TechTrends Africa Exclusive: Cynthia Duru on DevOps, Cloud Innovation, and Empowering Women in Tech

Cynthia Duru, a dynamic DevOps Engineer at VISA UK, is at the forefront of transforming fintech through automation, collaboration, and cutting-edge technology. With a passion for building resilient systems, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring seamless and secure payment solutions for millions worldwide. 

Here’s her interview with TechTrends Africa. 

TechTrends Africa: What sparked your interest in DevOps, and what drives your passion for it today?

Cynthia Duru: My fascination with DevOps began when I realized how it bridges the gap between coding and infrastructure, enabling faster and more reliable software delivery. I loved the idea of automating repetitive tasks to let teams focus on innovation.

Today, working at VISA UK fuels my passion. I’m part of a mission to power global transactions, and seeing my work ensure system reliability for millions of users is incredibly motivating. The fast-paced nature of DevOps, with new tools and challenges, keeps me excited to learn and grow. 

TechTrends Africa: As a Nigerian woman in a global tech role, what challenges have you faced, and how did you navigate them?

Cynthia Duru: One challenge was overcoming stereotypes in a field where women are underrepresented. Early in my career, I had to work extra hard to prove my technical expertise. I tackled this by earning certifications like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer and focusing on delivering measurable results.

Relocating to the UK also brought cultural and professional adjustments. I leaned on communities like Women in DevOps and Nigerian tech forums for support. Building a strong network and staying adaptable helped me thrive in a competitive global environment. 

TechTrends Africa: What defines a top-tier DevOps Engineer, and how can African youth develop these skills?

Cynthia Duru: A standout DevOps Engineer is proactive, collaborative, and solution-focused. Proactivity means anticipating issues before they arise, collaboration fosters teamwork across departments, and a solution-focused mindset ensures you’re always solving real problems.

African youth can start by mastering foundational skills like Linux, Python, and cloud platforms. Free resources like Coursera, Udemy, and open-source projects on GitHub are accessible entry points. I also recommend experimenting with tools like Docker and Jenkins in personal projects. Joining tech communities and seeking mentorship can accelerate growth. 

TechTrends Africa: VISA UK operates in a high-stakes fintech environment. How do you ensure your DevOps practices meet these demands?

Cynthia Duru: Fintech requires precision, security, and scalability. At VISA, I focus on automating workflows to reduce human error and enhance system uptime. For instance, we use Infrastructure as Code to ensure consistent deployments and rigorous monitoring tools like Grafana to track performance.

I also prioritize compliance with global standards, working closely with security teams to embed best practices into our pipelines. By understanding the payment ecosystem, I design solutions that are both efficient and trustworthy, ensuring a seamless experience for users. 

TechTrends Africa: Which DevOps tools or trends have had the biggest impact on your work?

Cynthia Duru: Kubernetes has been a game-changer for managing containerized applications at scale, while tools like Terraform make infrastructure management seamless. I’m also a fan of ArgoCD for GitOps, which streamlines deployments.

A key trend is the rise of AIOps—using AI to predict and resolve system issues proactively. Another is serverless computing, which simplifies scaling. Keeping up with these advancements allows me to build robust systems that meet VISA’s global demands. 

TechTrends Africa: How do you balance the push for innovation with the need for system stability in fintech?

Cynthia Duru: Stability is the foundation of fintech, but innovation drives progress. I balance the two by adopting a phased approach—testing new tools or processes in isolated environments before production. For example, when exploring a new CI/CD tool, we run parallel tests to ensure it doesn’t disrupt existing workflows.

Collaboration with cross-functional teams also helps. By aligning with developers and compliance experts early, I ensure innovations are practical and secure, maintaining VISA’s high standards while pushing boundaries. 

TechTrends Africa: Collaboration is a cornerstone of DevOps. How do you foster effective teamwork in your role?

Cynthia Duru: DevOps thrives on shared goals, so I prioritize open communication. I use tools like Confluence to document processes and hold regular stand-ups with developers, testers, and product managers. This ensures everyone understands the pipeline and can provide input.

I also advocate for a blame-free culture where teams learn from incidents rather than pointing fingers. By fostering trust and transparency, we deliver faster and build systems that everyone takes pride in. 

TechTrends Africa: What’s your next career milestone as a DevOps Engineer?

Cynthia Duru: I’m eager to dive deeper into cloud-native architectures and explore how AI can optimize DevOps workflows. On a personal level, I want to empower more Africans in tech. I’m planning to create a platform offering free DevOps tutorials and mentorship for Nigerian youth, particularly women, to break into the industry.

My goal is to inspire the next generation to see DevOps as a viable and exciting career path. 

TechTrends Africa: What’s your vision for the future of DevOps in Africa’s tech ecosystem?

Cynthia Duru: I envision Africa as a hub for DevOps innovation, with engineers building solutions tailored to our unique challenges, like mobile-first infrastructure and affordable cloud adoption. Nigeria’s tech talent is immense, but we need more investment in education and access to tools.

By fostering collaboration between startups, universities, and global tech firms, we can create a pipeline of skilled DevOps professionals. I believe African engineers will soon lead the charge in creating scalable, inclusive tech solutions for the world. 

TechTrends Africa: What advice do you have for young Africans aiming for a DevOps career?

Cynthia Duru: First, build a solid foundation—learn the basics of cloud, automation, and version control. Start small with projects like setting up a personal website using AWS or Azure.

Second, embrace hands-on learning. Break and fix things in a safe environment to understand systems deeply.

Third, connect with the community. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are great for finding mentors and staying updated.

Finally, don’t be afraid to start. The tech world rewards those who take initiative, so dive in and keep iterating. 

Cynthia Duru’s trailblazing work at VISA UK and her commitment to uplifting African tech talent make her a powerful force in the global DevOps landscape. Her story is a testament to the impact of dedication, skill, and a vision for a brighter tech future.