How to Build a Global Tech Career from Africa: 5 Lessons from a Cybersecurity Consultant

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Wecrin Webinar Series #1 — Event Report

Oct 19, 2026 · @Make Money

Your global career doesn't start when you land a job abroad. It starts where you are, with the next useful problem you choose to solve. That was the message of the first session in the Wecrin Webinar Series, held online on October 17, 2026.

Our guest speaker was Samuel Ashaolu, a cybersecurity consultant who built his career from Nigeria to the United States. Participants joined from Lagos and Enugu in Nigeria, as well as India, Yemen, the Philippines and beyond, bringing backgrounds in AI, project management, tech sales, talent acquisition and teaching.

This report covers Samuel's journey, the five principles he shared, and highlights from the Q&A.

Meet the speaker: a career built one "yes" at a time

Samuel did not start with a perfect plan, and he was open about it. His path looks like this:

Engineering foundations in Nigeria. A bachelor's in electrical engineering, then internships in electromechanical and telecommunications engineering.
Enterprise networks in oil and gas. IT and telecom systems configuration, Active Directory, network security, routers, switches, WAN and SD-WAN.
Tech sales (2019). At a SaaS startup, working under Wecrin's founder, he learned to translate technical solutions into business value for decision-makers.
Research and a master's in IT cybersecurity. Publications spanning blockchain, smart contracts and cybersecurity.
International consulting. Cybersecurity consulting for a European client in 2025, and committee membership with ISC2.

His turning point came from a conversation with his professor, who suggested he explore cybersecurity. Samuel's lesson: say yes to opportunities that expand your learning, and focus on the process of getting from point A to point B, not only on the destination.

Five principles for a career that crosses borders

1. Think problem, think solution, think opportunity

Whatever your field, whether cybersecurity, AI, HR or research science, the mindset that travels across borders is problem-solving. Samuel encouraged attendees to look for the problems around them: when a service struggles or a company leaves a market, the reason why is an opening for someone else.

2. Start where you are

Many attendees named the US, UK, Sweden, the Gulf and Japan as their dream destinations. Samuel's point: global opportunity is real, but so are the problems and opportunities in your own city. Local internships, tech hubs, communities and volunteering are where a global career is built. As one line on his slides put it, talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not.

3. Proof beats certificates

Consulting is built on repeated evidence of value, not a single title or certification. Turn what you learn into visible proof: projects, a portfolio, work a recruiter can see when they look you up. Free hands-on platforms such as Forage, Microsoft Learn and IBM SkillsBuild offer real-world labs to start with.

4. Choose one path and go deep

Hopping between specialisms leads to confusion. Pick one area, master its fundamentals, then go deep. In cybersecurity, that means networking fundamentals and models like OSI before chasing every niche. Don't worry about keeping up with every new AI tool; know what you need to know.

5. Get close to people already doing it

The fastest way to learn is to find someone doing what you want to do and learn from them. Samuel credited his time working under Fumi for teaching him how to communicate with clients. Mentors and communities matter, because you can't make the journey alone.

What global employers actually look for

The gap is not only technical. Employers hiring across borders look for:

Clear communication, including explaining your skills in terms others understand
Reliable, on-time delivery
Evidence of problem-solving
Strong documentation and ethical standards, including confidentiality
A portfolio that makes your work easy to evaluate

Samuel noted that communicating his value was one of his own biggest challenges after moving abroad.

Q&A highlights

How do I get started in tech? There is no single linear path. Nurses have moved into cybersecurity and accountants into data. Start with a self-assessment: what you know, what you can do, and what you need to build. Then find people already on that path and join a community.

Is cybersecurity a good field to specialise in today? Yes. Every organisation needs people to protect its systems, networks and data, and AI is now helping security teams find and fix vulnerabilities faster. Which niche suits you depends on your own background and strengths.

I'm a beginner in Python. Is there a connection to cybersecurity? Absolutely. Python is used for scripting, data analysis, threat remediation and penetration testing. The key is to pair the skill with real-world projects, for example through hands-on cyber labs, so you can discover which niche fits you.

I'm a mid-level software engineer with a job. How do I move into cybersecurity, and are certifications compulsory? Certifications are important but not mandatory; it depends on what you already know. Ask yourself three questions: what do I already know, what is the gap, and which security niche is closest to my current work? For software engineers, Samuel suggested penetration testing as a natural fit, and the ISC2 website as a place to explore certification paths alongside your job.

Your next step: join the Africa Talent Collective

Samuel closed with a quote from John C. Maxwell: whatever you've been given is meant to be shared. That spirit is behind the Africa Talent Collective, Wecrin's community connecting ambitious African talent with international opportunities. Members get:

Global opportunities: international jobs, projects and cross-border career pathways
Career development: guidance on building a profile that global employers notice
Community and network: direct connections with African professionals, founders and international companies

To join, visit AfricaTalentCollective.com, click Apply for verification, choose your target regions (Japan, UK, US, Europe, Africa or Asia) and upload your CV.

Thank you to Samuel Ashaolu for sharing his journey, and to everyone who joined us!