Thandeka Thwala
Summary
Senior Data Scientist and Analytics professional with experience in machine learning, behavioural analytics, and credit risk in financial services. Skilled in designing, deploying, and optimising ML models for personalisation, retention, and credit decisioning, while mentoring data scientists across multiple African markets. Combining strong statistical foundations with product and stakeholder engagement to deliver measurable business impact.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work history
Manager, Data and Behavioural Science AR
Standard Bank South Africa
Rosebank
2022.09 - Current
- Owned the end-to-end design, development, and deployment of Machine Learning–driven personalisation triggers that generated actionable client leads across multiple African markets, enabling right-time, right-channel engagement.
- Defined and implemented the measurement and performance framework for the opportunity engagement portal, ensuring consistent tracking of model effectiveness, business impact, and adoption by relationship managers.
- Acted as product lead for the opportunity engagement portal, incorporating stakeholder feedback to prioritise enhancements that improved personalised client engagement and increased platform adoption.
- Oversaw the maintenance, optimisation, and scalability of the automated lead-generation and optimisation engine, ensuring reliability and alignment with evolving business priorities.
- Partnered with behavioural economists to translate behavioural insights into data and ML requirements, enabling experimentation and evidence-based personalisation strategies.
- Led capability building across fourteen African markets by training, mentoring, and supporting data scientists, aligning local personalisation strategies with a central ML and product vision.
Data Scientist II (Analytics), Retail Core Banking
FNB South Africa
Sandton, South Africa
2021.02 - 2022.09
- Designed and developed customer attrition prediction models using advanced machine learning techniques to identify at-risk customers and inform retention strategies.
- Conducted advanced segmentation analysis and propensity modelling to optimize RPCB retention and attrition campaign targeting, enhancing customer engagement and campaign effectiveness.
- Collaborated with the CVM team to streamline analytics processes and workflows, implementing automated solutions and best practices to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
- Managed the full lifecycle of productionalised attrition models including performance monitoring, model maintenance, stakeholder communication, and resolution of technical and business queries
Quantitative Analyst II (Collections), BCB
FNB South Africa
Johannesburg
2020.02 - 2021.01
- Conducted advanced analytics to inform and shape BCB's collections strategy and policy decisions.
- Automated manual reporting processes using Python and VBA to improv operational efficiency.
- Provided analytical support to recoveries and operations teams through data analysis and ad hoc query resolution.
- Developed and managed the credit card collections analytics portfolio including daily and monthly reporting frameworks.
Product Manager, Core Credit
TransUnion South Africa
Illovo
2019.06 - 2020.01
- Delivered product training to internal teams and external clients on TransUnion's Core Credit product suite.
- Managed end-to-end product launch processes for new Core Credit offerings.
- Resolved client and stakeholder queries regarding Core Credit products and functionalities.
- Developed and implemented product strategy and roadmaps for existing and new Core Credit products.
Credit Analyst, Data Science PBB
Standard Bank South Africa
Rosebank
2017.06 - 2019.05
- Developed statistical models and machine learning solutions to guide product houses on credit origination, account management, and collections strategies.
- Created and managed a bureau-agnostic characteristic universe to support SBSA's multi-bureau strategy.
- Conducted comprehensive bureau comparison analysis to identify data similarities and differences, informing credit decisioning and bureau selection strategies.
Intern, Customer Insights and Analytics
Standard Bank South Africa
Rosebank
2016.06 - 2017.05
- Built statistical models to drive data-driven marketing campaign design.
- Collaborated with cross-functional stakeholders on campaign development and execution.
- Generated leads for insurance and personal banking products through predictive modelling.
- Measured and reported on PBB SA campaign performance and effectiveness.
Education
Certificate of Higher Education - Business Analytics and AI: Decision-Making Using Data
University of Cambridge, Emeritus
2025 -
UCT Product Management Certificate
University of Cape Town, GetSmarter
2019 -
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics and Statistics
University of South Africa
2015 -
Skills
- End-to-end machine learning solutions for lead generation, retention, and churn prediction, delivering measurable business impact
- Advanced statistical modeling for credit risk assessment and customer behavior analysis
- Design and automation of scalable measurement frameworks and performance monitoring systems
- Translation of complex analytical insights into strategic recommendations for C-level stakeholders
- Languages & Tools: Python, SQL, SAS
- ML & Analytics: DataRobot, SAS Enterprise Miner, KNIME
Core Capabilities
Technical Expertise
- Data Engineering: Teradata Studio, data pipeline automation
- Visualization: Power BI, Excel/VBA for automated reporting
- End-to-end ownership of data science projects from scoping to production deployment
- Mentorship of junior data scientists on technical skills and analytical thinking
- Strategic consulting on credit optimisation and personalisation strategies
- Cross-functional stakeholder management and training on analytical tools and insights
Leadership & Delivery
Accomplishments
- Selected for the 2025/26 SheGeek Leadership Programme for women in STEM at Standard Bank.
- Recipient of two PAT Awards at TransUnion, recognising strong alignment with organisational values, including a special award for demonstrating initiative as a self-starter.
- Selected to attend the 2018 PBB SA Women in Leadership Conference.
- Nominated for the PBB SA Mark of Excellence Award (2017).
Timeline
Manager, Data and Behavioural Science AR
Standard Bank South Africa
2022.09 - Current
Data Scientist II (Analytics), Retail Core Banking
FNB South Africa
2021.02 - 2022.09
Quantitative Analyst II (Collections), BCB
FNB South Africa
2020.02 - 2021.01
Product Manager, Core Credit
TransUnion South Africa
2019.06 - 2020.01
Credit Analyst, Data Science PBB
Standard Bank South Africa
2017.06 - 2019.05
Intern, Customer Insights and Analytics
Standard Bank South Africa
2016.06 - 2017.05
Certificate of Higher Education - Business Analytics and AI: Decision-Making Using Data
University of Cambridge, Emeritus
2025 -
UCT Product Management Certificate
University of Cape Town, GetSmarter
2019 -
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics and Statistics
University of South Africa
2015 -