Against all odds

Charles Ngwenya grew up in a small town called Olivenhoutbosch in Tshwane, before moving to Johannesburg to pursue a career in software development. He enrolled at a graduate institute to study for a diploma in software development, which he completed in 2017.

Charles started his career as an IT technician and a few months later he joined the team on the Bidvest Alice platform, through an internship programme.  Bidvest Alice enables the creation of an ecosystem of digital services to govern, manage and monitor businesses. His passion for technology was evident from an early age. His father, who worked as a support consultant for a payroll company, brought home computers, which Charles found fascinating. He began assembling, fixing and selling these computers out of love for technology.

The first few months at Alice presented challenges for him. He felt underprepared for the corporate world, noting that while college had been relatively easy, the pressure to perform professionally was intense.

At one stage Charles thought he was not ready for the corporate world and his skills needed nurturing. While Charles expressed his appreciation for the opportunity he had been given, he felt the need for more knowledge. To his surprise, Alice's leadership responded positively and said, "Charles, you already own our website. I'm not letting you go. Instead, I will provide the resources you need to upskill yourself. I believe in you and want to see you succeed."

He says the response he received was an indication that Bidvest values potential and not merely capabilities. Today, through the broader support from the Alice team, he is a key player in UI development, managing feature requests and ‘bug' fixes.

Charles' journey at Alice continued with a year-long internship, followed by a contract extension. As he entered his second year, he began to understand the technologies used across the Group and transitioned from manual to automation testing. "I discovered my love for development through writing automation scripts," he noted.

The supportive environment at Alice allowed Charles to explore various roles. He says the company provides opportunities for those willing to take on new challenges. His current goal is to delve into DevOps and further enhance his skills, with aspirations of becoming a senior developer and mentoring newcomers to the industry.

"I am living proof that perseverance and willingness to put in extra effort will take you far in life," says Charles when asked what advice he would give to anyone who aspires to follow in his footsteps.

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