Neda Smith Email & Phone Number

Johannesburg, Gp, Za

Johannesburg Metropolitan Area

With more than 15 years of dedicated experience in IT leadership, I offer a rich blend of strategic acumen and adept problem-solving capabilities. Demonstrated through a consistent track record, I excel in harmonizing technology endeavors with overarching business objectives, driving growth and operational prowess. My comprehensive skill set spans strategic leadership, risk mitigation, resource maximization, policy formulation, business analysis, and adept IT operations management.

City Of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

As the Divisional Director of IT, I've led dynamic transformations within the organization, focusing on both risk management and innovative growth.🔹 IT Risk Management: Orchestrated comprehensive strategies for aligning security posture with international standards, maintaining IT risk registers, and ensuring compliance (e.g., PCI DSS). Regularly reported to the Board on risk assessments and compliance.🔹 Strategic Project Delivery: Collaborated with various business functions… Show more As the Divisional Director of IT, I've led dynamic transformations within the organization, focusing on both risk management and innovative growth.🔹 IT Risk Management: Orchestrated comprehensive strategies for aligning security posture with international standards, maintaining IT risk registers, and ensuring compliance (e.g., PCI DSS). Regularly reported to the Board on risk assessments and compliance.🔹 Strategic Project Delivery: Collaborated with various business functions to identify and drive key projects. Enhanced revenue, streamlined operations, and increased guest satisfaction through smart technology solutions.🔹 Team & Vendor Management: Managed a robust in-house team and leveraged six outsource partners, creating a well-integrated IT unit.🔹 Budget Oversight: Monitored and optimized the IT budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to meet business goals.🔹 Policy & Framework Development: Revamped existing IT policies and implemented a new project management framework. Addressed critical areas like remote working, security, and privacy.🔹 System Uptime & SLA Management: Ensured high availability of business applications and enforced supplier SLAs within service level agreements, maintaining top-notch system performance. Show less

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

In my role as an Independent Consultant, I took on transformative IT projects, delivering significant value to various organizations:🔹 Strategic IT Infrastructure Refresh: Partnered with a major client's CIO to lead an end-to-end overhaul of their IT infrastructure. My involvement spanned:• High-Level Design: Crafted the architecture and technical roadmap to meet organizational goals.• Budget & Procurement: Managed the budget, tender processes, and equipment procurement… Show more In my role as an Independent Consultant, I took on transformative IT projects, delivering significant value to various organizations:🔹 Strategic IT Infrastructure Refresh: Partnered with a major client's CIO to lead an end-to-end overhaul of their IT infrastructure. My involvement spanned:• High-Level Design: Crafted the architecture and technical roadmap to meet organizational goals.• Budget & Procurement: Managed the budget, tender processes, and equipment procurement, ensuring alignment with project requirements.• Smooth Implementation: Oversaw the installation phase, driving the project to completion, and ensuring a seamless handover.My commitment to excellence and hands-on management approach led to the successful execution of these initiatives, reinforcing my reputation as a trusted IT consultant. Show less

Johannesburg, South Africa

In a dynamic and challenging role at Dimension Data, I spearheaded IT operations across emerging markets, overseeing a diverse region encompassing countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. My contributions included:🔹 Regional IT Strategy & Standardization: Led efforts to harmonize IT infrastructure and practices across multiple offices. Worked closely with cross-functional teams to create and enforce robust IT… Show more In a dynamic and challenging role at Dimension Data, I spearheaded IT operations across emerging markets, overseeing a diverse region encompassing countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. My contributions included:🔹 Regional IT Strategy & Standardization: Led efforts to harmonize IT infrastructure and practices across multiple offices. Worked closely with cross-functional teams to create and enforce robust IT policies, procedures, and best practices.🔹 Performance Optimization & Innovation: Conducted continuous assessments of IT systems, identifying and implementing improvements that enhanced efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and innovation in IT operations.🔹 Relationship Management: Built and nurtured relationships with key stakeholders, including regional IT teams, senior management, and external partners.🔹 Infrastructure Expansion: Directed the IT infrastructure roll-out for new offices in Ghana and Oman, overseeing planning, implementation, and successful establishment.🔹 Centralized Payroll Project: Led a monumental project to roll out a unified payroll and HRIS system across 16 companies. Ensured a seamless transition, resulting in enhanced efficiency and accuracy.🔹 Governance & Compliance: Championed the implementation of NTT governance controls, aligned with corporate standards, and executed internal audit remediation plans.🔹 Process Streamlining & Cost Control: Innovatively streamlined processes, centralized essential functions like payroll and leave management, and executed projects worth USD 130,000, achieving significant savings and adhering to budget and timelines.Throughout my tenure, I effectively balanced the complexities of a multi-country role, driving strategic initiatives that advanced Dimension Data's position in emerging markets. Show less

Tanzania

As the Country Manager for Dimension Data in Tanzania, I was entrusted with the task of aligning local operations with the group's overarching strategy. My leadership spanned various key functions, with highlights including:🔹 Strategic Alignment: Steered the Tanzanian operations in line with broader organizational goals, managing intricate aspects like sales targets, financial reporting, finance, services marketing, HR, solutions, and logistics.🔹 Financial Oversight:… Show more As the Country Manager for Dimension Data in Tanzania, I was entrusted with the task of aligning local operations with the group's overarching strategy. My leadership spanned various key functions, with highlights including:🔹 Strategic Alignment: Steered the Tanzanian operations in line with broader organizational goals, managing intricate aspects like sales targets, financial reporting, finance, services marketing, HR, solutions, and logistics.🔹 Financial Oversight: Demonstrated fiscal acumen by setting and tracking annual budgets, ensuring that financial targets were consistently met.🔹 Team & Revenue Growth: Remarkably grew the company from a one-person team to 13 employees within four years. Implemented sales strategies that increased revenue.🔹 Business Transformation: Led the strategic shift from an equipment-only business to a services-focused company, expanding offerings and introducing annuity services to foster long-term customer relationships.🔹 Customer Base Optimization: Conducted an in-depth customer base analysis and rationalized it to prioritize multinational businesses, centering efforts on high-value accounts.Through visionary leadership, commitment to growth, and a customer-centric approach, I played a pivotal role in transforming the Tanzania operation, positioning it as a thriving entity within the group's portfolio. Show less

Tanzania

In my role as Business Development Manager for MEA Emerging Markets at Dimension Data, I was instrumental in fostering growth and driving alignment across regional operations. My key responsibilities and successes included:🔹 Regional Expansion: Collaborated with country Managing Directors to establish new offices in Angola, Namibia, Nigeria, and East Africa, contributing significantly to the footprint expansion in emerging markets.🔹 Integration Leadership: Played a vital role… Show more In my role as Business Development Manager for MEA Emerging Markets at Dimension Data, I was instrumental in fostering growth and driving alignment across regional operations. My key responsibilities and successes included:🔹 Regional Expansion: Collaborated with country Managing Directors to establish new offices in Angola, Namibia, Nigeria, and East Africa, contributing significantly to the footprint expansion in emerging markets.🔹 Integration Leadership: Played a vital role in the smooth transition of newly acquired companies to Dimension Data. This included the critical alignment of regional offices and ensuring their integration into the existing framework.🔹 Cross-Functional Coordination: Worked closely with various departments to harmonize processes, systems, and branding, leveraging the synergies that resulted from the acquisitions. This involved alignment with Dimension Data South Africa on multiple fronts, including vendors, HR policies, marketing strategies, and solution offerings.🔹 Strategic Alignment: Spearheaded efforts to ensure that new and existing offices operated cohesively, in line with the company's broader goals and brand vision.Through collaboration, strategic thinking, and a clear focus on alignment, I supported Dimension Data's growth trajectory in emerging markets, creating an integrated network of offices that were well-positioned to thrive. Show less

In my position as Solutions Architect for MEA Emerging Markets at Dimension Data, I served as an innovative leader and strategic thinker, crafting tailored solutions for distinguished clients across the region. My main achievements and responsibilities included:🔹 Solution Development: Conceptualized, designed, and presented customized IT solutions to major clients, including prominent organizations and government bodies, addressing their unique challenges and demands.🔹 Client… Show more In my position as Solutions Architect for MEA Emerging Markets at Dimension Data, I served as an innovative leader and strategic thinker, crafting tailored solutions for distinguished clients across the region. My main achievements and responsibilities included:🔹 Solution Development: Conceptualized, designed, and presented customized IT solutions to major clients, including prominent organizations and government bodies, addressing their unique challenges and demands.🔹 Client Collaboration: Worked closely with significant entities such as the Kezner Group, the Kenyan Ministry of Finance, and the Ethiopia Telecommunications Corporation. My expertise in understanding client needs and industry dynamics enabled the creation of solutions that were highly aligned with their goals.🔹 Value Proposition Creation: Led the development of a new value proposition targeting service providers and public sector organizations across emerging African markets for all Dimension Data brands. This initiative laid the groundwork for expanding services to new sectors and regions.🔹 Technological Insight: Leveraged an understanding of emerging technologies, coupled with a keen awareness of industry trends, to devise solutions that were both forward-thinking and adaptable to changing landscapes.Through a blend of technical acumen, client engagement, and strategic planning, I played a pivotal role in enhancing Dimension Data's presence in emerging markets, creating value for both the company and our clients. Show less

Cape Town, South Africa

Dimension Data Leadership Development Programme

Executive Develpment, Management Development Programme

Bachelor’S Degree, Computer Science

High School, Matriculation