Ngonidzaishe Mahere

The People and Projects That Raised His Ambitions

Mahere’s first consultancy role gave him access to experienced engineers who were willing to teach him. Further opportunities followed, and he joined Brown Engineering Group in 2023. 

There, a Mechanical Engineer became an important influence. Mahere was impressed that someone from another discipline could teach him so much that was relevant to civil engineering. Learning that his mentor held a master’s degree encouraged him to consider his own next step. 

He wanted to develop that depth of understanding, but continuing to work was essential. 

“I didn’t want to stop working to study,” he says. 

There was also a more personal motivation. During his undergraduate years, programs about structures such as the Burj Khalifa and Sydney Opera House had drawn his attention to the engineering problems behind ambitious designs. 

At Brown Engineering Group, he gained experience working with his mentor on a steel bridge. He recalls contributing to its design, including connection details. Although modest compared with the projects that fascinated him, it strengthened his interest in eventually joining a major structural project. 

A colleague studying at EIT encouraged him to investigate its programs. He compared the subjects, software and costs with his goals and circumstances before applying in 2024. 

Bringing New Knowledge into Everyday Work 

For Mahere, the connection between study and employment was immediate. He estimates that nine of the twelve subjects he took relate to his day-to-day work. 

Steel and concrete design, along with materials knowledge, helped him assess design and fabrication decisions. Project and construction management learning connected with another part of his role: coordinating people in the factory, the drafting team and those implementing work on site. 

Software training also expanded the work he felt equipped to undertake. He learned to navigate ETABS and developed skills in finite element analysis. He says that learning strengthened his ability to respond when clients requested more advanced structural analysis, including second-order analysis. 

His thesis experience developed his approach to unfamiliar problems. He describes learning how to break a problem down, consider possible solutions and identify the tools needed to apply them. 

As he approached the end of his studies, Mahere says his employer promoted him to Lead Structural Design. He sees a direct connection between that opportunity and the knowledge he was developing at EIT. 

The responsibility now extends beyond his own calculations. He wants to use what he has learned to strengthen the systems, design standards and quality of work within his team. 

A Commitment to Learning That Shaped His Day 

For Mahere, studying while working meant making room for learning around an already demanding schedule. From Zimbabwe, he sometimes woke at 3 a.m. to attend live lectures, hours before his working day began at 7 a.m. 

He also recalls following lectures while driving to the office when class times overlapped with his commute. It is an anecdote he specifically wanted included because, for him, it captures how eager he was to participate. Although attending lectures while driving raises safety concerns, the motivation behind his recollection is clear: he cared deeply about what he was learning and wanted to stay involved. 

“Because I was enjoying what I was doing, I didn’t view it as a challenge,” he says. 

That enthusiasm was supported by lecturers who answered questions, helped him navigate software and pointed him towards useful reading. He particularly valued being taught by people who were willing to share their knowledge and help him progress. 

His efforts brought results he is proud of. Mahere reports earning eight distinctions across twelve subjects, performing better in his master’s studies than he had during his bachelor’s degree. The experience challenged his assumptions about his own academic potential. 

“You don’t know what you’re truly capable of yet,” he says.

The Attitude He Wants to Take into Every Opportunity

Alongside commitment, Mahere wants his story to communicate the importance of a good attitude. He believes the way engineering professionals respond to setbacks can shape how far they progress. 

He acknowledges that a role may not always match someone’s ambitions or reflect what they feel capable of contributing. His advice is to keep doing useful work, supporting the team and approaching responsibilities with energy. 

That belief connects with his own beginning in engineering. After months of looking for work, he accepted an unpaid opportunity to gain experience. He says his approach and work ethic helped turn it into permanent employment. 

Now, as he looks towards larger structural projects, he recognizes that growth will involve becoming a learner again. He hopes to work in an experienced project team before eventually leading one himself. 

“Be part of a team, learn from others first, and then lead my own team,” he says. 

For Mahere, engineering also carries a personal responsibility. The profession has supported his family, and he sees continued learning as a way of giving back. His studies at EIT have helped him develop new capabilities, but he wants to keep building on them through experience and a willingness to learn from others. 

The message he wants readers to remember is straightforward: stay committed to the work, and bring a constructive attitude to the opportunities and difficulties that come with it. 

“Be committed to the game. Work hard at it. Learn new things.”