Shabnam is a CA (SA) and seasoned Banking Executive who has held multiple leadership roles over the past 24 years within Business & Commercial Banking spanning first and second line defense.

During her articles at Deloitte her clients spanned, manufacturing, public sector and financial institutions in South Africa and New York.

She is well known as a Credit Risk Expert and her practical skills in Transformation, Business re-engineering, and Business process optimisation has now culminated in her joining forces with her co-founders to drive transition and transformation across the Financial Services sector. She remains vested in growing and supporting individuals with their career ambitions and views the development of SME’s as a key growth factor for the South African economy.

Her hope for the future is to raise the next generation as globally conscious citizens.

Pooven is a qualified CA (SA) with Big 4 articles and has experience in Telecommunications, FMCG, Healthcare, Education, Technology and Financial Services, with extensive experience across Africa. She has mastered the art of providing bespoke services to large listed Global, Private and Public Sector clients.

Her strong business acumen and sound technical knowledge, coupled with her ability to thrive in highly pressurized environments, has been an asset to many companies in transformation and handling crises. 

She has been responsible for managing external and internal audit processes throughout her career and has expertise across Governance, Risk and Finance Management.

Her keen desire to support the success of more medium-sized enterprises within South Africa has led to her co-founding Net0 and enables her to continue mentoring individuals whom she has encountered over her 25-year career.

Saudah Hamid has over 23 years’ experience across global multinational matrix organisations, within the Banking, Information Technology, Telecommunication and Management Consulting Industry.

She has been responsible for BCBS239 (RDARR) Compliance across 18 legal entities managing external and internal audit processes. She is known for effective management of teams and the successful timeous delivery of large-scale programmes, projects.

Her practical skills in Compliance, Technology, Innovation, Transformation and Business re-engineering have culminated in starting her own Technology company SA AT Play in 2021 and now joining forces with likeminded women with a key aim to drive impactful sustainable outcomes delivering innovative solutions at the same time developing the youth in technology.

She has more recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business, Diploma in Management of Technology and Innovation and International Sustainable Business Advisor (IASE ISB) Certification.

Lessons she has learned:

• it takes a bit of time to create the first solution, but it becomes easier once the learning is acquired.
• Surround yourself with likeminded women as there is so much to leverage and learn
• partnerships are an essential part of growth.

She believes it’s important to:

• empower yourself with knowledge and skills, never too old to learn.
• believe women have the power and potential to run businesses that are impactful.
• contribute to local economic growth and encourage development, job creation and sustainability.
• use available technology to make things simpler.