Digital Product Manager

Employment

• Independent consultant

   

  2013  -  Present

  ICT Consultant

  A pragmatic, commercially-focused Technologist who will do what it takes to get results. I have enjoyed focused roles across the IT life-cycle, as well as extensive User-centric Product Management, and am most effective in a strategic, cross-functional role. While I can be described as a Senior ICT Manager, I contribute a broader range of skills and experience than those of solely Technology or Management.

• Direct Axis

   

  2013  -  Present

  Senior Business Analyst &: UX Lead

  A key team member responsible for delivery of the strategic Digital Transformation Programme. Responsible for conducting User Requirements Definition for the Loan Origination Value Chain, selecting the technology solution and implementing customer-centric, transformational processes.

• Mxit

   

  2012  -  2012

  User Experience Designer (UX)

  Responsible for defining the user-experience across Mxit’s mobile chat product on iOS, Android, Blackberry, J2ME and Windows Phone 8. Drive the refresh of the user interface on smart-phones with trending design and interaction patterns towards a consistent and engaging experience. Set product features, prioritisation and release planning for each agile product release using user-centred design.

• Blue Leaf Games

   

  2010  -  2012

  Digital Product Manager (Mobile games)

  Responsible for all aspects of bringing innovative products to market, including conceptualisation, product design, business modelling, protyping, product launch, customer acquisition, product monetization and market expansion. Daily hands-on involvement in programme delivery including agile project management, product back-log grooming, release planning and feature prioritisation across multiple products. Also managed all aspects of client projects on mobile platforms from scope definition, sales and proposals through to rapid prototypes and user-interaction design.

• Self employed

   

  2010  -  2010

  Digital Product Manager (Mobile applications)

  Independently produced mobile applications on iOS and Nokia QT platforms for the South African mobile consumer. Focussed on geo-location and hyper-local content, including social media components. Platform offered turn-by-turn based routing for the Tourism and Real Estate industries. Managed entire product life-cycle with multiple 3rd parties from conception, product design, flow, user interaction, sales & marketing, product launch, user acquisistion and product profitability. Coached and managed a software development team on Scrum for improved project delivery.

• 24.com

   

  2007  -  2009

  Software Development Manager

  Responsibilities were to plan, source, deliver and manage the technical architecture, standards and developer resources necessary to deliver on the strategic plan for South Africa's largest web-site offerings. Ensure consistency and set standards in the selection, design, architecture, implementation and performance of underlying technology. Work with the Project Office and Product Managers to deliver innovative IT products to sites like News24.com. Form and manage strategic vendor and partner relationships. Plan and develop competencies of IT professionals, and manage and develop a high performance team and manage the multi-million Rand budgets.

• Media24 Digital

   

  2005  -  2007

  IT Manager

  Key deliverables included managing the technical architecture, standards and engineering resources necessary to deliver on the strategic plan, within the parameters of cost and reliability. Directing the implementation and management of physical IT infrastructure initiatives within agreed SLAs. Co-ordinate and programme manage the delivery of IT services for the Operational, Development, Analyst and Design teams as well as strategic vendors. Manage all related multi-million Rand budget and resources.

• 20twenty Financial Services

   

  2000  -  2004

  Business Intelligence Lead

  Held multiple roles, beginning as a Senior Business Analyst and Project Manager to deliver on multiple projects from product design, business process definitions, system implementation, business operations, call-centre set-up. System Analyst responsibilities included leading a 7-person test team regarding system configuration, testing, release planning and implementation with the bank clearing houses and MasterCard networks. Final responsibilities were to set-up and lead the customer/business intelligence team to deliver business insights around customer behaviour, as well as advanced segmentation analysis for marketing-led campaigns.

• Ernst & Young (UK)

   

  1998  -  1999

  Senior IT Consultant (Architecture)

  Joined the London team to consult on technical projects related to large corporate architectures, working on projects in the insurance, financial services, energy and public sector. Responsible for project management, business analysis and delivery on technical architecture definition, eCommerce and CRM solutions and major systems integration around ERP systems.

• Ernst & Young (South Africa)

   

  1995  -  1997

  Business Process Consultant

  Entry-level consulting position with broad exposure across the business value chain, as well as the consulting disciplines of visioning, workshop facilitation, sales proposals and business case development, project management, process analysis and improvement and organisational change management. Project-based initiatives were around improving business processes, managing teams on strategy, analysis and implementation of focused improvement projects and system design for new business ventures. Industries worked in included financial services, telecoms, insurance, retail and asset management.

Education

• University of Cape Town

   

  1994  -  1994

  B. Commerce (Information Systems Honours)

  Graduated with a 1st class pass of 79%, having achieved 1st place in the annual software development assignment and 3rd place for a thesis on Business Process Re-engineering.

• University of Cape Town

   

  1990  -  1993

  B. Commerce (Information Systems)

  Received 1st-class pass for Information Systems throughout the undergraduate degree. Achieved 1st place finish for final year software development project.

• St. George's College (Zimbabwe)

   

  1984  -  1989

  IGCSE A' Levels'

  Completed passes in A-level for Accountancy, Economics, Advanced Mathmatics.