Meet Joshua David Tarfa, a Nigeria-based senior product manager and recent graduate of the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business Master of Science in Management (iMSM). In just one year, he completed his degree, secured two promotions at work, and managed his own freelance design business. We sat down with Joshua to hear about his experience, what motivated him to pursue the degree, and how it’s already paying off.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I started out as an illustrator, animator, and graphic designer—completely on the creative side of things. I went to Nile University of Nigeria, where I studied business administration, but after graduation, I couldn’t get into the General Electric program I was aiming for. So I turned to freelance design, and surprisingly, that took off. I had clients from the U.S. and Europe, and it just made more sense financially to work for myself.
Eventually, I transitioned into product management after having been an Illustrator at the uLesson Group. I started the iMSM program soon after. While I was in school, I actually went from associate product manager to product manager and then senior product manager.
Why did you choose an online degree, and why Gies?
The flexibility was a huge factor. Given the tuition and economic crisis, it just made sense. I looked at other online programs, but many were new or didn’t have the level of accreditation I wanted.
Gies had flexibility, reputation, and it was on Coursera. And to be honest, I’m kind of the Coursera guy at my office. I have over 50 certificates—Google Project Management, UX Design, Software Project Management—that’s actually how I broke into product. Plus, Marc Andreessen went to Illinois, and I thought, “Well, that’s a good sign.”
Did you benefit from the degree? What gave you the most value?
Absolutely. From the very beginning, I could apply what I was learning. I remember taking a strategic management course and using concepts from it immediately at work. I mentioned “adverse selection” in a meeting and my boss looked at me, impressed, and was like, “Ahh this guy!” (laughs)
The coursework didn’t just give me confidence—it gave me capability. I could contribute at a higher level right away.
What did you like most about the program?
I loved the case studies because I could pick the companies and the industries. So, I picked my company’s market and the African market in general. There was one that we did on market Intelligence and Porter’s 5 Forces analysis. So I did that based on the market we operate in at Miva, a subsidiary of The uLesson Group. So my assignments would basically turn into content that I could use at work. The way the assignments are structured, they can be directly translated into the real working world.
Have you seen any big changes since graduating?
I feel [getting promoted] was a result of having that extra knowledge from the course. I was an associate for a while, so I felt like beginning to understand strategy and global markets…it enhanced the conversations I was having with stakeholders and how I was thinking about product as a whole.
What motivated you to keep going, especially through such a demanding year?
I’m shy, but I want to be the best in the world. Growing up in Nigeria, I always worried about how I would stack up internationally. Would being a product manager here compare to being one in the U.S.? The program helped with that. I feel much more confident in my skills now. The imposter syndrome has faded.
What advice would you give to someone considering the iMSM?
I always say to friends, “If not now, then when?” It’s an investment, and Gies has been around for over 100 years and Coursera has been around for a while, too. These are trusted institutions, and you won’t come out of the program unchanged. You’ll be more capable, more confident. You just have to commit.
How was your experience with online learning?
It was flexible. There were live lessons, but if I couldn’t attend, I could watch them later. That made things manageable.
For Nigerian learners, the cost is a key consideration. Seeing tuition fees listed in thousands of dollars can be overwhelming, after all, that’s about 20 million naira without a scholarship! But it’s important to note that the fees aren’t paid all at once. It’s a pay-as-you-go model, which makes it much more manageable and accessible.
Did you face any struggles during the program?
Getting promoted twice also meant way more work. Toward the end, I was like… “Oh noo.” (laughs) Some live sessions were at 2 AM Nigerian time, and I couldn’t always attend, also because my workload had increased. It was tough, especially as my role expanded, but I got through it.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Just that it’s definitely doable. I was still managing my own business on the side—not full scale, but still. And I finished in a year. As you can see, I’m still alive! (laughs) But seriously, even if you do it in two years, it’s completely achievable and worthwhile.
