Recommended expert
Ayanda Ntombela
Innovation & Technology Lead
Experience
Apr 2024 - Present
1 year 11 monthsInnovation & Technology Lead
Tanit New Earth Solutions
- Translated client briefings into structured implementation roadmaps for a new digital platform, coordinating UX, development, and QA teams across three time zones.
- Established iterative reviews and feedback loops to ensure usability and creative vision aligned with technical feasibility.
- Result: Developed a platform that strengthened customer engagement and positioned the company for future funding rounds.
Oct 2021 - Sep 2023
2 yearsStrategic Project Consultant
ILRI (CGIAR)
- Led digital agriculture projects in multiple countries, clarifying changing requirements through re-briefings and stakeholder workshops.
- Implemented agile project management methods in grant-funded initiatives, improving speed, transparency, and collaboration.
- Result: Increased predictability and partner trust, enabling teams to reliably hit milestones in complex environments.
Oct 2018 - Jan 2021
2 years 4 monthsInnovation & Scaling Expert
Welthungerhilfe
- Evaluated and designed digital pilot projects in India, Uganda, and Afghanistan, tailoring proposals to engage both funders and local partners.
- Coordinated design, development, and QA teams to ensure product iterations met both client vision and operational requirements.
- Result: Successfully scaled pilots into multi-year programs, strengthening the organization's credibility with donors.
Jul 2013 - Mar 2017
3 years 9 monthsSenior Product Manager – Digital Strategy
Ownpower Consulting
- Led the development of a SaaS platform, translating client concepts into structured project plans with clear milestones.
- Coordinated over eleven stakeholders from government, FinTech, and creative agencies to align expectations and deliverables.
- Result: Launched a platform that digitized processes and strengthened customer relationships.
Jan 2011 - Jun 2013
2 years 6 monthsSenior Innovation Analyst
Old Mutual (Global Division)
- Conducted market and user research for digital insurance initiatives across multiple African markets.
- Collaborated with technical and creative teams to develop mobile prototypes that balanced design ambitions with feasibility.
- Result: Supported strategic investment decisions and shaped the company's digital transformation agenda.
Industries Experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.
Experienced in Government and Administration (6 years), Information Technology (5.5 years), Banking and Finance (3.5 years), Insurance (2.5 years), and Agriculture (2 years).
Government and Administration
Information Technology
Banking and Finance
Insurance
Agriculture
Business Areas Experience
The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.
Experienced in Product Development (10.5 years), Project Management (8 years), Strategy (6 years), Quality Assurance (4 years), and Research and Development (2.5 years).
Product Development
Project Management
Strategy
Quality Assurance
Research and Development
Skills
- Venture Design & Validation
- Mvp Development
- No-code & Ai Tools (Bubble, Replit, Notion Ai)
- Innovation Strategy
- Digital Product Development
- Stakeholder Management
- Agile & Lean Delivery
- Business Model Development
- Team Leadership
- Project Management
Languages
English
NativeGerman
AdvancedEducation
Feb 2014 - Nov 2015
UCT Graduate School of Business
MPhil in Inclusive Innovation, with distinction · Inclusive Innovation · South Africa
Feb 2011 - Nov 2011
University of Cape Town
Postgraduate Diploma in Business & Systems Analysis, with distinction · Business & Systems Analysis · Cape Town, South Africa
Feb 2007 - Nov 2007
Stellenbosch University
B.A. Honours in International Relations (Political Science) · International Relations (Political Science) · Stellenbosch, South Africa
...and 2 more
Certifications & licenses
StartupBootCamp – Entrepreneur Fellowship
Amsterdam
Avant Now – Entrepreneur Fellowship
Berlin
Le Wagon Bootcamp – Data Science & ML
Berlin
Profile
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Frequently asked questions
Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.
Where is Ayanda based?
Ayanda is based in Berlin, Germany.
What languages does Ayanda speak?
Ayanda speaks the following languages: English (Native), German (Advanced).
How many years of experience does Ayanda have?
Ayanda has at least 12 years of experience. During this time, Ayanda has worked in at least 5 different roles and for 5 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 5 months. Note that Ayanda may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
What roles would Ayanda be best suited for?
Based on recent experience, Ayanda would be well-suited for roles such as: Innovation & Technology Lead, Strategic Project Consultant, Innovation & Scaling Expert.
What is Ayanda's latest experience?
Ayanda's most recent position is Innovation & Technology Lead at Tanit New Earth Solutions.
What companies has Ayanda worked for in recent years?
In recent years, Ayanda has worked for Tanit New Earth Solutions and ILRI (CGIAR).
Which industries is Ayanda most experienced in?
Ayanda is most experienced in industries like Government and Public Administration, Information Technology (IT), and Banking and Finance. Ayanda also has some experience in Insurance and Agriculture.
Which business areas is Ayanda most experienced in?
Ayanda is most experienced in business areas like Product Development, Project Management, and Strategy and Planning. Ayanda also has some experience in Quality Assurance (QA) and Research and Development (R&D).
Which industries has Ayanda worked in recently?
Ayanda has recently worked in industries like Agriculture and Information Technology (IT).
Which business areas has Ayanda worked in recently?
Ayanda has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Product Development, and Quality Assurance (QA).
What is Ayanda's education?
Ayanda holds a Master in Inclusive Innovation from UCT Graduate School of Business, a Bachelor in International Relations (Political Science) from Stellenbosch University, a Bachelor in International Relations (Political Science) from University of Helsinki and a Bachelor in Human Resource Management from Stellenbosch University.
Does Ayanda have any certificates?
Ayanda has 3 certificates. These include: StartupBootCamp – Entrepreneur Fellowship, Avant Now – Entrepreneur Fellowship, and Le Wagon Bootcamp – Data Science & ML.
What is the availability of Ayanda?
Ayanda is immediately available for suitable projects.
What is the rate of Ayanda?
Ayanda's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.
How to hire Ayanda?
To hire Ayanda, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.
Average rates for similar positions
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
1000
750
500
250
Market avg: 820-980 €
Market avg: 820-980 €
The rates shown represent the typical market range for freelancers in this position based on recent contracts on our platform.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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