How AWS certifications helped me transition from pro athlete to cloud engineer

If you’re considering a career transition into cloud computing, this post will show you how AWS certifications can provide a structured path to success, even without having cloud experience or technical background.

In this post, you’ll learn the exact certifications and strategies I used to pivot from professional athlete to becoming a Technical Account Manager at AWS in just three years.

Three years ago, I traded in my Nike spikes for AWS certifications. Before starting my cloud journey, I spent years traveling the world as a professional track and field athlete, competing in over 40 countries across six continents. Alongside athletics, I worked as a Sports Event Manager for my country’s national sports commission, organizing major national sporting events in various sports including track and field, basketball, and softball.

It was an incredible experience that taught me discipline, focus, and resilience, but as my athletic career came to a close, I realized I was ready for a new challenge and long-term career beyond the track. I needed a career that was sustainable, offered strong earning potential to support my family, and the combination of flexibility and challenge that’ll push me to grow.

After a month of research, every path pointed towards a career in technology (tech). However, the harder part was figuring out just where to start because the tech industry is so broad, so I decided to permit myself to explore, try different areas, and let curiosity lead the way.

Discovering the cloud

I began my journey by learning about computer components, software and hardware, then networking, and eventually security fundamentals. This helped me understand the foundational concepts of computing systems, how they communicate and how they can be secured.

However, it wasn’t until I heard about “the cloud” that my curiosity truly spiked. The concept sounded almost unreal, having only been exposed to traditional computing infrastructure. I wanted to know how the cloud worked and why everyone called it the future of technology.

As I researched about the cloud, every article, video, or tutorial I came across seemed to always mention one acronym, AWS. That led me deeper into exploring AWS services and the offerings around them. It was fascinating but also overwhelming. With so many services to learn, I quickly realized that without a plan and structure, I would easily lose direction.

That’s when I found AWS Certification.

This gave me something I desperately needed, a clear learning path with milestones. AWS certifications are structured by experience level, starting from foundational knowledge and progressing through associate, professional, and specialty areas. Each certification builds on the last, with clear objectives and outcomes that would guide my growth. It felt like training again, structured, focused, measurable, and purpose driven.

Failing forward

I decided to start with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner foundational exam. After about a month of studying, I took the exam and to my surprise, I failed it.

That moment could have been the end of the road, but instead, it became a turning point. The competitor in me couldn’t accept that outcome. I went back to the drawing board and changed my approach.

This time, I focused less on learning the theoretical concepts and more on hands-on application. I spent hours using the AWS Free Tier, that now offers 12 months of access to core AWS services. I completed labs on AWS Skill Builder, with over 1000 free courses and hands-on labs, along with other resources, making mistakes, and fixing them in a risk-free environment. I built small projects, applied theory to practice, and forced myself to understand not just what the cloud was, but how it actually worked.

Six weeks later, I retook the exam and passed with a score that left me surprised. The difference between the two attempts was night and day. That success reignited something inside me and for the first time I stated to myself, “I’m going to be a Cloud Engineer.”

That was the moment passion caught up to persistence. I realized that you don’t always need to start with passion because it often grows through curiosity, effort, and incremental wins. As for me, I didn’t find the cloud, it was on my journey of exploration, where the cloud found me.

Building visibility from an island

With my first certification in hand, I started looking for opportunities in my home country. I walked into one of the most advanced tech companies in Turks and Caicos Islands and asked if they were leveraging the cloud. Their response was, “We plan to in about five years.”

I knew I couldn’t wait that long. If I wanted to achieve my goal of becoming a Cloud Engineer, I had to look beyond my immediate environment.

So I turned online. I joined LinkedIn and began connecting with people already working in tech, senior engineers, hiring managers, recruiters, and entry-level cloud professionals who were only a few steps ahead of me. I joined tech groups, participated in online discussions, and even spoke in Twitter (X) Spaces with 100s of people listening.

I also started documenting my journey publicly. Every week, I posted updates about what I was learning and the projects I was working on. I shared technical blogs on my personal website and social media. It wasn’t easy, but I believed that visibility mattered. If no one knew who I was, they couldn’t hire me.

To my surprise, people began following my journey. Many cheered me on, including some who weren’t even in the tech industry. Others reached out with advice, mentorship, and encouragement, including AWS employees. My story resonated with them because it represented persistence and possibility.

As my content grew, so did my online presence and credibility. I became recognized as a technical voice and emerging leader in the cloud community, even before I officially held the job title as a Cloud Engineer. That visibility eventually led to my acceptance into the AWS Community Builders program, where I joined an exclusive group of technical enthusiasts, passionate about sharing knowledge and connecting with others in the AWS community.

The breakthrough

Throughout that time, I continued using AWS Certification as my roadmap. I earned the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate (now AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate) and AWS Certified Security – Specialty.

Those certifications gave me solid technical exposure to AWS. They also built the confidence to take on bigger challenges.

In March 2023, I received a message on LinkedIn from the CEO of a global security company, offering me an opportunity to join their remote Cloud Engineering team.

The interview turned into one of the most dynamic conversations I’ve had, centered on culture and curiosity more than a technical evaluation. That conversation ultimately led to me receiving the offer.

After nearly 18 months of nonstop learning and persistence, I had now officially transitioned from a professional athlete to a self-taught Cloud Engineer, while living and working remotely from my home in Turks and Caicos.

The dream I had been chasing finally came true!

Becoming a voice in the cloud community

As I continued to share my journey online, my story was featured in the Cloud Career Journeys book, written by AWS leaders Ashish Prajapati and Prasad Rao. The book included stories from industry figures like Jeff Barr (Vice President, AWS), Ryan Kroonenburg (Founder, A Cloud Guru), Lucy Wang (Tech with Lucy), Nana Janashia (TechWorld with Nana), Mumshad Mannambeth (Founder, KodeKloud) and others.

That recognition led to an unforgettable opportunity to attend AWS re:Invent, where I spoke on a panel during the book launch event alongside Jeff Barr, Nana Janashia, Neal Davis, Kesha Williams, and other AWS community leaders.

That year, I also became an AWS Specialist Instructor, teaching at an accelerated cloud education program that helped students from diverse backgrounds, including sports, healthcare, education, and sales prepare for and pass the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification. Helping others experience that same first win I once fought for was deeply rewarding.

Joining AWS

In 2024, I moved to the United States with over two years of professional cloud experience and exposure, more certifications, and a growing online presence as a leader in the cloud community. I had earned the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional and the AWS Certified AI Practitioner certifications just before an Amazon recruiter reached out and invited me to interview for a Technical Account Manager (TAM) role at AWS.

The interviews were very challenging but the journey was fulfilling. Each conversation reminded me how far I had come, from learning what a computer network was to discussing enterprise-level cloud architecture.

I’m happy to say that I was offered the role, and today, I proudly serve as a Technical Account Manager at AWS, helping customers succeed by providing technical guidance, operational support, and strategic advice to achieve their business goals.

Working at AWS, the organization that built the very technology that changed my life, has been one of the most meaningful experiences in my career and to think it all started with a single certification.

Closing thoughts

Three years ago, I was standing on a track, measuring jumps in centimeters. Today, I’m a 10x AWS certified Technical Account Manager helping customers succeed in the cloud and that leap was only possible because I took that step of earning my first AWS certification.

Looking back, I can clearly see how much AWS Training and Certification shaped every part of my journey, giving me direction when I didn’t have any, structure when I felt lost, and confidence at a time when I needed it most.

If you’re just starting out, my advice is simple. Start exactly where you are. You don’t need a technical background or prior experience, you just need convicting curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Here’s how to begin today:

• Sign up for AWS Free Tier, to get hands-on practice with core AWS services at no cost to build real projects while you learn
• Create your free AWS Skill Builder account to access 1000+ on-demand free courses and certification exam prep aligned to your learning path
• Start with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification as your foundation, then proceed to take on other AWS certifications
• Share your progress publicly on social media platform like LinkedIn, X, GitHub, and Instagram to increase your visibility and join the global AWS community

About the author

Ifeanyi Otuonye is a Technical Account Manager and 10x AWS Certified professional. As a strategic advisor, he helps customers achieve their business goals with AWS Cloud services. As a passionate educator and advocate, he develops resonating content and resources that make cloud learning accessible, empowering professionals to grow their expertise, impact, and influence. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.