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Lauren VanDerMerwe

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Director of Product · AI features · ML

Works at
KPMG
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa · SAST (UTC+2)
Experience
11+ years experience
Education
Lagos Business School
Languages
English, Afrikaans, Hindi
Open to work
Message Connect

Overview

I've spent 20 years on AI features - first at Ecobank, now at KPMG. Launched the AI products product in 9 markets. Killed 6 features nobody used and shipped the 4 that customers asked for. Before that: Vodacom and Meta. Most at home with user research and LLM products. Former debater; now I argue with spreadsheets.

Good reasons to reach out
  • Roles in AI features
  • Thoughtful intros to people in my field
  • Working sessions on user research
  • Speaking or podcast invitations
Please don't message about
  • Agency or outsourcing pitches
  • Crypto token projects

Replies on weekday evenings

Skills
MLevaluationuser researchprompt designLLM products
Open to workLooking for a role
closes in 3 months

Next role: Director of Product in marketplaces, Johannesburg or hybrid

Target roles
Director of Product
Level
Mid
Industries
E-commerce, AI infrastructure
Work mode
Remote
Available
Immediately
Work authorization
Authorized to work in South Africa
What I'm looking for
Scope to lead AI features work, with a manager who gives direct feedback.
Not interested in
Contract-only roles

20 years in AI features. Strongest at user research and prompt design. Available immediately.

Johannesburg, South Africaprompt designevaluationllm products
Open

Experience

  1. Director of Product
    Dec 2023 - Present
    KPMG · 2 yr 11 mo · Full-time · Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Launched the AI products product in 8 markets.
    • Cut time-to-first-value for new AI products customers from 19 days to 1.
    • Ran 195 customer interviews before writing the first spec.
  2. Senior Product Manager
    Jul 2022 - Dec 2023
    Vodacom · 1 yr 5 mo · Full-time · Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Launched the AI products product in 3 markets.
    • Grew AI products revenue from $5 million to $33 million ARR.
  3. Principal Product Manager
    Oct 2019 - Jul 2022
    Meta · 2 yr 9 mo · Full-time · Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Previously an operator for 6 years before investing.
  4. Product Manager
    Jun 2018 - Oct 2019
    Equity Bank · 1 yr 4 mo · Full-time · Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Ran 94 customer interviews before writing the first spec.
  5. Group Product Manager
    Mar 2016 - Jun 2018
    Ecobank · 2 yr 3 mo · Full-time · Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Grew AI products revenue from $2 million to $52 million ARR.
    • Cut time-to-first-value for new AI products customers from 19 days to 3.

References

No references yet.

Education

  1. Lagos Business School
    MBA, Business Administration
    2008 - 2010
  2. University of Cape Town
    BSc, Business Administration
    2001 - 2005

Details

Compensation expectations
What they are targeting for their next role.
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