KUGOMPO CITY- What began as a difficult decision to drop out of university has become an inspiring journey of academic achievement and entrepreneurship for University of Fort Hare (UFH) alumnus Chuma Memela, who recently obtained a Master’s degree after overcoming career uncertainty and more than 200 job rejections.
Founder of Genie-yus Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the AI Business School, Memela emphiseised that his journey highlights the importance of perseverance, self discovery and the courage to change direction when necessary.
His academic journey began at Nelson Mandela University (NMU), where he enrolled for a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Dietetics.
However, after two years he realised that the qualification did not align with his interests and decided to drop out.
Following this decision, Memela explored forex trading but experienced financial losses and personal setbacks before securing a learnership in export freight.
Six months later, he realised that this career path was also not suitable for him.Determined to find his direction, Memela returned to university and enrolled for a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree at UFH, majoring in Economics and Information Systems.
However, he completed the qualification with cum laude, achieving 23 distinctions and maintaining a distinction in Economics throughout his degree.
Towards the end of his studies, he developed an interest in technology and pursued an Honours degree in Information Systems.
During this period, he enrolled in the MTN-funded Digital Skills for Digital Jobs programme through the EBL Institute of Business and Technology.
In addition, Memela finished third nationally among 500 participants and first in the Eastern Cape among 100 participants.
He also topped his Honours class.It was during this period that Memela discovered artificial intelligence, which later became the foundation of his entrepreneurial journey.After submitting more than 200 job applications without success, he enrolled for a Master’s degree in 2023 while continuing to seek employment.
“I had applied for more than 200 jobs and faced numerous rejections,” he added.
Furthermore, a six month contract as a junior lecturer at UFH provided valuable professional experience.
However, when his contract ended, he faced unemployment again and decided to pursue entrepreneurship full time.
Therefore, this decision led to the establishment of Genie-yus AI, a business specialising in AI training and consulting.Over the past three years, Memela has delivered more than 50 talks and training engagements, won two entrepreneurship awards and received a nomination for AI Trainer of the Year.
He also established the AI Business School, which attracted more than 4,000 members across 32 countries within three months.
Reflecting on his journey, Memela said his experience was not intended to encourage students to abandon their studies, but to inspire those who felt uncertain about their career paths.
“I’m not advocating for dropping out. I’m advocating for the courage to change direction when you’re on the wrong path,” he said.
However, Memela’s journey serves as an encouragement to young people facing academic challenges, unemployment and career uncertainty, highlighting how determination, continuous learning and the willingness to embrace change can create new opportunities for success.
Courtesy of IMAGES: Supplied
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