This first long, winding, boring thread believe it or not is a summary of how I found myself in Intellectual Property. I will skip my birth but will begin with how I went to St Johns Emerald Hill in Harare up to A Level. (1/22)

I broke my leg while playing football in form 4 and was in a plaster for 6 months. This is important because even though I didn’t have amazing grades at O level (6Bs and 3 Cs) it helped me get a place at A Level. For my A Levels 1998-1999 I wanted to do Maths, (2/22)

Physics and Computer Science. Up to that point, I had never seen a computer and I did not even know how to switch it on. However, I heard that computer scientist were well “paid” and are in demand. On the first day of the A Level maths class, (3/22)

the teacher scared me and a couple of peeps so bad I decided to drop Maths and Physics. I decided to stick to Computer Science, but take Divinity and English Literature instead. Shocking right. Well give me a few minutes …. (4/22)

Back then I had already received the revelation of the benefits of being and English speaking prophet with internet access. (5/22)

I should have stuck to that … Interestingly enough we had a really dodgy computer science teacher (who I hope wont see this but I know he knows he was dodgy) and had no business teaching computer science at that level. (6/22)

So he spent most of the time doing personal things and I honestly learnt very little in that class we did some MSDOS coding. As you would have guessed most of the class failed. The best student got a C. I got an F. (7/22)

Determined to have a career in ICT armed with my 8 points I refused the UZ offer for English and dug in my heels. My now retired mom did some research and heard that I could do computers at a private university called Solusi in Bulawayo. From the excitement of having, (8/22)

one of her children become a graduate my mom who was a nurse tightened the belt and pulled of the miracle of funding my tuition at Solusi University. (9/22)

Solusi University gave me Bachelor in Administration degree and not Computer and Management Information systems because according to my transcript this was not my area even though I met all the requirements. (10/22)

Long story short on the day of registration I changed to Computer and Management Information Systems and I graduated in 2003. Confession! Inspite of these great sacrifices mom made I never really applied myself in school. (11/22

I hated theory in school I always did the bare minimum. I never explored my full potential so I had a few supplementary exams and some repeats but I made it. What I discovered I was good at was practical exercises, technical things, solving problems, fixing things. (12/22)

If anyone asked or talked about something I didn’t know I would make sure I read on it and research and be able to talk about it like a pro. (13/22)

Cause there was no or little pocket money I enrolled in a student work program as a computer technician and I rose through the ranks to become the chief technician. Trust me this was a big deal. (14/22)

In a university where the student to computer ratio was 1:50 I had my own computer and office and access to servers a lot of time to experiment and learn how to configure and deploy servers I also took up tutoring some IT courses which helped me to stand in front of (15/22)

people and talk and perfect my teaching and training. My career in the UN began as in intern at Unicef. I decided to be the best intern they ever had. After a few months they created a post for me as an ICT Assistant. (16/22)

I then worked at UNDP and I was made aware of this job by people I had built relationships with whilst at UNICEF and organising football matches and social events between UN agencies. Its small things like this that make a big difference. (17/22)

Its while I was at UNDP offering ICT services under common services to several UN and affiliate agencies that I became aware of ARIPO. I had regular interactions with ICT Manager at ARIPO but each time their Internet connection was down I would assist them. and be kind. (18/22)

I heard about a position for WIPO regional expert based at ARIPO through my networks by word of mouth. You will be amazed how many positions are advertised and filled within well established networks. (19/22)

So it turned out and they needed a Zimbabwean who has expertise in training and in deploying and supporting IT systems who would be able to do business process mapping and training and automate IP offices who had manual files and systems. (20/22)

That’s how my career in Intellectual Property began in 2009. One of the people who interviewed me and motivated for me was the same ICT Manager from ARIPO who later became my boss. The life lesson is be kind, humble and gracious always. (21/22)

You may never know who or when or what kind of a door people you think you don’t need can open for you that will change your life forever. PS I am not a lawyer but I got many friends, professors and colleagues who are so when I need help they will come to our aid. (22/22)