On most days, Mohamad Ridwaan Shaikh could be found helping customers at his family's retail store in Zeerust, North West. The work was honest. The business was stable. Life was moving forward.
Yet deep down, something didn't feel right.
Like many South Africans approaching their thirties, Ridwaan found himself wrestling with a question that became harder to ignore with every passing year: Is this really what the rest of my life looks like?
At 29 years old, he wasn't a university student. He wasn't working in IT. He wasn't surrounded by people building careers in technology. In fact, cybersecurity wasn't even on his radar. What he did know was that he wanted more.
He wanted a future that challenged him. He wanted a career with growth opportunities. Most importantly, he wanted to wake up every morning excited about the work he was doing.
Today, Ridwaan spends his days analysing security events, developing cybersecurity skills, and working in his very first technology role. He is CompTIA Security+ certified and actively building toward his long-term goal of becoming a Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst.
However, getting there wasn't a straight line.
It started with uncertainty, curiosity, and a willingness to take a chance on himself.
Growing Up With a Curiosity for Technology
Long before cybersecurity entered the picture, technology had always fascinated Ridwaan.
Whenever new gadgets, software, or devices appeared, he found himself wanting to understand how they worked. He was naturally curious about computers and enjoyed exploring technology whenever he had the opportunity.
Despite that interest, technology never felt like a realistic career path.
As the years passed, life responsibilities naturally took priority. Work needed to be done. Bills needed to be paid. Family commitments came first.
Eventually, he convinced himself that the traditional route into technology had passed him by.
"I thought I had passed my age of going to university. I didn't have the time to spend three or four years studying at this stage of my life."
It's a feeling many aspiring career changers know well.
The desire for something different is there, but so is the belief that everyone else started years earlier.
For a long time, that belief kept him standing still.
Life Before Tech
Before entering the technology industry, Ridwaan's professional experience looked very different from the cybersecurity career he is building today.
In 2022, he worked as a Yard Supervisor at Build It, managing daily operations and responsibilities within a busy retail environment.
Later, he joined the family business, Rand Saver, a retailer serving the Zeerust community with cosmetics, hair products, and everyday essentials.
While he appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the family business, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was meant for something else.
"It was a family business, but it wasn't something I wanted to do full-time, or something I could see myself doing happily for the rest of my life."
The challenge wasn't that he disliked working.
The challenge was that he couldn't see a future that inspired him.
The more he thought about it, the more he realised that staying comfortable was becoming harder than taking a risk.
A Laptop, a Python Course, and a Small Step Forward
Eventually, Ridwaan decided to stop wondering and start exploring.
After speaking with a friend, he purchased a laptop and enrolled in a beginner Python course on Udemy. At first, the goal wasn't to become a software developer or cybersecurity professional.
He simply wanted to test whether technology genuinely interested him.
For approximately two months, he worked through the course material, learning programming fundamentals and building his confidence.
The experience gave him clarity.
For the first time, technology felt accessible.
More importantly, he realized that he genuinely enjoyed learning technical skills.
However, when the course ended, he found himself facing a new challenge.
"I had a simple understanding of coding, but I still didn't know what I wanted to do after that. I had no sense of direction."
He knew he wanted a future in tech.
He just didn't know where that future existed.
The Conversation That Changed Everything
Sometimes a single conversation can alter the course of an entire career.
For Ridwaan, that conversation happened with a friend who was studying cybersecurity at university.
As they spoke about the field, something immediately caught his attention.
The combination of technology, problem-solving, investigations, and digital security sounded unlike anything he had previously considered.
"That was the wow moment for me. I never even thought about cybersecurity."
The conversation stayed with him.
That evening, he started researching cybersecurity careers, cybersecurity certifications, and cybersecurity training opportunities in South Africa.
The more he learned, the more excited he became.
Cybersecurity wasn't just another tech career.
It was a rapidly growing industry filled with opportunities for people who enjoyed solving problems and thinking critically.
For the first time, he could clearly see a path forward.
"I Honestly Thought Zaio Was a Scam"
As he continued researching, Ridwaan searched Google for cybersecurity bootcamps in South Africa.
One result immediately stood out.
Zaio.
There was only one problem.
The reviews seemed almost too positive.
"The reviews and ratings were remarkable. I honestly thought it was a scam because it seemed too good to be true."
Practical learning.
Flexible study schedules.
Industry-relevant projects.
Career-focused outcomes.
To someone searching for an opportunity to transform their future, it felt almost unbelievable.
Instead of enrolling immediately, he decided to investigate.
He researched the organisation, spoke to people working in technology, and actively looked for reasons not to trust it.
Ironically, the more he researched, the more legitimate everything appeared.
With only two days remaining before enrollment closed, he made a decision that would change his life.
He signed up.
Starting a Cybersecurity Bootcamp With Almost No Experience
One of the biggest myths in technology is that you need years of experience before you can start learning.
Ridwaan quickly discovered that wasn't true.
Apart from the Python course he had completed, he entered the Cybersecurity Bootcamp with very limited technical knowledge.
Like many beginners, he worried whether he would be able to keep up.
Fortunately, the programme was designed to support students at every stage of their journey.
"Even if I hadn't done the Python course, Zaio taught those same fundamentals. It just made it feel like revision for me."
Rather than overwhelming students with information, the learning path gradually built confidence through practical projects and hands-on experience.
For someone balancing family responsibilities, that flexibility made all the difference.
"The bootcamp is designed in a way that allows you to study in your own time. I always had enough time to manage my responsibilities and still keep learning."
Building Real Cybersecurity Skills
As the months progressed, Ridwaan began developing the practical skills required in the cybersecurity industry.
He learned how to read and analyse security logs.
He explored networking fundamentals and cybersecurity best practices.
He gained experience identifying vulnerabilities and understanding how organisations defend themselves against digital threats.
He also worked on security investigations and web application penetration testing concepts.
Most importantly, he began seeing how everything connected together.
The cybersecurity industry stopped feeling intimidating.
Instead, it started feeling exciting.
With every completed project, his confidence grew.
With every challenge solved, the career he once thought was impossible started becoming real.
The Community That Helped Him Keep Going
Career changes can be lonely.
There are moments when self-doubt creeps in. Moments when the learning feels difficult. Moments when quitting seems easier than continuing.
For Ridwaan, community played a huge role in overcoming those challenges.
"The Zaio community is amazing. Everyone helps each other."
Throughout his learning journey, students supported one another, shared knowledge, and worked together through difficult concepts.
The tutors also played a significant role.
"The tutors have been remarkable. They definitely played a big role in what I've achieved so far."
That support system helped transform what could have been an overwhelming experience into one filled with encouragement and growth.
Landing His First Job in Tech
Every career changer dreams about receiving that first opportunity.
For Ridwaan, that moment arrived shortly after completing the bootcamp.
Through a partnership between Zaio and Oracle, he secured a one-year internship opportunity and began working at Torho Technologies.
It was his first professional role in the technology industry.
"I'm currently working at Torho Technologies as an intern, and it's my first tech job."
For someone who once believed he was too late to start a career in tech, the achievement represented far more than employment.
It represented proof.
Proof that changing careers was possible.
Proof that his hard work was paying off.
Proof that the risk had been worth taking.
Earning His CompTIA Security+ Certification
Many people would have celebrated reaching their first tech role and taken a well-deserved break.
Ridwaan did the opposite.
Almost immediately after graduating, he set a new goal: earning his CompTIA Security+ certification.
Recognized globally, CompTIA Security+ is one of the most respected entry-level cybersecurity certifications available.
It validates knowledge across security operations, risk management, vulnerabilities, governance, networking, and cybersecurity fundamentals.
Passing the exam required discipline, dedication, and countless hours of preparation.
Eventually, the hard work paid off.
"As soon as I finished the bootcamp, I wasted no time and got my CompTIA Security+ certification. I'm very proud of myself for that."
For Ridwaan, the certification wasn't just another qualification.
It was a milestone that confirmed how far he had come.
His Journey Is Only Beginning
While many people would view his achievements as a finish line, Ridwaan sees them as a starting point.
His ultimate goal is to become a SOC Analyst.
To get there, he plans to continue building his skills and earning additional certifications, including CompTIA CySA+.
The certification focuses on cybersecurity analytics, incident response, threat detection, and security monitoring.
Every new skill brings him closer to the future he is building.
"Hopefully after that, it's just moving up. This is just the beginning."
His mindset reflects one of the most important lessons in technology.
The people who succeed aren't necessarily the ones who know everything.
They're the ones who never stop learning.
It's Never Too Late to Start a Career in Tech
If there's one message that runs through Ridwaan's story, it's this:
You are not too late.
You are not too old.
You do not need a computer science degree.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.
"No matter how difficult you think it is, or how late it is, it's never too late to get into tech."
Just a few years ago, Ridwaan was helping run a family retail business in Zeerust and wondering whether his opportunity had already passed.
Today, he's a CompTIA Security+ certified cybersecurity professional working in his first tech role and building toward a career as a SOC Analyst.
His transformation didn't start with a perfect plan.
It started with curiosity.
Then came a laptop.
A Google search.
A conversation with a friend.
And one decision to believe that a different future was possible.
Start Your Cybersecurity Journey With Zaio
Whether you're looking to change careers, return to learning, or break into technology for the first time, your starting point matters less than your willingness to begin.
Zaio's Cybersecurity Bootcamp is designed to help aspiring professionals gain practical, industry-relevant skills through hands-on learning, real-world projects, and dedicated support.
- No previous coding experience required.
- Study online from anywhere in South Africa.
- Learn at your own pace.
- Build the skills employers are looking for.
Join more than 112,000 students already learning future-proof digital skills with Zaio.
The next success story could be yours.
In-aam Salaam
