Hi, I’m Dani, and like most of the best things in life, I refuse to fit neatly into a box. I’m a sister, daughter, aunt, friend, Dungeon Master, crafter, reader, and full-time nerd. Professionally, I’m an SaaS implementation consultant and technical project manager with an MBA, a degree in occupational therapy, and a tendency to get my fingers into every pie labelled “systems,” “strategy,” or “student success.”
My journey has taken me across South Africa, China, Japan, and the UK, and if there’s one thread that ties it all together, it’s this: I am obsessed with learning—how it happens, who gets access to it, and how we can improve it. That is why I pursued two seemingly unrelated degrees, layered on a knack for tech, and built a career in educational technology that blends empathy, rigour, and curiosity.
I wear a lot of hats (some of them literal—neurodivergent flair and all), but everything I do is about helping people thrive, supported by the right tools and systems. Whether I’m designing API integrations, untangling online assessment issues, mentoring young women, or coaching a team through change, I lead with compassion, clarity, and just the right amount of chaos.
You can find me in South Africa, where I live with a dog named Drake, a cat named Bonsai, a snake named Ziggy, and a bookshelf that leans heavily towards romance, board games, and the occasional science textbook.
The Formal Bits
A Professional Summary
I’ve spent 10+ years in EdTech and SaaS, working both vendor-side (building and implementing platforms like Canvas LMS, Degreed, and Turnitin) and client-side (managing rollouts and integrations). I’ve led technical relationships with EMEA enterprise clients, managed development backlogs, designed platform integrations, and guided teams through complex implementations from contract signing to post-launch optimisation.
I hold an MBA from Hult International Business School (London, 2016-2017), where I specialised in leadership, project management, and change management. My first degree is a BSc(Hons) in Occupational Therapy from Oxford Brookes University (Oxford, 2009-2012)—which is why I approach technology through the lens of human function and systems thinking rather than just features and specs.
My life has taken me across South Africa, China, Japan, and the UK, the last of which I called home from 2009 to 2023. I worked with clients around the world, primarily in the US, Western Europe, and South Asia. That international experience means I’ve navigated different regulatory environments, working cultures, and stakeholder expectations—skills that matter when you’re implementing global platforms or managing distributed teams across time zones.
Work authorisation: South African citizen | UK right to remain | EU citizen (Germany)
Key Skills & Tools
Project & Product Management
- Agile/Scrum methodologies, sprint planning, backlog management
- Tools: Jira, Trello, Asana, Notion
Platform Implementation & Integration
- LMS & EdTech: Canvas, Turnitin, Degreed, Moodle
- Authentication & SSO (SAML, LTI)
- API integrations, xAPI, data migration strategies
Technical & Data
- SQL, Excel (advanced), reporting & analytics
- Basic web: HTML, CSS, WordPress (admin, content creation, plugin management)
- CRM & support systems: Zendesk, Salesforce, HubSpot
AI & Productivity Tools
- Generative AI: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini (workflow automation, documentation, analysis)
- Microsoft Office Suite & Google Workspace
- Design & content creation: Canva, Affinity, Adobe suite
Client Success & Stakeholder Management
- Enterprise client relationships (EMEA focus)
- Cross-functional collaboration (Sales, Product, Engineering, Customer Success)
- Workshop facilitation, technical training, change management
Languages
- English (native)
- Afrikaans, Japanese, Spanish (novice)