Medupe Mashala

Authorization Optimization

• Analyze transaction flows and identify patterns affecting authorization rates across MasterCard and Visa.
• Collaborate with issuing banks, processors, and network partners to improve approval rates.
• Implement A/B testing and machine learning models to fine-tune authorization logic.
• Monitor KPIs such as approval rate, decline reasons, and latency to drive performance improvements.

Fraud Strategy Development

• Design and execute fraud mitigation strategies using data analytics, threat intelligence, and behavioral modeling.
• Partner with fraud operations, compliance, and external vendors to deploy cutting-edge fraud detection tools.
• Stay ahead of emerging fraud trends (e.g., synthetic identity, account takeover) and adapt product defenses accordingly.
• Lead incident response planning and post-event analysis to continuously refine fraud protocols.

Product Leadership

• Own the product roadmap for card payment risk and fraud solutions.
• Translate customer and market insights into actionable product features.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, data science, legal, and customer support teams.
• Represent the product in client meetings, industry forums, and regulatory discussions.

Product Strategy & Innovation

• Developed and executed payment product strategies aligned with the bank’s digital transformation goals and customer needs.
• Conducted market intelligence and competitor benchmarking to identify emerging technologies and trends in the payments landscape.
• Built business cases for new product innovations and enhancements, with clear ROI and risk assessments.

Financial Performance & Cost Management

• Monitored and managed product-level P&L, ensuring cost efficiency and revenue optimization.
• Collaborated with Finance and Risk teams to forecast performance and identify growth levers.

Project Leadership & Prioritization

• Influenced prioritization of payment-related initiatives across digital channels, core banking systems, and customer touchpoints.
• Led cross-functional teams in the delivery of payment projects, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and timelines.

Stakeholder & Vendor Engagement

• Established and nurtured relationships with internal stakeholders, payment networks, fintech partners, and third-party vendors.
• Negotiated service-level agreements and ensure vendor compliance with regulatory and operational standards.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensured all payment products and processes comply with local and international banking regulations (e.g., SARB, PASA, PCI-DSS).
• Championed audit readiness, data privacy, and fraud prevention protocols across the payment ecosystem.

Product Development & Lifecycle Management

• Supported the design, development, and rollout of a modernized card issuing system, including virtual and physical card.
• Translated business requirements into functional specifications in collaboration with engineering and operations teams.
• Monitored product performance and customer feedback to identify opportunities for enhancement.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Worked closely with Product Managers, Compliance, Risk, and Technology teams to ensure alignment on product goals and delivery timelines.

• Developed and presented robust business cases to support the design and implementation of new solutions, product enhancements, and system upgrades.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into scalable, customer-centric card issuing solutions.
• Identified inefficiencies and implemented process improvements to reduce operational costs and eliminate waste.
• Applied fresh insights and creative problem-solving to enhance system capabilities and organizational agility.
• Supported end-to-end delivery of modernization initiatives, including virtual card provisioning, API integration, and platform migration.
• Ensured seamless coordination between business, technology, and vendor teams throughout the solution lifecycle.
  

• Estimate and execute all approved development and configuration items and ensure delivery according to business requirements documentation.
• Worked with users and stakeholders to analyze and validate requirements.
• Negotiate and liaise between business teams, technology teams, and support teams to deliver projects.
• Deliver cost-effective, high-performance technology solutions.

• Successfully completed training assignments
• Analyzing existing systems and offering new ideas for improvement
• Offered effective execution of responsibilities by way of timely and careful planning, updating and reporting of relevant information.