Emily Thiel Email & Phone Number

The connections between people, language and the technology that is invariably a part of our lives is what I love learning about and putting into practice. I always did well in English and history during school. Where there was writing, I loved to do it. I studied for a BA in English and Socio-Informatics, and throughout my degree I have worked in jobs that span from writing articles for travel companies, creating content plans and helping with community management on various social media sites. Studying Socio-Informatics at Stellenbosch University, which falls under the Department of Information Science, challenged me because it did not come naturally. I thoroughly enjoyed learning new skills and have learnt to understand how these logical, methodical-thinking skills can link together with my creative brain which loves words and problem-solving.Since 2021 I have been working at BDO South Africa within the Financial Services Technology division, gaining experience in IT audit and risk assurance I have a deep understanding of IT systems, networks and databases and a proven track record in identifying, evaluating and mitigating potential risks across technology controls areas. I have written papers around FinTech development in Africa and have successfully combined my writing and technology skills. During my tenure at BDO, I have completed 18 months of virtual secondment with BDO UK, where I have expanded my portfolio and worked on audits across Financial Services and various other industry areas for both BDO SA and BDO UK. Additionally, I have been an active member and leader of the Women in Tech initiative as well as the Community Service Initiative where we have held many events, fundraisers and opportunities to highlight women in a technology space, from grassroots to senior-leadership level.