learn how to think creatively and work through challenges. What’s more, the program offered her the technical skills she needed to work successfully in the financial services industry.

Currently working as an investment banking analyst for one of the top South African banks, Rand Merchant Bank, Kwenzakonke focuses on the resources sector. “On our continent there’s an abundance of resources, and I wanted to be in a sector that I knew was quite impactful in terms of industrialization and growth of different African countries and economies.” Her day-to-day work is split between international mining and upstream and downstream oil and gas. She looks at different countries and assists them with debt advisory and debt raising, as well as looking at banking solutions for clients.

Her main goal on the program was to be able to understand where business and technology meet, but to also be able to look at a strategy and define the different types of technologies necessary.

“We’ve been disrupted by technology. I want to identify where we need to automate and make processes and systems more digitized. The program gave her the foundations to be able to do that, and now she finds that she is continuing to learn how to drive these discussions in her place of work in order to actually see the impact of technology services.

Kwenzakonke finds that when she takes a deeper look at the African continent, they’ve been left behind on so many things. But when technology is applied, that knowledge gap begins to close and access to more tangible opportunities becomes available. The Master in Computer Science & Business Technology helped Kwenzakonke make that connection, as well as giving her the realization that she has the ability to work or do business from anywhere.

One personal value Kwenzakonke learned during the program was, “Sometimes being the minority is not your disadvantage, but your superpower.” She goes on to explain that realizing and recognizing that it is your superpower as quickly as possible allows others to learn and grow as well. She also found it incredibly important to get to know the motivation of her peers: “This drives who they are and how they show up every day. It also gives you more compassion and understanding, as well as keeping you present.”

Moving from South Africa to Spain was a big transition but Kwenzakonke felt supported, especially because the programs were in person and she was able to meet other Africans who made her feel at home. She loved the opportunity to travel that living in Madrid presented her. She was able to travel throughout Spain and head to Portugal, as well as various small excursions. Living and studying in Madrid also helped her gain a new perspective.

“I moved from thinking of the world from a South African perspective to an African perspective to a global perspective—which is something I’ll always be grateful for.”

As for advice for future candidates, Kwenzakonke describes IE University as an amazing institution. If candidates are looking to shift from a local mindset into a global mindset, she believes they should study at IE University. Her advice is to make sure they understand what they want from the program, research their options and speak to alumni to get a clear vision on their future.