A couple of times when you hear someone introducing them selves as software engineers, you mind quickly runs to mobile apps, website development, desktop apps to mention and all that coding lifestyle. On the contrary, Software Engineers are trained to fit into a variety of roles in IT, Business and other sectors where IT compliments business process.

In order to look at software engineering through a much wider lens and what a career in business development looks like, we caught up with Moses Maurice Mugerwa, A Business Development Manager at BDE consults , This is what we asked

Who is Moses Maurice Mugerwa ?

I am a self-motivated, self-driven person who is driven by the urge of making change and impacting through pouring my life into others inform of mentor-ship and training, but how then can I train what I haven't learnt?! This question stirs up my desire to learn more and more.

Describe your typical day ?

Begins with prayer with my wife, then taking my wife to work. I head to work and as I drive their, I purpose to listen to something that adds value to me. The first thing I do when I get to work is making a TO DO LIST, I do this by reviewing the most pending activities from the previous day and thinking through the tasks for that particular day. I will then work according to my prioritized TO DO LIST.

Why did you choose that career path?

While in primary, I developed a love for computers, this was not about to stop and later motivated me to do a Bsc in Software Engineering. As doing BSSE, I realized my love and gifting in analysis and design mainly of computer real time systems.

I realize that whereas I was not good at coding, I offered more in the software engineering field as I was good at understanding software user requirements, coming up with models and designs for developers and synthesizing requirements. This was enhanced by my love for documentation of systems.

This prompted me to do a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation with an aim of monitoring and evaluating information systems. After I successfully completed this post graduate diploma, I realized I could contribute more to the field of IT and monitoring and evaluation, this pushed me to continue with a Masters in Monitoring and Evaluation(MME), I am in the early process of my research work with the topic "A Framework for Adoption of ICT based M & E Systems in the Ugandan Financial".

What are your main tasks and responsibilities at work? 

I do all tasks related to developing business for my organisation and then I monitor day to day operations by managing a team.

What are your main challenges ?

Balancing school and work

What particular skills do you bring to your workplace ? 

Exceptional software engineering skills coupled up with vital Minotoring & Evaluation expertise.

What's cool about your job ?

The opportunity to learn every day.

What's not cool about your job ?

Failure to bring the organisation work after trying hard is so frustrating.

How did you get your current job ?

I applied through an advert in the newspaper.

What subjects did you take in school and how have they influenced your career path (Share how they are relevant in your day to day work) ?

MATHEMATICS, MATHEMATICS, MATHEMATICS. I can proudly say I am one the few Engineers that will ever exist who didn't do physics, I did MEG (Mathematics,Economics and Geography at A-level but I can brag and say my love and being good at Mathematics has led me places.
It was because of Math that I was offered Software Engineering at the University and the only reason why I persisted through. In my field of analysis and modeling, monitoring and evaluation, you will meet alot of Math mainly with quantitative formulas. Math has led me where I am to do. My father always mentioned that Math was the key to education.

What is your Education to date?

I am in the final year of my Masters in Monitoring and Evaluation, I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation and a Bachelors in Software Engineering.

What aspects of your Education System have proven most important for your job?

Mainly at the post graduate level, I have learnt preparing pre-qualification documents, this is so vital.

What trends are you seeing in your career field ?

I see the field of ICT in Uganda broadening from just coding to other relevant aspects.

What are the most important personal characteristics required for the job?

Integrity, persistence, dedication, humility and commitment.

Which key people influenced your career direction ?

My wife, my parents, my primary math teacher and all the overly learned fellows

What is your dream job?

Personal Employment(Consultancy)

What have been the most rewarding events in your career so far?

Writing winning pre-qualification documents, conducting yielding research and presenting life changing software systems.

As a student, how did you cope up with the pressure to succeed / excel in class?

I paced down, I knew I was unique and not like everyone else and then I understand that excelling in class is different from excelling in life. I purposed to excel in life.

What advise would you give someone considering this job?

Don't consider this job, consider to be better in life, consider to be something in life, consider to make an impact, consider to have a personal vision and see it through, consider SELF EMPLOYMENT.

What outside class activities did you engage in that have proved beneficial on your career path (eg clubs, sports etc) ?

Ministry of God, from way back in school, I have been involved in evangelism and preaching, this has helped build by confidence and it has helped be articulate at presenting to groups of people.

What kind of work experience would provide a good background for this position?

Someone with marketing and pre-qualification experience.

Any Concluding remarks

No one can be a hindrance to how high you raise apart from yourself! Don't limit yourself, aspire to soar as high as you can!