Mpho Mokoena is a Senior Manager in Data Analytics, Data Science, and Continuous Control Monitoring (CCM) at MTN. With nearly a decade of experience in data science, Mpho’s career has been driven by a deep passion for mathematics and a distinctive analytical mindset.
She began her professional journey in the banking sector, working at two major South African banks and an international institution, where she applied data science to enhance financial decision-making and customer insights. She later moved into the entertainment industry, joining one of Africa’s leading companies, where she led impactful projects (including predictive models to anticipate customer reconnection behaviour) delivering measurable business value.
Currently operating in the telecommunications space, Mpho applies her data science expertise within Internal Audit to modernise traditional audit practices and enable risk-based, data-driven insights. Her work bridges technical precision with strategic impact, helping organisations unlock the full potential of their data.
Beyond the corporate sphere, Mokoena is passionate about making technology accessible to younger audiences. He has co-authored two children’s books, AI for Kids and Digital Safety for Kids, which introduce foundational technology concepts in an engaging and approachable way. These initiatives reflect his commitment to nurturing the next generation of African innovators — blending education, creativity, and a vision for a digitally empowered future.
DataIQ asked: “How do you see the role of the data leader evolving over the next 12-24 months?”
“In the next 12 months, data leaders will evolve into architects of intelligent enterprises. Their role will go beyond analytics and shape AI strategy, driving ethical innovation, and embedding data into every decision layer. As AI becomes more autonomous, leaders must ensure trust, transparency, and alignment with business purpose. They’ll champion data literacy across the organisation and foster ecosystems that blend human intuition with machine intelligence.”