Sarah Leshwange
Cape Town
Summary
Strategic Senior Project and Programme Manager with over 20 years' experience delivering complex technology, SaaS, fintech, digital transformation and enterprise programmes across South Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and North America.
Experienced in leading global delivery teams, managing large client portfolios, improving PMO maturity, implementing governance frameworks and delivering complex multi-million-rand programmes for global financial institutions and enterprise organisations.
Known for building trusted executive relationships, improving operational efficiency, leading organisational change and successfully delivering programmes involving software implementation, regulatory compliance, data governance, product enhancement and enterprise transformation.
Extensive experience working within Agile and Waterfall environments while managing budgets, forecasts, vendors, distributed teams and executive stakeholders.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Manager
Kurtosys
Cape Town
09.2025 - 05.2026
- Deliver end-to-end client programmes from initiation through implementation and successful transition to business-as-usual.
- Manage multiple concurrent global projects across several time zones.
- Lead geographically distributed teams comprising Product, Engineering, QA, Client Success and Operations.
- Build trusted relationships with senior executives, steering committees and client leadership teams.
- Facilitate programme governance through RAID management, budgeting, forecasting and executive reporting.
- Manage project financials, resource allocation, capacity planning and delivery forecasting.
- Coordinate Agile ceremonies while supporting hybrid and Waterfall delivery models.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across PMO governance and project delivery processes.
- Oversee change requests, scope management and release planning.
- Produce executive dashboards and portfolio reporting for senior leadership.
- Ensure regulatory and information security requirements are incorporated into project delivery.
Senior Project Manager
Confluence
Cape Town
05.2022 - 06.2025
- Led enterprise software implementation programmes, ensuring alignment with client requirements and business objectives.
- Managed global client portfolios across Europe, the UK and South Africa, fostering strong client relationships and driving project success.
- Coordinated cross-functional delivery teams to achieve timely and effective project delivery, meeting client expectations and regulatory standards.
- Managed programme budgets, forecasts and financial reporting.
- Coordinated cross-functional delivery teams.
- Delivered SaaS implementations and regulatory reporting solutions.
- Oversaw identification and management of risks, dependencies, and change requests throughout project lifecycle.
- Produced executive dashboards and portfolio reporting.
Senior Project Manager
Bankserv
Johannesburg
04.2021 - 04.2022
- Delivered multiple strategic banking programmes, enhancing operational efficiency across departments.
- Implemented Oracle CRM integration, streamlining customer relationship management processes.
- Managed POPIA regulatory implementation, ensuring compliance with data protection standards.
- Managed POPIA regulatory implementation.
- Directed Agile and Waterfall project delivery.
- Managed executive stakeholders and vendors.
- Implemented SWIFT-related initiatives to improve financial transactions.
Program Manager
LTI
Johannesburg
09.2019 - 04.2021
- Managed enterprise technology programmes to align with strategic objectives and enhance overall project outcomes.
- Implemented PMO governance frameworks to standardise processes and improve project oversight.
- Improved delivery consistency across multiple workstreams.
- Guided project managers in developing skills and knowledge to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Managed offshore delivery teams.
Skills
Senior Project Delivery
Programme & Portfolio Management
PMO Leadership & Governance
Budget Management & Forecasting
Risk & Issue Management
Change Management
Resource and Capacity Planning
Agile Scrum Waterfall
SaaS Implementations
Digital Transformation
Financial Services & FinTech
Portfolio Reporting
Product Delivery
Client Relationship Management
Executive Stakeholder Management
Confluence
Jira
Salesforce
Microsoft Project
Oracle ERP & CRM
Process Improvement
Operational Excellence
Strategic Planning
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
Kurtosys
09.2025 - 05.2026
Senior Project Manager
Confluence
05.2022 - 06.2025
Senior Project Manager
Bankserv
04.2021 - 04.2022
Program Manager
LTI
09.2019 - 04.2021