How I transitioned from civil engineering to landing a global remote marketing job in 20 months. A real African success story with actionable steps for remote work.
Introduction
After 20 months of trying everything from KDP to affiliate marketing, I finally cracked the code to landing a global remote job as an African professional. Here’s exactly how I did it and the mindset shifts that made all the difference.
As Africans, we face unique challenges when pursuing remote work. Limited local opportunities, currency differences, and sometimes feeling invisible in the global marketplace. But I’m here to tell you: it’s absolutely possible.
This is my real story of how I went from being a civil engineer who felt stuck to landing a remote marketing internship with a Canadian company and why that messy 20-month journey was exactly what I needed
1. Why Most African Professionals Struggle with Remote Work (And What I Did Instead)
Like many African professionals, I started by Googling “how to make money online” and “remote jobs for Africans.” I wanted freedom from the limited local opportunities. I wanted to create something bigger than what my immediate environment offered.
I explored:
- KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and dreamed of publishing books
- Affiliate marketing and looked into graphic design
- Countless YouTube videos about online business
Every day I was consuming content, but instead of feeling clear, I felt more lost. The Western-focused advice did not always translate to our African context.
But here is what I learned: Sometimes you have to explore the wrong things to find the right one. That confusion was not a waste; it was preparation.
2. The Career Transition That Changed Everything: From Civil Engineering to Digital Marketing
Somewhere along that journey, I noticed something about myself that I have been ignoring.
I loved entrepreneurs. I admired businesses trying to grow. I wanted to help them thrive not design buildings.
Despite my civil engineering background, I felt called to something different. That is when I discovered digital marketing. It felt different from everything I have tried before. It was not just about making money; it was about solving problems, connecting people, and helping businesses succeed.
That was my turning point: When you follow your passion with a plan instead of just your degree, opportunities open up.
3. How to Choose the Right Online Learning Platform as an African Professional
I enrolled in CourseCareers and started learning digital marketing foundations from content strategy to paid ads to understanding consumer psychology.
Why CourseCareers worked perfectly for me as an African learner:
- Practical, job-focused curriculum that leads to real employment
- Global perspective that applies anywhere in the world
- Community of learners from different backgrounds
- Affordable compared to traditional education or university programs
- Payment plans that work for African budgets
- Focus on getting you job-ready, not just theoretical knowledge
Something amazing happened: I began to feel confident. It was not perfect. It was still hard. But for the first time, I felt like I was moving in the right direction.
Want to start your own digital marketing journey? If you are ready to invest in skills that can land you a global remote job, check CourseCareers. They offer comprehensive training that actually prepares you for the job market.
[Get started with CourseCareers here →] (This is my affiliate link – using it helps support my content while getting you access to the same quality education that changed my career, and you get 50$ OFF)
The key lesson: One course is just the beginning because I was transitioning careers. After CourseCareers, I kept studying. I dove deep into LinkedIn advertising, understanding how businesses can leverage LinkedIn’s unique professional audience. I learned that successful advertising is not just about creating pretty ads, it is a whole strategic process:
- Understanding the business objective – What does the company actually want to achieve?
- Identifying the right audience – Who are we trying to reach?
- Choosing the right ad formats – How do we best present our message?
This deeper understanding earned me recognition as a LinkedIn Marketing Insider, but I still was not satisfied.
I am currently pursuing my Meta Marketing Associate certification, learning how Facebook and Instagram advertising works. What fascinated me about Meta is their sophisticated charging system:
- CPM (Cost Per Mille) – You pay when your ad is viewed 1,000 times
- CPC (Cost Per Click) – You pay when someone clicks your ad
- CPA (Cost Per Action) – You pay when someone completes your desired action
The real revelation: We do not just “see ads” as consumers. Behind every ad is a complete campaign strategy built on understanding business goals, audience psychology, A/B testing, and platform-specific optimization.
This continuous learning approach is crucial for African professionals entering the global market. One certification will not make you an expert but the hunger to keep learning will set you apart from the competition.
And guess what? All this additional knowledge made me even more valuable when I applied for internships globally.
4. Landing My First Global Remote Internship: From Rwanda to Canada
I landed an internship with a Canadian company.
For someone in Rwanda, this felt like a dream I did not expect to become real so quickly. But here’s the truth: global companies are looking for talented, dedicated professionals regardless of location.
That internship changed everything. It was not just about practicing what I had learned in theory. It was about stepping into a global workspace where I could apply my skills, grow every day, and prove to myself that I belonged in this world of international professionals.
But the opportunities did not stop there. Since landing my first remote internship, my skills and reputation have opened new doors. I am now also working with QuickMed, an innovative healthcare startup focused on making medicine more accessible to everyday people. I handle their digital marketing strategy as they develop solutions to improve healthcare convenience.
Working with both an established Canadian company and an emerging healthcare startup has been incredible. Each requires different marketing approaches corporate structure versus startup agility, different audiences, different goals. This diversity has accelerated my learning curve exponentially.
Key lesson for African professionals: Do not underestimate your value in the global marketplace. Your perspective, work ethic, and hunger for growth are assets.
5. The Power of AI Tools for African Professionals
One of the biggest surprises during my internship was discovering AI as a productivity multiplier.
When I first discovered Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, DeepSeek, or Copilot during my internship, I assumed they were only for casual use or experimentation. But learning about prompt engineering showed me how these tools can actually enhance and streamline professional work.
“AI does not replace you, it magnifies what you already know.”
When you learn how to ask the right questions (prompting), AI becomes your research assistant, writing helper, and strategic thinking partner. This is especially powerful for us as African professionals because it gives us access to the same quality of assistance as professionals in developed countries.
6. Simple Automation That Saves Time (Perfect for African Entrepreneurs)
I also learned automation tools like Airtable and Make.com during my internship.
As a mother juggling personal branding, a professional career, and motherhood, automation has become a lifesaver. Using tools like Airtable and Make.com, I now plan and schedule an entire week’s worth of content in an hour, something that used to take me over five hours. Even better, the posts go out automatically throughout the week, freeing up my time and mental space to focus on what matters most.
7. Building Your Personal Brand as an African Professional
With all these new skills and knowledge, something shifted in me.
I no longer felt like a beginner trying to figure it out. I felt capable. I felt called. I realized that my love for entrepreneurship, my belief in mindset, and my desire to uplift other African professionals had to be put out into the world.
That is when I got the courage to start my own website: entrepreneurmindset.co
It’s a space where I:
- Share everything I am learning on this journey
- Highlight books that changed my mindset
- Tell the stories of entrepreneurs who dared to start
- Empower other African professionals to believe in themselves
I had to detach from the old version of me, the one who doubted, feared, and played small. This brand is my way of staying accountable to the highest version of myself while inspiring others like me.
8. From Confused Civil Engineer to Confident Digital Marketer: What I Know Now
Looking back at those 20 months, I am grateful I tried all those random things at the start.
Each step I took from trying out KDP and affiliate marketing to watching YouTube videos and exploring countless tools and courses helped me uncover more about who I am and what I am meant to do.
Here’s what I know now:
Working remotely as an African professional is not a shortcut; it’s a skill. It takes curiosity, consistency, the courage to keep showing up and learning even when the path isn’t clear.
Confidence comes from doing, not just thinking. Every small project, every course completed, every application sent builds your belief in what’s possible.
You do not need to be perfect; you just need to start. The global market needs what you have to offer, but they can not hire you if you do not put yourself out there.
Your African perspective is an asset, not a limitation. Many companies value diverse viewpoints and fresh approaches to problem-solving.
9. A Message for Every African Professional with a Dream
If you are in that messy place right now searching, trying, failing do not stop.
Keep exploring. Keep learning. Keep applying even if the rejections pile up. I applied to dozens of positions before landing my internship. Each “no” was preparation for the “yes” that changed everything.
Remember: You do not find clarity by waiting. You find it by doing.
The global remote work market is growing, and there is space for talented African professionals who are willing to invest in their skills and persist through the challenges.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If it inspired you to take even one small step toward your dreams, then sharing it was worth it.
The world needs what you have to offer. Do not let anyone including that voice in your head convince you otherwise.
Thank you🙏🏾
Thank you for sharing and inspire us! We need people like you in this world.
Awww!so inspiring !thanks for sharing btfl🥰