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Work Background
WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News PublishersConsultant | Driving Strategic Member Value at The World Association of News Publishers
Mar. 2022Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, GermanyIn my role as Membership Manager, I drove strategic initiatives that transformed member engagement and created significant value through the design, development, and implementation of a comprehensive knowledge hub. This strategic platform was crafted to provide WAN-IFRA members with on-demand access to an extensive array of event content, including speaker presentations, audio and video recordings, webinar archives, and exclusive research insights. Key Responsibilities and Achievements: * Strategic Design & Implementation: Architected and directed the development of the knowledge hub, ensuring alignment with WAN-IFRA’s vision for member engagement and digital transformation. This initiative enhanced the membership value proposition by making critical content accessible to all members, regardless of event attendance. * Change Management Leadership: Led internal change management efforts to ensure seamless adoption of the new platform across the organization. This included training and empowering teams to effectively utilize the hub, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. * Cross-Border Collaboration: Collaborated with diverse teams across geographic boundaries to curate and deliver high-quality content from global media experts. This initiative not only democratized access to information but also reinforced WAN-IFRA’s position as a leader in the media industry. Through this strategic initiative, I empowered members to relive key insights and best practices from major events, such as the World News Media Conference, thereby elevating their professional development and organizational effectiveness. My experience in crafting and executing this transformative project underscores my ability to create strategic value, drive change, and lead cross-functional teams in achieving impactful outcomes.
WAN-IFRA Women in NewsConsultant | Driving Digital Transformation & Strategic Value in Media Through Innovation
Mar. 2021 - Mar. 2022Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaAt WAN-IFRA's media development NGO, Women in News (WIN), I through digital transformation and business innovation, I created strategic value for our partners, the organization, and funding stakeholders, advancing gender equality and inclusion in the media industry toward a more equitable and financially sustainable media landscape. As a key contributor, I co-developed and led the Digital ABC program designed to equip media professionals globally with essential skills to navigate the digital landscape and drive change within their organisations and enhance their competitive advantage. One of my significant achievements was the design and implementation of a Digital Maturity Rapid Diagnostic assessment tool - based on five pillars and the corresponding indicators that fall within each that mark a stable, digitally mature business: Customer, Strategy, Technology, Operations and Organisation & Culture. This strategic resource established baseline metrics to assess and track the digital maturity of WIN's media partners. Providing compelling evidence of progress to our funding partners reinforced WIN's reputation in stewardship and enhanced our ability to secure ongoing support. As the technical lead for a comprehensive business process automation and data migration project, I streamlined business intelligence and MREL reporting processes, enhancing operational efficiency and accuracy in the reporting cycle. This initiative measures the long-term impact of WIN's programs on media development partners, providing funders with peace of mind that their contributions were making a real difference in the lives of recipients, driving equality and inclusion in media. Facilitated transformative roundtable discussions on critical business transformation topics equipping industry stakeholders with skills and insights needed to navigate disruptions and unlock new growth opportunities.
Ulu Strategy and Property Consulting Director: Innovation and Strategy Consultancy
Sep. 2019Pretoria, Gauteng, South AfricaStrategic Vision. Transformative Leadership. Proven Results. As the founder of Ulu Consulting, I leverage my expertise as a technologist, strategist, and futurist to drive impactful change. My approach blends strategic foresight and digital transformation to empower forward-thinking organizations and deliver tangible value to stakeholders. Key Achievements & Expertise: At WAN-IFRA, I led the creation of a comprehensive knowledge hub, establishing WAN-IFRA as a strategic authority and enhancing member experiences by providing access to exclusive insights and research. This initiative reinforced our value proposition and commitment to continuous learning within the media industry. At Women in News (WIN), I co-developed the Digital ABC program to equip global media professionals with essential digital skills and led the design of a Digital Maturity Rapid Diagnostic tool, establishing metrics that secured ongoing funding support and validated our impact. During my tenure in Dubai, I served as a Founding Partner and Lead Strategist for Kauai Middle East, formulating and executing a market entry strategy to successfully launch the brand’s flagship store in the UAE. In a consulting role at SEPHORA, I developed a strategy that doubled haircare sales in three years, demonstrating my ability to drive revenue growth through strategic innovation. I also facilitated industry roundtables, equipping stakeholders with actionable insights to navigate disruption and unlock new growth opportunities. If you’re seeking a strategic partner to drive transformative growth, let’s connect and collaborate for success.
Old Mutual LimitedOffice of the CIO: IT Governance and Strategy
Oct. 2018 - Aug. 2019Cape Town Area, South AfricaDuring my time at Old Mutual Limited, I played a key role in facilitating digital transformation, strategic capacity building, and cultural shifts towards embracing 4IR technologies, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data. Through expert guidance and strategic IT planning, I anticipated technology trends in the marketplace and navigated them successfully, including valuable partnerships with Azure, AWS, Dynatrace, and other industry leaders. As the owner of the overall group Technology action plan, I ensured alignment with the leadership team to drive organizational growth. In my role, I was responsible for managing the IT Strategy program budget, overseeing R100 million in 2018 and R92 million in 2019. My contributions extended to producing Exco and Board reports, providing strategic recommendations, best practices, benchmarking, trends, and risk assessments to inform decision-making processes pertaining to IT Governance and Strategy, considering the financial services industry as a whole. I also designed change management plans to effectively communicate the IT strategy and vision within Group IT, ensuring widespread buy-in and adoption.
Old Mutual LimitedWealth Technology Manager | Wealth Tech Innovation Forum Chairperson
Jul. 2017 - Sep. 2018Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaAs the Head of the Unit Trust IT team, I led a dynamic group of over 30 staff members (excluding contractors and service providers) responsible for overseeing the Old Mutual Investment Assets and Old Mutual Unit Trust IT function across multiple regions, including South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and 3rd party clients. With an accompanying operations budget of R30 million in FY 2017/18, I drove operational excellence and innovation in the wealth technology domain. My experience at Old Mutual Limited has been invaluable, allowing me to contribute to transformative initiatives and embrace cutting-edge technologies. If you are interested in exploring innovative approaches to IT governance, strategic planning, and wealth technology, I would be delighted to connect and discuss potential collaborations. Let's pave the way for future success in the financial services industry.
Media24 (Pty) LtdStakeholder Engagement Specialist
Apr. 2016 - Apr. 2017Johannesburg Metropolitan AreaAs Media24's Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, I played a pivotal role in driving new business development initiatives that leveraged Media24's digital and print reach across various sectors, including Public and Private, through News, Lifestyle (Magazines), Logistics, and Book Publisher properties. Reporting directly to the Head of Corporate Affairs, I executed "business-unusual" projects to strengthen stakeholder relationships and foster strategic partnerships.
Media24 (Pty) LtdApex Future Leader: Revenue Growth and Innovation Strategist
Apr. 2014 - Apr. 2017Cape Town Area, South AfricaSelected as an Apex Future Leader, I participated in Media24's prestigious General Manager development program, attending enriching Masterclasses at Duke University and UCT Graduate School of Business. My mandate was to identify new business opportunities, create innovative concepts for revenue diversification, and address the challenges of declining print revenue. During my tenure, I successfully developed and executed a revenue growth strategy for a tabloid newspaper, leading to a remarkable increase in advertising revenue by R30 million (11%) within a year. As a testament to the strategy's efficacy, the publication exceeded expected advertising revenues for the first quarter by an impressive R5 million. My time at Media24 has been an exciting journey of innovation and strategic leadership, fueling my passion for driving revenue growth and fostering a culture of continuous innovation. If you are keen on exploring revenue optimization strategies and expanding your business horizons, I'd love to connect and explore potential collaborations. Let's unlock new possibilities for growth together.
Tsogo SunCo-founder | Operations : Montecasino grassroots fast food outlet
Sep. 2013 - Mar. 2014Johannesburg, Gauteng, South AfricaAs a co-founder, I spearheaded the start-up of a family-run grassroots fast-food business catering to the service staff of Monte Casino in Johannesburg. Overseeing all aspects of General Operations, including HR, Finance, Marketing, and Procurement, I successfully managed the fast-food outlet, serving an impressive footfall of 3000 grassroots patrons per month.
Kauai Middle EastExpatriate: Dubai Greenfields Founding Partner and Lead Strategist
Jul. 2012 - Jul. 2013Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDuring my tenure as an expatriate in Dubai, I played a pivotal role as a Founding Partner and Lead Strategist for the entry of the healthy South African fast-food concept, Kauai, into the United Arab Emirates market. I formulated a robust market entry strategy, brokered the deal across three continents, and successfully registered the parent company in the British Virgin Islands and a subsidiary in the UAE. The flagship store in Dubai marked the foundation of Kauai's presence in the region.
SEPHORAConsultant: Growth and Innovation Strategist
May. 2012 - Jul. 2012San Francisco, California, United StatesIn a consulting capacity, I collaborated with SEPHORA, a San Francisco-based Fortune 500 Company and subsidiary of Louis Vuitton, known for their leadership in cosmetics across the US, Canada, the UAE, and Europe. My expertise as a Growth and Innovation Strategist was recognized with an award for the best growth and innovation strategy, aimed at doubling their haircare sales within three years. My innovative approach and strategic insights contributed to driving substantial revenue growth for the company. My experiences as a co-founder, strategist, and consultant have ignited my passion for entrepreneurial ventures and fueled my commitment to driving growth and innovation in diverse markets. If you're interested in exploring new business opportunities and strategic partnerships, let's connect and embark on a transformative journey together.
MTNGroup IT Transformation Programme Manager
Jan. 2008 - May. 2012Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDuring my tenure at MTN, I played a crucial role as the Group IT Transformation Programme Manager, contributing significantly to the implementation of a robust and integrated ICT strategy aligned with MTN Group's Technology vision. My focus was on delivering high-functioning, innovative, reliable, and cost-effective technology solutions to drive business transformation through technology. Managing strategic enterprise-wide projects and group-wide programs, I was responsible for EXCO reporting, committees, and conferences, fostering cross-functional collaboration across 22 countries in the Middle East and Africa.
MTNProduct Manager and Enterprise Systems Manager
Apr. 2006 - Dec. 2007Tehran Province, IranIn an exciting expatriation opportunity, I led a greenfields start-up in Iran, establishing the people, processes, and technology to support the regulatory-required Document Management system for KYC purposes. This successful endeavor became the blueprint and standard for the entire MTN Group. Additionally, I played a key role in facilitating the business's growth, taking it from a start-up to 10 million subscribers within two years.
MTNSystem Analyst
Sep. 2003 - Mar. 2006City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South AfricaAs a System Analyst, I served as the product owner for crucial systems, including Fraud Management, Subscriber Management, and MTN Foundation Systems. My responsibilities extended to sitting on the Change Approval and Problem Management Boards, overseeing technical programming and development by third-party vendors, and performing program design and analysis. My experience at MTN has equipped me with a deep understanding of driving transformational IT initiatives and fostering organizational growth through innovative technology solutions. I am passionate about leveraging technology to create a positive impact on businesses and customers alike. Let's connect to explore ways to drive digital transformation and achieve new milestones together.
Eskom Holdings SOC LtdAnalyst Developer, Product Manager and Change Agent
Jul. 1999 - Aug. 2003Johannesburg Area, South AfricaDuring my tenure at Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, I held a diverse range of roles, including Analyst Developer, Product Manager, and Change Agent. As an Analyst Developer, I played a key role in developing the front-end Graphic User Interface and basic functionality for porting Public Health Systems from DOS to Windows. This endeavour contributed to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the systems, paving the way for modernisation. In my capacity as Product Manager, I took charge of the Treasury systems and Fixed Asset Database. Here, I successfully managed the product lifecycle, from ideation to execution, ensuring seamless functionality and meeting the organisation's financial needs. Furthermore, I embraced the role of Change Agent, actively driving positive transformation within the organisation. My efforts centered around implementing change initiatives that improved processes, productivity, and overall performance. My time at Eskom Holdings provided me with invaluable experience in technical development, product management, and driving organisational change. I am passionate about leveraging technology and innovative strategies to create lasting impact and drive continuous improvement. Let's connect to explore how I can contribute to your organisation's growth and success.
UNION CATERERS HOLDINGSExecutive Events Management
Oct. 1995 - Jul. 1999Gauteng, South AfricaDuring my tenure at UNION CATERERS HOLDINGS, I had the privilege of managing Executive Events of the highest caliber within the Food and Beverage Industry. These events were exclusive, prestigious, and catered to elite clientele, including prominent dignitaries and high-profile personalities. Notably, I was involved in orchestrating the following exceptional Executive Events: * The honorary dinner hosted by President Nelson Mandela in honor of the Queen of England at the State Theatre in Pretoria. * The state dinner hosted by President Nelson Mandela for President Fidel Castro at the Pretoria Presidential guesthouse. * The celebratory dinner at the Pretoria Presidential Guesthouse, hosted by President Nelson Mandela, to mark the victorious moment of the world cup soccer team. * An unforgettable event featuring the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr. Steve Tshwete, during the IAAF World Cup Athletics. These experiences provided me with a profound understanding of event management at the highest level, delivering meticulous attention to detail and ensuring the utmost satisfaction of distinguished guests. I am deeply passionate about creating memorable and seamless events that leave a lasting impression. Let's connect to explore how my expertise in Executive Events Management can elevate your future endeavours.
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