Forgotten Pyramids: My Journey from Sudan to America and “World” through SOLIDWORKS

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Note: the following blog was written by Sudanese SOLIDWORKS user group leader and CSWE Mohammed Almojtaba Ezadeen.

 

As a Sudanese, my first encounter with SOLIDWORKS was through 3DEXPERIENCE World while I was a Mechanical Engineering student at the Sudan University of Science and Technology. Given that Sudan had been under American technology sanctions for over 30 years, I often dreamt of myself running alongside Joe Lance while the audience hurried to their seats.

My journey from Sudan to America was quite unusual, especially considering the difficulties Sudanese people face when applying for American visas. Being a SOLIDWORKS Group Leader afforded me the opportunity to attend the 3DEXPERIENCE World 2023 in Nashville, but obtaining a visa proved challenging.

I traveled to Madagascar to secure one, but due to a technical issue, my passport was delayed, preventing me from attending the conference that year. The silver lining was that I eventually received my visa, and a few months later, I was invited to another conference in Miami. However, just two days after arriving in Miami, civil war erupted in Sudan, which continues to this day.

While I was in America, I had the chance to attend the 3DEXPERIENCE World 2024 in Dallas. I arrived in Dallas three days before the event, having traveled from Ames, Iowa, where I was staying at the time.

That’s when the surprises began. I posted about my presence in Dallas on my LinkedIn profile and soon started meeting familiar faces from the SOLIDWORKS community, including SOLIDWORKS Champions. The first person I met was Yahya from Egypt, after I completed an Alpha Testing session. Among the notable individuals I observed was SOLIDWORKS  Champion Eric Beatty. We then explored the Convention Center and met SOLIDWORKS employee Sean O’Neill. Yahya and I were among the first to receive our conference badges.

As a SOLIDWORKS User Group Leader and SOLIDWORKS Champion, I was fortunate to have valuable connections within the community, which allowed me to fully benefit from the conference. The atmosphere there felt like one big family. Everyone truly deserved the title of “Champion” for their ability to break down barriers for newcomers, helping them build connections, get involved, and share their extensive knowledge. One highlight of the conference was the CAD Monkey Dinner—a community gathering that felt more like a family reunion.

During the three days of the conference, my schedule was packed with various sessions and activities. I participated in giving tips and tricksand also shared my SOLIDWORKS Certification journey and explained how it transformed my life as a person from Sudan.

The experience was exhilarating and full of adventure. I was very active on LinkedIn and received recognition from several attendees. Ironically, I volunteered to be a SOLIDWORKS Ambassador on Joe Lance’s recommendation and was able to assist other first-timers, even though I was a first-timer myself.

One of the greatest benefits I gained from this journey was the opportunity to network. I met and engaged with numerous individuals, including experts and influencers from various industries within the SOLIDWORKS community.

In conclusion, having experienced many events, I encourage you to create your own story. To enhance your experience, here are a few tips:

  • If you see an Ambassador, they are the ideal person to guide you through the conference.
  • Don’t hesitate to visit the Hive. It’s a great place to meet newcomers and connect. You’ll also find SOLIDWORKS User Group leaders there, who are highly experienced, friendly, and ready to offer guidance.
  • Plan your sessions in advance. If you find that a seminar or session isn’t to your liking, don’t hesitate to switch to another—your time is valuable.
  • If you miss something on the first day, make an effort to catch up on the second day.
  • Most importantly, enjoy yourself, have fun, and make new friends.
SOLIDWORKS

SOLIDWORKS

Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate, publish, and manage your data. SolidWorks products are easy to learn and use, and work together to help you design products better, faster, and more cost-effectively. The SolidWorks focus on ease-of-use allows more engineers, designers and other technology professionals than ever before to take advantage of 3D in bringing their designs to life.
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