{"id":1167,"date":"2025-11-19T12:05:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T10:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/?page_id=1167"},"modified":"2025-12-03T17:19:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T15:19:10","slug":"experience","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/tech\/experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light wp-duotone-green\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);min-height:50px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"931\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-782 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/office-table-with-cup-coffee-keyboard-notepad.jpg\" style=\"object-position:80% 14%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"80% 14%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/office-table-with-cup-coffee-keyboard-notepad.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/office-table-with-cup-coffee-keyboard-notepad-800x388.jpg 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/office-table-with-cup-coffee-keyboard-notepad-768x372.jpg 768w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/office-table-with-cup-coffee-keyboard-notepad-1536x745.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgb(255,255,255) 34%,rgba(255,255,255,0.58) 65%,rgba(255,0,0,0) 99%)\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-99cca8a2 wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\"><nav style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"has-text-color has-base-color items-justified-center alignwide wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-72be065f wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Technology \u2013 Level 2\"><ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__container has-text-color has-base-color items-justified-center alignwide wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/360-degree-visbility\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Visbility<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/mapping\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Dependencies<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/tooling\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Tooling<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/tools-people-process-progress\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Tech-conundrum<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h1 style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"has-text-align-center has-link-color wp-elements-49031cb4b1744a129271dd1611534cc4 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-contrast-color\">Experience<\/h1>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"946\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ITWeb-Steve-Whitford.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ITWeb-Steve-Whitford.jpg 946w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ITWeb-Steve-Whitford-800x441.jpg 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ITWeb-Steve-Whitford-768x424.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 946px) 100vw, 946px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-22368d686ac4e2a41b57ba680b7fa576 wp-block-paragraph\">Steve Whitford <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itweb.co.za\/article\/m-commerce-takes-next-step\/4r1lyMRo1b3qpmda\">began<\/a> his career in journalism and then moved into PR. This created an excellent foundation in communication and stakeholder management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He worked with brands such as HTC and Compuware and developed the skills to work directly with executives on the messages they wanted to craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Steve-and-Trever-Noah.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1341\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve showing the new HTC to Trevor Noah at a launch event<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From there, Steve helped to establish esports in South Africa. This involved working in a talented tech start-up and building a platform that hosted over 6 000 gamers competing against each other in leagues across multiple titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Steve worked hand in hand with large corporates across telco, consumer hardware, and PC and console gaming distribution to lift awareness of gaming across the country. This included working with production companies and a broadcaster to launch an esports league on national television with R1 million in prize money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DGL-Masters-rAge-2016.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DGL-Masters-rAge-2016.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DGL-Masters-rAge-2016-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DGL-Masters-rAge-2016-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Telkom Digital Gaming League\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ye_q47aRX_M?start=55&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From there, Steve consulted across several mobile network operators and broadcasters on their digital transformation journeys, including the implementation of platforms such as Salesforce, as well as their digital platforms and business models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Steve then worked with a group of consultants at MultiChoice, where he led the rebuilding of MultiChoice\u2019s self-service channels and the deployment of Large Language model AI customer support across:<br><br>\u2022 Web<br>\u2022 App<br>\u2022 WhatsApp<br>\u2022 USSD<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He led teams across strategy, product development, UX and UI, deployment and support, and oversaw the rollout of DStv.com to 50 African countries. He was also the digital lead on MultiChoice\u2019s largest programme \u2013 digital transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1916\" height=\"925\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSTV.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSTV.jpg 1916w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSTV-800x386.jpg 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSTV-768x371.jpg 768w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSTV-1536x742.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1916px) 100vw, 1916px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mind the gap<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the one hand, Steve has worked in four start-ups with multiple entrepreneurs and armies of consultants, and on the other, he has worked with executives in some of the leading corporates to roll out digital platforms used by tens of millions of people across the African continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-140f6e2dfc75306c81dfa2b2255dbbb8 wp-block-paragraph\">In both start-ups and corporates, key patterns and challenges emerged around people, processes, technology and tool choices. The process of trying to change an organisation is tricky and has an incredibly <a href=\"https:\/\/th1nkdigital.substack.com\/p\/why-change-management-isnt-working\">low success rate<\/a> globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These key learnings have been incorporated into Th1nk in the areas of people, process, tools and technology \u2013 and, most importantly, in the way in which they come together to create an epicentre where highly predictable teams are able to shift the momentum of a business and help it to scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Read more stories about us <a href=\"https:\/\/th1nkdigital.substack.com\/t\/about-us\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized wp-duotone-substack\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nkdigital.substack.com\/t\/about-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/substack.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-525\" style=\"width:135px;height:auto\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide tools is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-086dc8cf wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-top-center has-border-color has-accent-5-border-color has-aspect-ratio wp-duotone-green\" style=\"border-style:solid;border-width:2px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);min-height:300px;aspect-ratio:auto;min-height:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"470\" height=\"600\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1319 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/scuba-watch.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-custom-green-background-color has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c05ca53 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"min-height:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/tooling-example\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"470\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/scuba-watch.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1319\" style=\"width:60px;height:auto\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dcd278a1037bea652a5b8d51bf827ecf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/tooling-example\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1164\">Tooling&nbsp;example<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-top-center has-border-color has-accent-5-border-color has-aspect-ratio wp-duotone-green\" style=\"border-style:solid;border-width:2px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);aspect-ratio:auto;min-height:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"706\" height=\"888\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1318 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/buoyancy-compensator.png\" style=\"object-position:69% 0%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"69% 0%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/buoyancy-compensator.png 706w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/buoyancy-compensator-636x800.png 636w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-custom-green-background-color has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c05ca53 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"min-height:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/experience\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"706\" height=\"888\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/buoyancy-compensator.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1318\" style=\"width:81px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/buoyancy-compensator.png 706w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/buoyancy-compensator-636x800.png 636w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c90eb5b5420d7aa719fd70b0d590f73a\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/experience\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1167\">Experience<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-top-center has-border-color has-accent-5-border-color has-aspect-ratio wp-duotone-green\" style=\"border-style:solid;border-width:2px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);aspect-ratio:auto;min-height:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"241\" height=\"784\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1317 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/scuba-tank.png\" style=\"object-position:32% 0%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"32% 0%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-custom-green-background-color has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c05ca53 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"min-height:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/portfolio-alignment\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"241\" height=\"784\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/scuba-tank.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1317\" style=\"width:32px;height:auto\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2faf2bb036c0b477b973ffb970debd50\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/tech\/portfolio-alignment\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1169\">Portfolio alignment<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Steve Whitford began his career in journalism and then moved into PR. This created an excellent foundation in communication and stakeholder management. He worked with brands such as HTC and Compuware and developed the skills to work directly with executives on the messages they wanted to craft. From there, Steve helped to establish esports in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":516,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1167","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1167"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1562,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1167\/revisions\/1562"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}