Zohra Ismail

• Optimized product functionality by identifying and solving complex design problems based on user research insights.
• Conducted extensive competitor analysis to identify opportunities for differentiation within the market landscape.
• Implemented design best practices to ensure seamless integration between visual aesthetics and technical functionality.
• Elevated brand identity through the creation of visually appealing and cohesive product designs.
• Reduced development time through rapid prototyping, iterative design, and efficient communication with stakeholders.
• Organized regular team brainstorming sessions which resulted in numerous creative ideas being implemented into final designs.
• Enhanced user experience by incorporating intuitive design elements and conducting thorough usability testing.
• Collaborated closely with marketing teams to develop impactful promotional materials that aligned with overall brand strategy.
• Streamlined product development processes by collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and implementing agile methodologies.
• Increased customer satisfaction by addressing user feedback and incorporating design improvements accordingly.
• Managed multiple projects effectively in demanding environment with tight deadlines.
• Brainstormed with peers and other members of design team to determine enhancements and product features.
• Suggested enhancements to product design that would improve user experience.
• Analyzed user feedback and implemented changes to product design.
• Wrote comprehensive user manuals for new products and additional technical documentation.
• Increased product accessibility by prioritizing inclusive design principles in all stages of development.
• Mentored junior designers, fostering a collaborative environment and promoting professional growth within the team.
• Continuously updated personal design skills by attending industry conferences and workshops, bringing new methodologies back to the team for implementation.
• Established strong relationships with external vendors, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality assets for various projects.
• Presented compelling design concepts to executive leadership, securing buy-in for key projects and initiatives.
• Managed cohesive design quality across multiple projects, adhering to prescribed themes and functional choices.
• Presented UX designs and solutions to senior staff, evangelizing for user-centric design decisions.
• Investigated competitor products and industry trends to stay ahead of the curve in creating cutting-edge UX designs.
• Achieved higher conversion rates with carefully crafted UI elements that align with brand guidelines while also meeting user expectations.
• Conducted regular usability testing sessions, gathering valuable feedback from users to inform iterative improvements on designs.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative and intuitive design solutions for complex web applications.
• Leveraged data-driven insights from analytics tools and user feedback, driving continuous improvements in UX design quality.
• Devised engaging wireframes and interactive prototypes, demonstrating key user journeys and interactions to stakeholders.
• Implemented best practices in accessibility, catering to diverse user needs and promoting inclusivity within product designs.
• Developed detailed documentation outlining design specifications and requirements for seamless handoff to development teams.
• Optimized navigation structures based on user feedback analysis resulting in reduced bounce rates on various web pages.
• Presented design concepts persuasively to stakeholders, securing buy-in for proposed solutions and driving project success.
• Monitored emerging UX design trends and practices for useful techniques and cutting-edge developments suitable for integration into future projects.
• Participated in design review meetings to brainstorm new UX developments through collaborative thinking.
• Applied both qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to continuously improve end-user experiences.
• Performed manual testing on UX design elements and complete UX designs, authoring feedback reports for use in future updates.
• Tested websites at different design and production stages to assess conformance with designs.

• Developed and managed application development roadmaps and project plans.
• Collaborated with Delivery Managers to coordinate activities related to the design, development, and implementation of software applications.
• Ensured timely and budget-compliant project delivery.
• Led and mentored the team, providing necessary resources and support for success.
• Guided the design and development team, ensuring adherence to coding standards and best practices.
• Supervised aspects of development teams such as hiring, training, salary administration and remedial assignments.
• Motivated and inspired the team to achieve project goals.
• Set team goals, objectives, and KPIs aligned with Group Technology strategic goals.
• Ensured team training and development needs were met.
• Participated in the Group IT Diversity and Transformation forum.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and various methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall.
• Stayed updated with technologies like IBM DataPower, Message Broker, and iBPM, and trends in application development.
• Provided specialized expertise in Integration Analysis and Design, utilizing tools such as Altova and EA Sparx.
• Collaborated with other departments to ensure Integration specifications aligned with business and project requirements.
• Identified and resolved technical issues during the development process.
• Communicated directly with project stakeholders, providing timely updates on project advancement.
• Collaborated effectively with other teams and departments.
• Identified areas for improvement in the application development process.
• Implemented best practices to ensure efficient and effective project delivery.
• Monitored and evaluated applications and systems' performance.
• Managed the budget for application development projects, ensuring spending remained within allocated limits.
• Identified and mitigated potential risks associated with application development and financial operations.
• Negotiated contracts with vendors, establishing clear terms, service level agreements (SLAs), and defined expectations.
• Monitored vendor performance against SLAs and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Conducted regular reviews of vendor performance to identify areas for improvement and ensure alignment with business needs.
• Maintained professional relationships with vendors to support long-term collaboration.
• Provided regular updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Engaged with senior executives, Program Managers, and Product Owners across Group Technology Portfolios to communicate delivery status.
• Executed executive direction and decisions effectively and efficiently.
• Developed a community of practice for knowledge sharing and skills transfer.
• Standardized work methods and aligned them with industry best practices.
• Promoted continuous improvement in work methods.
• Oversaw service governance and managed the Services Catalogue using
• Participated in governance forums as an advisory representative.
• Provided reports on the Enterprise Service Catalogue.
• Provided technical leadership of development for 4 simultaneous application services.
• Maintained on-time rate for developmental deliverables of 98 %.
• Formulated strategies for application development framework creation and developmental processes.
• Identified staff knowledge deficiencies, scheduling educational activities to correct gaps in previous training.
• Spearheaded technical discussion roundtables to track progress and optimize future resource distribution.
• Championed innovation within the team by fostering a culture of experimentation with emerging technologies and industry trends.
• Guided technical teams through system migrations ensuring minimal disruption while maintaining data integrity and system performance.
• Implemented cost-saving measures through proper budgeting, effective resource allocation planning, and proactive issue resolution efforts.
• Ensured compliance with security standards by incorporating secure coding practices throughout the development lifecycle.

• Placed at strategic client, namely Standard Bank SA, as Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Analyst role
• In the area of SOA Analysis, aligned Enterprise Services to Strategic Initiatives and its underlying business processes and high level business requirements
• Used the EA Sparx tool to model ERD, use cases and process flow
• Assisted with Service Identification by working closely with the Solution Architects, Project Analysts and Technical Leads to evaluate business requirements and determine where new Enterprise services or changes to existing were required
• Participated in the Integration Design review sessions and reviewed Conceptual Integration Architecture documents and other Integration Design deliverables as part of the Governance process; and contributed to Service Catalogue Maturity by completing Service Litmus Test and proposing of new services to the Service Design Authority
• In the area of Service Design, designed the Enterprise Service Contracts for the following services, namely; Authentication, Credential Management, Statement, Payment Plan, Account Management and Product Management
• Performed a level of Variability Analysis for the following Enterprise Services namely; Collection Management, Identification, Authentication, and Remittance Management Services
• Adopted and implemented standards and best practices such as IFX Canonical Model - performed detailed analysis of IFX Basic Object Structure and Object and Message construction patterns, in order to extend the canonical model.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for process improvement and increased efficiency.
• Streamlined reporting procedures by creating user-friendly dashboards for easy access to key performance indicators.

• Was a member of the Architecture & Design Services team, with focus on Enterprise Architecture solutions
• Compiled a business analysis training curriculum, and investigated feasible tooling for the methodology project
• Placed at strategic client, namely Standard Bank SA, to fulfill Business Analyst on the SOA Enterprise Program
• Participated in the WebSphere Services Registry and Repository (WSRR) Proof of Concept; and developed the Business Case and Functional System Specification for the implementation of WSRR V6.3
• Facilitated process workshops to ensure alignment of engagement process and WSRR Lifecycles; assisted in the compilation of training material, change management activities and education sessions for WSRR
• Developed the engagement process, defining the engagement of business and consumer projects with the SOA Centre of Excellence
• Facilitated and participated in SOA Governance workshops and implementation of SOA Governance
• Accountable for the delivery of the Service Testing Strategy and transformed the 'As Is' processes to future state process which was aligned to the business strategy
• Gathered technical service information and contributed to the Service Catalogue updates in WSRR and SharePoint
• Compiled and standardised templates for the SOA Centre of Excellence
• Mentored junior consultants, helping them enhance their skills and contribute more effectively to projects.
• Troubleshot issues by understanding issue, diagnosing root cause and coming up with effective solutions.
• Collaborated with internal teams to develop customized solutions that addressed unique client needs.
• Built strong relationships with clients through consistent communication and proactive problem-solving efforts.
• Developed innovative strategies to address complex business challenges, resulting in increased profitability for clients.
• Evaluated existing business processes, recommending improvements that led to increased operational efficiency.
• Presented findings and recommendations to executive-level stakeholders, effectively communicating key insights and action plans.
• Facilitated workshops with clients to identify pain points, establish goals, and define actionable steps towards achieving desired outcomes.
• Assessed needs for projects and made proposals to senior executives.

• This was a multi disciplinary learning program in all of the primary management disciplines at Gordon Institute of Business School, and required work in a variety of different roles across the Group Technology Division
• In the area of Process Management, provided process support to systems analysts working on development projects in the JEE environment
• Developed Rational Unified Process (RUP) Use Case guidelines, created a high level Project Assessment Framework for the Rational tool environment
• In the area of Human Development, established JEE Developer and Project Manager Communities of Practice and managed SharePoint portals
• Developed a PMBOK Project Management Assessment Framework
• Facilitated the assessment of Project Managers to the PMBOK
• Provided assessment feedback to Project Managers
• Developed a Project Management Skills Development Framework
• Developed a PMI Certification Framework
• In the area of Governance and Risk Management, facilitated the implementation of the SOX Management Self Assessment process
• Executed Design and Operational Effectiveness Testing Reporting
• Assessed and improved the validity and availability of documentation templates in the Software Development Lifecycle
• Working on Strategic Projects in Process and Lifecycle Automation, acted as Project Management Process Team Leader within a broader CMMI based Process Improvement initiative
• Contributed to the design of an end-to-end System Development Lifecycle - including associated document controls and templates - for Absa Group Technology, established alignment between this Lifecycle and others in the broader ABSA and Barclays Enterprise
• Co-ordinated across local and global stakeholder communities
• Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
• Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
• Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
• Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
• Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
• Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
• Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.

• Responsible for the co-ordination of the Microsoft End-user module/International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) at UNISA (Gauteng and KZN regions)
• Responsibilities included; Regional Academic ICDL and ICT coordination
• Computer Laboratory Staff Management
• ICDL Systems Administration
• Liaison between the various stakeholders (ICDL Foundation, ICDL Supplier, Customer and MANCO)
• Staff development - training and coaching
• Establishing regional satellite learning centers in Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle and the Wild Coast
• Compiling reports for various stakeholders

• Tutored first-year Information Systems students, designed training programs, developed lesson plans, and conducted tutorials..

• Prepared employee schedules according to individual needs and skills, as well as coverage requirements.
• Improved staff competency through continuous training programs and performance evaluations.
• Developed strong working relationships with other departments, ensuring seamless integration of laboratory services within the larger organizational ecosystem.
• Mentored junior staff members to foster professional growth, skill development, and career advancement opportunities within the organization.
• Instructed students on proper use and maintenance of equipment to prevent injuries.
• Promoted collaboration among team members through regular meetings, open communication channels, and team-building activities.
• Maintained equipment and facilities in good working order.
• Provided technical guidance and training to computer laboratory staff.
• Troubleshot and resolved equipment and process issues.
• Provided support and guidance to junior lab staff.
• Compiled weekly and monthly reports
• Managed budget effectively by monitoring expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities.

High school substitute teacher for :

• Mathematics - Grade 8-11
• General and Physical Science - Grade 8-10
• Computer Studies - Grade 8 -