From Classroom to Community Leadership: Meet Mohamed

Mohamed F. originally set out to teach because he felt compelled to help the young people in his native Somalia. But when he enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in public administration, he began seeing how his impact could extend beyond the classroom and affect entire communities. “My focus has always been on supporting my community, because progress only happens when we take responsibility and work together,” he told Coursera.

Mohamed is now working on his master’s degree in leadership and good governance in Kenya, but he supplements that curriculum with learning on Coursera. “The fact that Coursera partners with leading organizations like Google and Microsoft gave me confidence in the quality and relevance of the courses,” he explained. Mohamed wanted to gain practical skills he could apply to his master’s research, and, eventually, to his career. 

He began by enrolling in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate and the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera. “Beyond academic success, my aim has been to remain competitive globally and to use these skills to make a positive impact in my community,” he said. He intends to enroll in the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate next, thanks to his Coursera Plus subscription.

Mohamed spoke with Coursera about what he wants to help other Somali students achieve.

What did you enjoy about the learning you completed before enrolling on Coursera? 

The sense of growth that every new lesson gave me. But the hardest part was access. In Somalia, it isn’t always easy to find quality resources. Internet connectivity was often unreliable, and advanced training opportunities were limited. Many times, I felt like my curiosity was bigger than the opportunities around me.

And what have you enjoyed about learning on Coursera?  

The freedom it gives me to learn on my own terms. I could wake up early and study before work, catch up in the evenings after classes, or dedicate weekends to going deeper into a topic. That flexibility made learning feel like it fit into my life, not the other way around.

I also appreciated how the instructors broke down complex subjects into simple lessons. It felt like I was being guided step by step, no matter how technical the material was. One of my proudest moments was realizing how far I’d come, starting with almost no knowledge of data, and then actually being able to use tools like SQL, R, and Tableau with confidence. 

One of my proudest moments was realizing how far I’d come, starting with almost no knowledge of data, and then actually being able to use tools like SQL.

What skills have you developed or strengthened?

The certificates I’ve earned have completely changed the way I study and approach work. Google’s Project Management certificate taught me how to plan, manage risks, and communicate clearly with different stakeholders. These lessons have been very practical. I’ve used them to organize my master’s research, set timelines, and keep my thesis work on track.

Google’s Data Analytics certificate gave me hands-on skills in cleaning and organizing data, analyzing datasets, writing queries with SQL, and creating visualizations with tools like Tableau and R. These skills became a real turning point for me. In my thesis, I was able to design better surveys, collect cleaner data, and analyze responses in a structured way that made my research more credible. It also gave me the confidence to not just collect numbers, but to tell the story behind the data.

A master’s program must keep you busy. How did you fit learning into your schedule?

Balancing everything wasn’t easy. I created a simple but consistent routine. Most mornings, before starting my day, I would dedicate a quiet hour to studying on Coursera. In the evenings, after my classes, I would go back to review lessons or practice exercises. Weekends became my “catch-up time,” where I could focus more deeply on the content.

In a way, Coursera became part of my daily rhythm. Instead of feeling like an extra burden, it felt like an investment in myself and in the future of the communities I want to serve. What kept me motivated was the belief that every new skill I gained on Coursera could help me both in my thesis and in the real work I was doing with my community.

In a way, Coursera became part of my daily rhythm. Instead of feeling like an extra burden, it felt like an investment in myself and in the future of the communities I want to serve.

Were you able to apply anything you learned right away? 

For my master’s thesis, the Google Data Analytics program was like a roadmap. Before, I wasn’t sure how to handle research data, but these courses gave me both the confidence and the technical ability. The visualizations I created even helped me tell the story of my findings more clearly. Without Coursera, my thesis would have been much harder to manage and far less professional.

Beyond academics, I also applied my project management skills to my initiative, which I founded to support Somali students navigating education systems in Kenya. The project management skills I learned, like setting clear goals, managing risks, and communicating with stakeholders, helped me structure the initiative in a way that made it sustainable. 

Together, these experiences showed me that Coursera is not just about certificates—it’s about gaining skills I can use immediately in my studies, in my community, and in my career.

Have you experienced any impact from what you’ve learned on Coursera?

Coursera has completely changed how I see myself and what I’m capable of. Before, I sometimes doubted whether I could handle technical areas, like data analytics or advanced project management, but these courses proved that I could. They gave me the confidence that, even coming from Somalia with limited resources, I can achieve world-class skills and compete on a global stage if I stay committed.

One moment that really stood out was during my master’s thesis. I applied the exact steps from the Google Data Analytics program, cleaning messy data, organizing it properly, and analyzing it with R and SQL. For the first time, I was able to present my research findings in a clear and professional way, even creating visualizations that told the story of my data. That was the moment I realized I wasn’t just learning anymore, I had grown into someone who could apply these skills in real research and real work.

Did anything surprise you while you learned? 

How much I could achieve with just a laptop and an internet connection. Coming from Somalia, I always thought world-class education was out of reach unless you travelled abroad or had access to expensive institutions. But Coursera proved me wrong. Suddenly, I was learning from Google, Microsoft, and top universities while sitting in my small room in Nairobi.

Another unexpected lesson was realizing that consistency matters more than speed. Even on the days I was tired from my master’s work or community projects, giving just one focused hour to a course moved me forward. It taught me that progress doesn’t always come in big leaps; sometimes it’s about showing up every day. 

What are you hoping to do next? 

Looking ahead, my biggest goal is to keep growing as both a researcher and a practitioner. Professionally, I want to take on roles in monitoring, evaluation, and governance areas, where I can use data and leadership to solve real community problems. 

At the same time, I want to grow the initiative I founded, helping more young people access education and opportunities. I see myself advancing into leadership positions in NGOs or international organizations, and eventually becoming a thought leader who inspires others, just as I have been inspired by global mentors.

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*Individual experiences and outcomes can vary and Coursera does not guarantee job interviews or job placements upon completion of its courses.