Natasha Hodzi
Product Manager/ Business Analyst
With over 14 years of cross-industry experience in product management, business analysis, data analytics, and QA, I bring a rare combination of strategic thinking, technical insight, and delivery excellence. I’ve led cross-functional teams, built and scaled core banking and insurance platforms, and driven measurable results in client acquisition, product performance, and operational efficiency. My certifications in Scrum, SAFe, and Data Science, combined with a strong academic foundation in Information Systems and Economics, enable me to bridge business and technology with clarity and purpose. I deliver value by aligning teams, simplifying complexity, and building solutions that make a real impact.
Product Management & Strategy
I bring a strong track record of leading end-to-end product development across core banking, fintech, and insurance platforms. At OpenFactor, I led the successful delivery of the FinSys Core Banking Solution and MInsure Health Platform, and managed high-impact client solutions for Access Bank, FCMB, and Globus Bank—resulting in measurable gains in client acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency.-Strategic Roadmapping: Owned and executed product roadmaps aligned to business goals and market opportunities.-Client-Focused Innovation: Translated complex customer needs into actionable features and improvements that deliver real value.-Market Insight: Conducted market and competitive analysis to guide product positioning and inform strategic decisions.-Cross-Functional Leadership: Directed teams of Product Analysts, a Product Owner, and graduate interns to drive consistent delivery across agile squads.-Outcome-Driven Delivery: Achieved results such as a 25% increase in client acquisition and a 15% reduction in product-related issues through user-centric enhancements.With deep industry knowledge and a strategic mindset, I align product vision with execution to build solutions that scale, compete, and deliver impact.
Business & Data Analysis
Over a decade of experience translating complex business requirements into actionable solutions across banking, telecoms, and insurance. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, process mapping, and data-driven decision-making.-Business Analysis: Extensive experience in requirements elicitation, functional specifications, process optimization, and solution design across major financial institutions including Nedbank, ABSA, and Bidvest Bank.-Data Analysis & Reporting: Proficient in SQL, Power BI, and Tableau—used to build dashboards, perform root cause analysis, and deliver insights to guide strategy, product performance, and operational efficiency.
-Regulatory & Compliance Projects: Delivered data-heavy security and risk initiatives such as PAM, DLP, and AML monitoring, aligning solutions with governance and compliance standards.-Process Improvement: Led initiatives to automate workflows, improve change control, and enhance reporting accuracy, including production change governance and dashboarding using Splunk and Excel.-Leadership: Managed and mentored teams of analysts, providing guidance on data interpretation, documentation standards, and stakeholder collaboration.This blend of business and data expertise enables you to bridge the gap between operational needs, technology, and measurable outcomes.
Agile Delivery & Leadership
Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex products using agile methodologies. Certified in Scrum, SAFe, and Agile Requirements Foundations, with hands-on experience implementing agile practices across banking and tech environments.-Team Leadership: Manage a team of 12, including a Product Owner, Product Analysts, and graduate interns—providing direction, mentorship, and coaching to drive delivery excellence.-Agile Execution: Practical experience running Scrum, Kanban, and Scaled Agile (SAFe) frameworks, ensuring iterative delivery, continuous feedback, and stakeholder alignment.-Cross-Functional Collaboration: Skilled at facilitating communication between product, design, engineering, and business teams, ensuring shared goals and clear priorities.-Agile Tooling & Practices: Proficient in JIRA, Confluence, Miro, and Azure DevOps for backlog management, sprint planning, and collaboration.-Change Enablement: Championed agile adoption in traditionally waterfall environments, helping teams shift towards incremental delivery, improved responsiveness, and greater transparency.Your agile leadership style focuses on empowering teams, minimizing unnecessary meetings, and driving high-impact delivery through clarity, autonomy, and accountability.
Contact Me
Whether you're looking for a strategic Product Manager to lead your next big initiative, need support aligning your product vision with execution, or just want to connect and explore collaboration—I'd love to hear from you.You can reach out about:-Product management opportunities (contract or full-time)
-Consulting or advisory work in fintech, banking, or insurance
-Speaking engagements, mentoring, or knowledge-sharing in agile, product strategy, or data analysisAfter you reach out, you can expect a response within 2–3 business days. I review all messages personally and will get back to you as soon as possible to take the conversation forward.