Thea Du Plessis
Certified Scrum Master And Techology Team Lead
Pretoria
Summary
Experienced Scrum Master with proven track record of successfully leading teams in developing high-quality software solutions. Skilled in multiple Agile methodologies, stakeholder management and sprint planning. Highly organized in managing complex projects with multiple deadlines.
Well-versed in building positive relationships with customers and other stakeholders. Strong requirements gathering, scope development and inventory coordination abilities. Skilled at overseeing complex, high-value technical projects with excellent planning competencies. Successfully aligning internal and external technical resources to provide consistent and reliable progress toward business goals. Proponent of human-centric management approach and owner of deep technological expertise. Adept at combining scientific tools and common sense to maintain uptimes and exceed service level agreements.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Scrum Master and Team Lead - Combi/ Debit Card
Absa Bank - Everyday Banking
Pretoria, South Africa
10.2019 - Current
- Direct and supervise a team of 14 engaged in new product development and development support.
- Fulfilling all team lead responsibilities, managing performance, monitoring progress towards goals, organize team activities, develop team strengths and improve weaknesses.
- General team HR activities such as performance reviews, leave planning, development plans.
- Optimized resource allocation by identifying and addressing bottlenecks in project workflows, leading to reduced time-to-market for product releases.
- Streamlined release processes through close coordination between development teams and operations staff.
- Worked closely and listened to team members' feedback to identify issues and resolve conflicts.
- Encouraged cross-functional collaboration by organizing workshops and training sessions for different departments within the organization.
- Assessed and reported progress to stakeholders regularly, maintaining transparency throughout the project lifecycle.
- Managed risks and mitigated potential issues through proactive planning, monitoring, and timely decision making.
- Researched current trends to stay knowledgeable in Scrum methods.
- Improved team productivity by implementing efficient project management strategies and streamlining communication channels.
- Optimized resource allocation by analyzing team member skills and project requirements, resulting in increased efficiency.
- Implemented process improvements that led to reduced turnaround times for critical tasks without compromising quality.
- Promoted a positive work environment by fostering teamwork, open communication, and employee recognition initiatives.
- Spearheaded multiple high-impact projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines under pressure-packed situations.
- Increased customer satisfaction by ensuring timely completion of projects and adherence to high-quality standards.
- Enhanced overall team performance by providing regular coaching, feedback, and skill development opportunities.
- Developed succession planning strategies to ensure continuity of leadership within the team and facilitate smooth transitions during organizational changes.
- Collaborated with other department leads to streamline workflows, improve interdepartmental coordination, and achieve business goals collectively.
- Led cross-functional projects for successful project execution while maintaining strong collaboration among team members.
- Acted as go-to resource for engineering team, providing clarity on tasks, gathering missing assets or requirements and handling project changes.
- Evangelized Agile as strategic asset of culture and business value.
- Coached teams in Agile practices and provided necessary training to create positive mindset to Agile methodologies.
- Facilitated Scrum framework – sprint planning, backlog grooming, daily scrums, sprint reviews, and sprint retrospectives.
Systems Analyst - Debit Card
Absa Bank - Everyday Banking
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2017 - 09.2019
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions for business requirements and challenges.
- Created detailed documentation for both internal reference and client-facing presentations, improving communication between stakeholders.
- Led a team of developers in the successful completion of large-scale projects, fostering a positive work environment.
- Mentored junior analysts on best practices in systems analysis techniques, contributing to their professional growth.
- Implemented strategic IT initiatives, contributing to overall company growth and success.
- Enhanced system efficiency by identifying and resolving complex technical issues.
- Established effective relationships with key stakeholders across departments to facilitate collaboration on critical projects.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously, consistently meeting deadlines and budget constraints.
- Provided client support on system operation and troubleshooting.
- Developed diagrams to describe and lay out logical operational steps.
- Gathered requirements and performed gap analysis through design workshops with users.
- Defined and documented scope of projects for distribution to team.
Business Analyst - Transactional
Absa - Bank
Johannesburg, South Africa
10.2014 - 12.2016
- Manage constant change through innovation by translating customer needs into new products, services and functionality.
- Conducted interviews with key business users to collect information on business processes and user requirements.
- Interacted with internal customers to understand business needs and translate into requirements and project scope.
- Provide functional, non-functional and service level requirements, Business Requirement Definition documents , use cases, test cases and test strategy etc. based on the evaluations, meetings, assessments and requirements analysis undertaken during the earlier stages of the project analysis stages.
- Ensured compliance with internal and industry regulations by conducting thorough risk assessments and implementing necessary controls.
- Enabled data-driven decision making with advanced analytics tools, generating valuable insights for the organization.
- Actively participated in team meetings to share knowledge, exchange ideas, address challenges, and collaborate on potential solutions.
- Developed high-quality documentation to support training efforts, helping employees fully understand new systems, functionalities and procedures.
- Enhanced company-wide decision-making by developing comprehensive reports on key performance indicators.
- Facilitated change management initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions during organizational transformations.
- Implemented best-practice methodologies that improved overall project delivery timelines while maintaining quality standards.
- Improved business processes by analyzing current practices and recommending optimization strategies.
- Analyzed key aspects of business to evaluate factors driving results and summarized into presentations.
- Co-ordinate user acceptance testing, by involving both business users and IT staff documenting all results and where required perform User Acceptance Testing (UAT) as undertaken and stipulated by the Africa Technology methodology.
- Partake in Product verification testing (PVT) documenting results and report anomalies
Senior Product Specialist - Fleet Card
Absa Bank - Fleet Card
Johannesburg, South Africa
07.2004 - 09.2012
- Industry Fleet card representative and PASA representative
- Customer requirements analysis and documentation
- Customized products according to client specifications, ensuring exceptional user experiences across diverse industries.
- Compile business cases
- Managing budgets for various projects while maintaining strict adherence to financial constraints, resulting in cost-efficient outcomes.
- Established a comprehensive product roadmap, guiding successful execution of short-and long-term goals.
- Championed innovative solutions by staying informed on industry trends and emerging technologies.
- Enhanced product performance by identifying and addressing customer needs through thorough market research.
- Drove consistent revenue growth by cultivating strong relationships with key industry partners and clients.
- Assisted sales teams with technical expertise during presentations, leading to increased conversions from prospects to customers.
- Implemented risk mitigation strategies during product development stages, minimizing potential issues before launch.
- Contributed insights into competitor offerings, aiding in the development of unique value propositions that set our products apart.
- Streamlined communication channels between departments, fostering collaboration in pursuit of shared objectives.
- Secured valuable partnerships by representing the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events.
- Mentored junior team members towards professional growth, fostering an environment conducive to knowledge sharing.
- Developed comprehensive training materials, paving the way for smooth onboarding of new team members.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless product launches and updates.
- Liaised between customers and development team to design new product offerings.
- Collected and analyzed data from variety of sources to create detailed market research reports for top-level decision makers.
- Conducted primary and secondary research to better understand customer needs and behaviors.
- Established and managed relationships with external vendors and 3rd party service providers.
- Assembled reports and presentations to share insights and recommendations with stakeholders.
Key Accounts Manager
Absa Vehicle Management Solutions
Sandton, Johannesburg
11.2000 - 06.2004
- Assist and support companies and organizations in meeting their transportation requirements.
- Advise customers on financial options available in the market to meet their automotive needs.
- Advise customers on taking the best automotive leases.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams for seamless project execution and exceptional client service.
- Tracked key performance metrics regularly, ensuring constant improvement in account management strategies over time.
- Negotiated contract terms and pricing, securing profitable deals for the company.
- Conducted regular account reviews to monitor progress, identify cross sell opportunities, and address concerns.
- Delivered exceptional customer service by resolving client concerns quickly and efficiently.
- Monitored competitor activity within the industry, adjusting strategies accordingly to maintain a competitive edge in key accounts management.
- Mentored junior members of the team in key account management best practices, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth within the organization.
- Proactively identified potential issues within key accounts, taking corrective action to prevent loss of business or dissatisfaction.
- Negotiated contract renewals with existing clients, securing long-term commitment and fostering ongoing collaboration.
- Implemented strategic sales plans to achieve consistent revenue growth across key accounts.
- Analyzed market trends, identifying opportunities for expanding product offerings within key accounts.
- Maintained a high level of industry knowledge by attending relevant conferences, seminars, and workshops, contributing to the development of innovative solutions for clients.
- Improved account management by predicting potential competitive threats and outlining proactive solutions.
- Secured high-value accounts through consultative selling, effective customer solutions, and promoting compelling business opportunities.
Key Account Officer - Fleet Card
Absa Bank - Fleet Card
Pretoria, South Africa
05.1989 - 11.2000
- Responsibilities included: Client service consultant, payment allocations and reconciliations, collections and GL balancing for the first 7 years in the Fleet Card area.
- Key account offer role:
- Organized regular meetings with clients to discuss progress updates, future plans, and any challenges faced during collaboration periods.
- Established strong communication channels with customers, fostering long-lasting partnerships.
- Provided exceptional customer service by addressing concerns quickly and effectively, maintaining client trust in the company''s abilities.
- Identified growth opportunities for existing accounts through thorough market research and analysis.
- Developed tailored solutions for key accounts, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Trained junior team members on effective account management techniques, boosting team performance overall.
- Reduced delinquent accounts with diligent follow-ups, resulting in increased cash flow for the company.
- Consistently met or exceeded departmental goals for collections and recovery rates by employing effective techniques and strategies.
- Maintained detailed records of all collection activities, ensuring accuracy and timely reporting to management.
- Conducted thorough investigations into disputed invoices, ensuring accurate billing and prompt resolution of discrepancies.
- Negotiated payment plans with delinquent clients, facilitating timely repayments and preserving client relationships.
- Designed customized proposals that aligned with individual client objectives, leading to increased conversion rates.
- Collaborated closely with sales teams to ensure smooth handoffs of new accounts, facilitating seamless transitions from prospect to client status.
- Provided expert guidance to clients on industry best practices and trends, positioning them for success.
- Developed strong relationships with key stakeholders, fostering trust and loyalty among clients.
Education
Certified Scrum Master
Scaled Agile, Inc.
5400 Airport Blvd., Suite 300, Boulder, CO 80301 01.2023
Certification Business And Systems Analyst
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa2015
Certified Product Manager
Association of International Product Marketing & M
Johannesburg, South Africa2013
Bachelors of Commerce - Management
UNISA
Pretoria - South Africa 04.2001 -
Project Management Fundamentals
PM Academy
Advance Certificate Road Transport
Rand Afrikaans University
Skills
Sprint Planning
Resource Allocation
Workflow Analysis
Lean principles
Stakeholder Management
Team Leadership
Technical understanding
Timeline
Scrum Master and Team Lead - Combi/ Debit Card
Absa Bank - Everyday Banking
10.2019 - Current
Systems Analyst - Debit Card
Absa Bank - Everyday Banking
01.2017 - 09.2019
Business Analyst - Transactional
Absa - Bank
10.2014 - 12.2016
Senior Product Specialist - Fleet Card
Absa Bank - Fleet Card
07.2004 - 09.2012
Bachelors of Commerce - Management
UNISA
04.2001 -
Key Accounts Manager
Absa Vehicle Management Solutions
11.2000 - 06.2004
Key Account Officer - Fleet Card
Absa Bank - Fleet Card
05.1989 - 11.2000
Certified Scrum Master
Scaled Agile, Inc.
Certification Business And Systems Analyst
University of Cape Town
Certified Product Manager
Association of International Product Marketing & M
Project Management Fundamentals
PM Academy
Advance Certificate Road Transport
Rand Afrikaans University