From Healthcare, Sales & Business Development to AWS/ Cloud Computing

Mohammed — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 12:14:04 +0000

For most of my professional life, I worked in business development, sales, healthcare, and social care — providing support, safeguarding, and ensuring the well-being of vulnerable individuals. It was meaningful work, but deep down, I had another passion: technology and cloud computing.

In 2023, I decided to take a leap into the AWS Cloud world as a Solutions Architect. I earned the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and am currently working toward the AWS Cloud Solutions Architect certification. I started mentoring students through AWS Academy — first with e-Careers, and now with OptimaIT — to gain more hands-on experience and become better equipped to solve real-world cloud use cases.

The journey wasn’t always smooth — here’s what I learned along the way.

Skills Transfer More Than You Think Working in healthcare taught me problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience. These skills turned out to be just as valuable in tech.

In AWS projects, you still have to work under pressure, think critically, and communicate clearly — especially when explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Certifications Are Just the Start Earning AWS credentials opened the door, but hands-on labs, cloud projects, and mentoring others built my real confidence.

Many believe that joining an academy or earning a certificate automatically makes you job-ready — but practical experience is what truly bridges the gap.

My learning journey has also included diving into security, BigQuery, and AI/ML on Google Cloud Platform, which has fueled my interest in applying AI/ML services in real-world scenarios.

💡 Tip: If you’re studying for a certification, pair it with a personal project — even if it’s small.

Community Is a Game-Changer Mentorship programs provided me with a network of tutors, leaders, and AWS Authorized Instructors (AAI). I had the chance to explore various aspects of cloud computing, from security to AI/ML.

Being part of a community means more than just access to resources — it’s about connection. Whether it was weekly learning sessions, peer discussions, or joining tech communities like DEV, AWS User Groups, and LinkedIn circles, the advice and encouragement I received kept me motivated through the challenges.

It’s Okay to Be a Beginner Again Switching industries meant starting at “day one” all over again. But every expert you admire once had their first day too. The key is to keep learning and keep showing up.

My Advice for Career Changers
If you’re thinking about moving into tech from a completely different field:

Leverage your existing skills — they matter more than you think.

Be patient — progress is slow but steady.

Don’t learn in isolation — find a community.

What’s Next for Me
I’m now combining my healthcare background with AWS knowledge to explore cloud solutions in healthcare. I believe technology can greatly improve patient care, data security, and operational efficiency.

I’m also exploring how cloud technology can make a broader difference — not just in healthcare, but in any sector where digital transformation can have a positive impact.

💬 Have you switched careers into tech? Or are you thinking about it? I’d love to hear your story in the comments!

Tags:

aws #careerchange #cloudcomputing #techjourney

Philosophy to cloud

Mohammed — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:20:30 +0000

🚀 My Transition into Tech

Hi DEV Community! 👋

I'm a Solutions Architect with AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and IT Operations Specialist based in Oxford. My journey into tech wasn’t traditional—I studied Philosophy at university, started in sales and business development, and today I help reduce downtime, automate infrastructure, and mentor aspiring cloud professionals.

After earning my degree in Philosophy, I began my career in sales and business development. I was always the kind of person who looked for problems to solve—whether it was improving customer engagement or streamlining internal processes.

Over time, I realized that many of the challenges I encountered could be addressed with technology. That curiosity led me to explore cloud computing, automation, and DevOps. I started learning on my own, earned certifications, and eventually transitioned into IT operations and cloud architecture.

Today, I combine my background in communication, critical thinking, and business strategy with technical skills to deliver impactful solutions.

🛠️ What I Do Today

Current Role: Solutions Architect | Academy Mentor

Reduced system downtime by 30% through proactive troubleshooting and GCP Workspace management
Led IT projects involving budgeting and cross-team collaboration
Supported hybrid work environments with sound systems and infrastructure

🌩️ Cloud & DevOps Experience

AWS & GCP: Certified and mentoring learners on both platforms
Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions
Security: IAM, WAF, Policy-as-Code
Automation: YAML, Python scripting
Monitoring & Analytics: CloudWatch, QuickSight, Tableau

👨🏽‍🏫 Mentorship Highlights

Mentored 100+ learners through AWS and GCP certification paths
Created 60+ project-based labs for hands-on learning
Delivered live sessions and personalized guidance

🧪 Projects I’m Proud Of

Secure AWS Video Ingestion Architecture
Amazon Lex Chatbot Integration
Cloud Migration Automation with Terraform
Deloitte Data Analytics Simulations
Website Hosting & Data Visualization with AWS

🎯 What’s Next?

I’m passionate about developer advocacy, open source, and using cloud tech to solve real-world problems especially in healthcare and education. I’d love to connect with others on similar paths!

DEV Community: Mohammed