As we move into 2026, I wanted to pause and document an important milestone in my professional journey — one that reflects years of deliberate learning across enterprise architecture, cloud computing, security, project management, and engineering practice.
This journey is not about collecting badges, but about building depth, integration, and leadership capability across complex technology ecosystems.
TOGAF® Enterprise Architect – Cleared in January
I started the year strong by clearing the TOGAF® Enterprise Architecture certification in January.
TOGAF has helped me strengthen how I think about:
- Enterprise-wide architecture alignment
- Business–IT strategy integration
- Governance, capability-based planning, and roadmaps
- Translating business goals into sustainable architectures
This certification sharpened my ability to operate at a strategic and systems-thinking level, especially in large, multi-stakeholder environments.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
Cloud architecture remains a core pillar of modern enterprises.
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification validated my ability to:
- Design scalable, resilient, and secure cloud architectures
- Make cost-aware architectural decisions
- Handle complex, multi-account and hybrid environments
- Apply architectural best practices under real-world constraints
This complements enterprise architecture by grounding strategy in practical, deployable solutions.
CISSP® – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Security is not optional — it is foundational.
With CISSP, I deepened my understanding of:
- Risk management and governance
- Security architecture and engineering
- Identity, access, and asset protection
- Secure system lifecycle practices
This certification strengthened my ability to embed security into architecture, rather than treat it as an afterthought.
PMP® – Project Management Professional
Strong architecture still needs strong execution.
The PMP certification reinforced:
- Structured project and program delivery
- Stakeholder and risk management
- Predictable execution in complex environments
- Leadership across cross-functional teams
It ensures that architectural vision is delivered effectively, not just designed well.
P.Eng (Professional Engineers Ontario)
The P.Eng designation represents professional accountability, ethics, and engineering rigor.
It reinforces:
- Public trust and professional responsibility
- Engineering judgment and governance
- Long-term sustainability and safety considerations
This designation anchors technical leadership in professional standards and responsibility.
What’s Next?
This journey naturally raises the question: what’s next?
Rather than rushing to the next certification, the focus going forward is on:
- Applying these disciplines together, not in isolation
- Leading architecture and transformation initiatives
- Mentoring and guiding teams
- Driving outcomes, not just frameworks
The goal is impact — architecting systems, organizations, and teams that scale responsibly and securely.