Ivan’s Story Timeline
Ivan’s journey into the world of technology began in his high school days in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He would spend hours in the computer lab, experimenting with different software and coding languages, absorbing everything he could about programming and system operations, where his deep fascination with technology quickly earned him the nickname “Le Savant“—French for “The Scientist“ used by his classmates and community to address him.
This fascination extended beyond the classroom. After school, Ivan would head straight to his mother’s business—a Cyber Café, where customers rented computers by the hour to get Internet Access. This place became his second classroom. While others used the café for social networking or gaming, Ivan took it as an opportunity to practice his high school Computer Science lessons. His natural curiosity and eagerness to solve problems soon made him the go-to person for technical issues, assisting customers with computer troubleshooting, internet connectivity, and software installations. At just 16 years old, Ivan often jokes that this was effectively the start of his IT career—although he wasn’t paid for! Determined to turn his passion into a career, Ivan immigrates to Canada in August 2015 and lands in Calgary, Alberta.
The french-speaking student arrived in Canada and starts taking English Classes at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, and then takes a bold step—leaving behind his family and friends to relocate to Lethbridge by himself, a city he had only seen online, due to his particular interest in their college institution and their IT program. There, he enrolled in the Computer Information Technology program at Lethbridge College.
The transition wasn’t easy at first. A new city, a new environment, and a rigorous curriculum made for a challenging start. But Ivan thrived, immersing himself in a diverse range of subjects—networking, databases, web and software development, linux, computer repair, and programming, and some business classes. Each course deepened his understanding of IT, fueling his hunger for more knowledge.
As Ivan completed his first semester, his entrepreneurial instincts kicked in. Seeing an opportunity to apply what he was learning, he founded Navii, a web design, hosting, and software development company. At first, he built websites for free to gain experience and credibility. His breakthrough came when a local non-profit organization offered him his first paid project—a $1,000 website development contract.
As word spread, Navii gained traction. When a school project required students to represent a business, some of Ivan’s classmates agreed to join him and use the same name, transforming his solo venture into a growing company. Navii was no longer just an idea—it was a brand in the making.
Understanding that classroom knowledge alone wouldn’t be enough, Ivan sought hands-on experience in the industry. He secured a summer internship as a Computer Technician at Palliser Regional Schools after his first year in College.
This was his first taste of corporate IT work. He was responsible for troubleshooting hardware and software issues, setting up networks, and maintaining computer systems across multiple schools.
This role honed his problem-solving skills, reinforced his technical knowledge, and gave him invaluable real-world exposure.
The hard work and late-night study sessions paid off. On May 15th 2019, Ivan graduated from Lethbridge College, diploma in hand. But he barely had time to celebrate—as on the same day, he was driving back to Calgary for a job interview.
The very next day at the Interview, Ivan received another document in hand. Long View Systems, one of North America’s most reputable IT firms, extended him a job offer as a Systems Consultant. Within a week, Ivan had transitioned from student to professional, stepping confidently into the IT industry.
While Ivan was building a successful career at Long View Systems being the top performer in his team, he also felt a strong urge to give back to his community. The COVID-19 pandemic had severely impacted businesses, especially those owned by minorities. Seeing many Black-owned businesses struggle or shut down, Ivan took action.
He launched BOmarket.ca, an online marketplace designed to support and promote Black-owned businesses. Unlike Amazon, his platform wasn’t built for competition—it was built for unity, offering businesses a free space to showcase and sell their products online, with the slogan “A marketplace not to compete with others, but to bring people together”. His initiative gained media attention, earning him a TV Interview with Global News.
Continuous learning has always been a priority in Ivan’s career. Always eager to grow, Ivan set his sights on Cloud Computing. Within a year, Ivan will obtain four professional certifications. He started with the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification with Amazon Web Services, then the Azure Fundamentals with Microsoft, and then the Associate Cloud Engineer certification with Google. To boost his managerial skills, he also obtained the ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management with Axelos.
These certifications, coupled with his relentless drive, led to a well-earned promotion as a Junior Cloud DevOps Engineer at Long View Systems.
His achievements are seen online by the biggest companies. Ivan is reached out by a recruiter at Google to do an Interview for a Technical Solution Engineer role, then it’s Amazon’s turn to request an Interview with him for an Associate Solution Architect Role. Unfortunately, at the last stage of the Interview with both companies, the opportunities don’t lead to an offer, due to the lack of experience in Cloud Computing at that time.
However, another door opened shortly after. It’s the first bank in Canada, BMO Financial Group that will take a chance on Ivan and extend him an offer as a Cloud Engineer.
Within just two months, Ivan had already made a strong impression, leading the team to move him up to a Cloud DevOps Engineer role within the DevOps Automation team.
Despite his corporate success, Ivan never lost sight of his entrepreneurial vision. Navii continued to evolve, reaching a new milestone in 2022. He launched two new branches—NaviiTech and NaviiCloud—expanding services to include Cloud Hosting and Domain Names Sale.
He migrated all clients’ websites to cloud-based servers, ensuring better security and performance. Additionally, he registered Navii as a domain name reseller, offering businesses a complete digital presence solution. Today, Navii is a thriving company, relied upon by many small and medium businesses daily.
Ivan continued his upward trajectory in the Cloud & DevOps space, passing the prestigious Cloud Solutions Architect certification exam, then taking on a new challenge as a Senior Cloud DevOps Engineer at Cenovus Energy through the US-based consulting firm capSpire Inc. In this role, he is responsible for architecting, designing, building, and maintaining Cloud and DevOps solutions for Cenovus and its clients across various environments.
This position marked a significant step forward, solidifying his expertise in cloud infrastructure and automation while allowing him to work on cutting-edge solutions for enterprise-scale operations.
Beyond his professional achievements, Ivan remains dedicated to mentoring and inspiring others. In November 2023, he was invited to Lethbridge College to give a speech to final-year Computer Science students. His talk focused on empowering the next generation of IT professionals, sharing insights on career growth, industry trends, and personal development.
Through mentorship and public speaking, Ivan continues to give back, ensuring others have the knowledge and motivation to succeed in the ever-evolving tech landscape.