General Info
Professional Track
- Information Technology
Country
South AfricaAreas of Expertise
- Engineering, Mechanical
- Information Systems Management
- Data Mining and Analytics
Professional Interests
- Automation and robotics
- Data science and analytics platforms and visualisation tools for business intelligence
- Educational digital platforms for improving digital fluency of suitably qualified candidates
Age
27The Top Three Things I Would Like to Learn or Experience During my Mentorship
- Develop innovative leadership capabilities through exposure to the latest technologies and delivery methodologies in order to swiftly recognize and explore business opportunities provided by ICT, as well as the best approaches to embedding an innovative culture within an organization.
- Improve creative technical leadership and project management capabilities and learn how to develop and manage new, innovative products whilst leveraging methodologies like agile and DevOps.
- Enhance knowledge and expertise on the successful creation and management of a modernised non-profit organization that leverages intelligent insights and creates compelling user experiences to maximise social impact.
Ideal Company Type
Ideally a medium to large company that has a clear strategy to meet market and business needs and solves complex challenges, has strong values underpinned by innovation and learning, recognizes the power of diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment, and has successfully embedded methodologies like agile, DevOps, and design thinking as part of their delivery culture. Given my passion for innovation and optimization and my drive to maximize social impact, my ideal host company will have an established CSI that focuses on skills development through digital educational platforms and leverages technologies like big data and analytics to strengthen their impact.
Certifications
- Gordan Institute of Business Science, BP Graduate Development Programme
Programming Languages
- MATLAB
- Python
Additional Technical Skills
As an IT&S member, I leveraged the function's learning offer to upskill my Agile Project Management skills through a case study based curriculum, as well as develop customer centricity and design thinking skills through an e-learning course. I am currently focusing on my Hadoop programming skills (beginner level) by joining small focused learning groups leveraging in-house expertise on various data topics. As a project engineer, safety becomes critical, hence I am a qualified control of work permit issuer, trained to supervise and manage high risk activities by applying risk and hazard identification and mitigation techniques.
What impact will your mentorship have on your career and professional path?
My critical developmental areas are management of a nonprofit organization and innovative technical leadership. The mentorship will provide opportunities for me to experientially learn and apply these critical areas through exposure to a myriad of diverse, passionate, and experienced leaders who will enrich my knowledge, hence empowering me with the relevant foundational skills required to pursue my goals. The personalized nature of the program provides an appropriate environment to engage with mentors in a meaningful manner and a relevant context, helping shape new perspectives on realistically achieving my goals and overcoming the challenges that women in STEM careers face.
What will be your most valuable contribution to your TechWomen host company?
My host company will gain value from my authenticity as a leader and capability as a technical professional. As a leader I value honesty, inclusion and entrepreneurial spirit. In South Africa, diversity is inexorable; as such my experiences have ignited a desire and boldness in me to build strong relationships based on honesty and strive towards creating an inclusive environment. My work ethic is distinguished by a thirst to learn, to improve and to passionately pursue innovative yet simple solutions to problems. Further value can be derived from the combination of my engineering, IT skills and knowledge of emerging technologies.
After participating in the TechWomen program, how will you leverage your mentorship experience to make an impact in your home country?
Every woman deserves the right to economic prosperity and the benefits of technology. I will use my experience to pursue my moral commitment to improve the digital fluency of women through the establishment of a nonprofit that will educate female domestic workers in South Africa. I am driven by the vision of using technology to lift these women out of poverty by creating opportunities for them to advance further. The overall experience will prepare me to be an instrumental leader equipped to change the social paradigms that disable the next generation of young female leaders and entrepreneurs.
Work History
Years of Full-time Work Experience
6Primary Professional Focus
- Managing technical employees
- Technical project and program manager
Current/Most Recent Job
- Title and Company: IT&S Business Interface Specialist, BP Southern Africa
- Direct Reports: none
- Type: Full-time
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Dates: December 1, 2016 –
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Responsibilities:
Accountable for providing all IT&S offerings to the retail business unit; responsible for advising on technological advancements that can accelerate business modernization and transformation; acting as single point of entry for technological demands, ensuring effective demand prioritisation; application of agile and design thinking principles; implementing stakeholder management and alignment between business and IT&S; responsible for the definition, approach, facilitation and completion of medium-scale projects (typically with direct business impact and firm deadlines); facilitation of scoping for change initiatives of medium size and complexity; supporting senior management to ensure that all work packages are aligned to expected benefits
Job #2
- Title and Company: Engineering Projects Coordinator, Air BP
- Type: Full-time
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Dates: February 4, 2013 – November 30, 2016
-
Responsibilities:
Provided technical guidance and professional engineering and project management services to Air BP; provided specific engineering support for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of mechanical systems, aviation fuelling equipment and fixed/mobile storage facilities; was responsible for the end-to-end management and delivery of multi-disciplinary projects, which ranged in complexity and geographical location; managed capital budgets ranging from 200k to 800k USD, and demonstrated safety leadership and visibility through site supervision for mechanical, civil, construction and electrical work and thorough risk identification and management; provided assurance and verification to business of engineering compliance and conducted, recorded and tracked engineering compliance assessments.
Job #3
- Title and Company: SAMUN provincial debating coach, Education Africa
- Type: Part-time
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Dates: February 2, 2009 – November 30, 2010
-
Responsibilities:
Developed the diplomatic communication skills of young aspiring leaders through the South African Model United Nations debating program; travelled to various cities and provinces within South Africa to facilitate workshops and coach teams on solving critical global issues, and equip them with skills to conduct themselves in an ambassadorial manner; enhanced mentorship skills by leveraging opportunities to influence future leaders of South Africa.
Education History
Highest Level of Education Completed
Bachelor'sInstitution #1
- Institution: University of Witwatersrand
- Degree Awarded: Bachelor's
- Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Minor:
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Completion Date: December 1, 2012