Abbas Rianat is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer at TechNovelle. The firm which is on a mission to democratise access to high-demand technology skills, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics.
To this end, TechNovelle in partnership with global learning platform, DataCamp, launched this month the inaugural AI & Data Cohort, for underrepresented learners worldwide, from African nations to underserved communities beyond.
Speaking on the programme, Rianat said: “The AI & Data Cohort 1.0 is a 12-week global upskilling programme, offered at no cost, that combines structured learning, mentorship, and project delivery for aspiring professionals in AI and data analytics.”
Her leadership was pivotal, guiding the initiative ‘from concept to rollout.’ As Chief Product officer, she secured the DataCamp partnership, negotiated learning access for all participants, and personally curated the entire curriculum for both Data and AI tracks. This involved meticulously defining learning progression, mapping project milestones, setting portfolio standards, and designing the pacing model.
Abbas also developed the mentor engagement strategy, recruiting experts from global giants like Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, Google, and Walmart, and established the internal operations model.
Speaking on why was the AI & Data Cohort created, Rianat revealed that, it began with a recurring frustration. “Over the past five years, I’ve mentored hundreds of individuals in tech across countries including the United States, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Canada, Kenya, and more. I kept meeting incredibly talented individuals across different continents, curious, brilliant minds, but they had no structured way to get into tech.” This resonated deeply with her own past experiences.
To her, “We created the cohort because we knew access alone wasn’t enough. We needed to build a clear path, backed by world-class content, mentorship, and community. The goal was to give underserved learners, not just in Africa, but across emerging tech communities, a programme that’s free, credible, and transformative.”
Rianat speaking on the urgency of the initiative, said: “The world is building AI, and Africa cannot afford to be on the sidelines. Either we develop our pipeline or risk becoming users of systems we didn’t design. This cohort is a proactive choice, to invest in our people, tell our stories through data, and build tech that reflects our realities. What’s happening globally with AI and data is not just innovation, it’s power. And we want to make sure that Africa is not just participating but leading.”
The Chief Product officer at TechNovelle, explained what sets this programme apart from others in the crowded tech learning landscape. “Unlike many self-paced programmes, TechNovelle’s is ‘intentionally structured.’ We built in feedback loops, accountability systems, and direct mentorship from professionals operating at the highest levels in tech. The curriculum is carefully curated around real industry competencies, not just tools, paired with live, cross-sector mentorship and a project-driven model culminating in a portfolio designed to meet the expectations of hiring managers.
“While the programme was originally inspired by gaps we saw in African tech ecosystems, it quickly grew beyond that. We received applications from over 20 countries, from Nigeria and Kenya to Pakistan, Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the U.S,” she said.
This, she noted, underscores that access to structured, no-cost tech education is a global problem.
The programme is therefore designed with both local relevance and global competitiveness in mind, aiming for participants. Whether you’re in Nairobi or Nebraska, to finish confident in their ability to ‘build, contribute, and lead.’
When Rianat was asked, why was leading this particular programme so personal for you, she replied; “Because I remember what it felt like to have ambition but no access. I’ve been the person searching for free resources, building at night, trying to connect dots with no support. Leading this programme provided the opportunity to
‘create the kind of experience I wish I had; structured, credible, encouraging.’”
She infused her expertise in product security, AI ethics, and platform leadership into every aspect, describing it as ‘personal, but it’s also a blueprint for what equitable tech education can look like. I want to see more Africans presenting data portfolios that reflect real problems they’ve solved, across finance, healthcare, governance.’ Abbas stated passionately.’
“I want to see someone from a village in Northern Nigeria or a township in South Africa become a data scientist because they joined this programme. We’re already seeing collaboration across borders. Participants are solving problems together, Kenya and Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa building models, asking questions that matter. We’re not just delivering skills. We’re building a movement,” he noted.
Long-term vision
TechNovelle’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by building globally relevant, locally grounded solutions and secure partnerships, Abbas affirmed. ‘This cohort is just the beginning. We’re building something that will outlive trends and truly shift how talent is cultivated across Africa and the world,’ he stressed.
Can you hint at upcoming partnerships and future plans?
Absolutely, Abbas said, revealing ongoing discussions with a ‘global and industry recognised Cybersecurity Organisation’ to expand programming into cybersecurity training for their community and for Cohort 2.0.
This expansion, she said, aims to provide learners with “globally recognised cybersecurity resources and pathways into roles that are in high demand but often hard to break into without the right credentials or community.”
The long-term vision, she added, is to build a “full-stack talent platform, with specialisation tracks in areas like AI for Health, Responsible AI Auditing, Cybersecurity, and Data for Governance. Every development is designed to be ‘scalable, high-impact, and deeply aligned with workforce needs.’
