Synthesis Software Technologies
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These are

Our People

Fluent in every language including Kafka, Kubernetes and Klingon.

Our people are

Hungry.
Humble.
Smart.

The rumours are true.

We are home to over 200 of the brightest, coolest, innovators, engineers, developers and Star Wars fans with over 400 degrees and certifications. 

Play Video about Synthesis Software Technologies

meet some of

The Team

We support over 200 agile and courageous thinkers along a diverse career path in software where the options are limitless. 

Michael Shapiro
Managing Director
Michael Shapiro
Managing Director

Entrepreneur, advisor, executive and mentor. Michael is a seasoned leader with more than 25 years’ experience. He has an honours degree in Electrical Engineering and is passionate about innovation. When he is not in the office or with his family, you will find him doing a trail run or on the road.

Jake Shepherd
Co-founder, Technical Director & Hero Builder
Jake Shepherd
Co-founder, Technical Director & Hero Builder

Core Challenge: Forging a culture that supports the growth of current and future Synthesis Heroes.

Favourite Quote: "You don’t build a business – you build people – and then people build your business." Zig Ziglar

Darryl Govender
Director of Cloud Services
Darryl Govender
Director of Cloud Services

Darryl is an avid people and purpose leader and oversees the Cloud Professional and Managed Services divisions of Synthesis. Personal Mission Statement: Job zero is to create an environment for people to be successful while shaping purpose and actualising their inherent potential.

Gareth Corbishley
Financial and Commercial Director
Gareth Corbishley
Financial and Commercial Director

Gareth is a CA(SA) with over 10 years’ experience in finance, commerce, strategy, business development, operations, technology consulting, mergers & acquisitions, risk and compliance.

Personal Passion: Exposing upcoming SA Tech Talent to the world.

Steyn Basson
Operations Director
Steyn Basson
Operations Director

Steyn has been with Synthesis for over two decades, and is currently driving out operational strategy and functions within the company. He loves brewing beer, as well as collecting playing cards and board-games.

Tom Wells
Chief Disruption Officer
Tom Wells
Chief Disruption Officer

Tom is a natural inventor and tinkerer - unsatisfied with the way things are, he imagines himself living in a distributed, decentralised and democratised metaverse of web3.0. He is responsible for technical strategy and discovering the most valuable emerging technologies.

Michelle Esbend
Financial Director
Michelle Esbend
Financial Director

Michelle has over 20 years of Finance experience, including planning, monitoring, analysing, financial reporting, budget preparation, forecasts and strategic collaboration with stakeholders to ensure business success.

Darren Bak
Head of Intelligent Data
Darren Bak
Head of Intelligent Data

Darren focuses his time growing a team of passionate data engineers and scientists that build low-maintenance, fully-managed data platforms in the cloud that can deliver machine learning in an easy-to-use way. He believes the secret to successful leadership starts with being aware of your own self.

Elmarie Grant
Head of the Synthesis Academy
Elmarie Grant
Head of the Synthesis Academy

Elmarie ensures our superheroes have all the skills they need and works with our clients to make their own teams superheroes too.

What Drives You? Being part of someone’s journey to grow is why I get up each morning.

Tjaard du Plessis
Head of Digital & Emerging Technology
Tjaard du Plessis
Head of Digital & Emerging Technology

MSc Computer Science

What Do You Do Daily? "I visit the future of tech often, take some pictures and try to imagine what its value is for our clients. I lead and oversee several teams who are building the future for our clients."

Michael Grant
Chief Technology Officer
Michael Grant
Chief Technology Officer

Mike was the AI Leader of the Year in 2021 and leads business to deliver real value through novel solutions. Mike is also the co-founder of the disruptive launchpad for Capital Appreciation and a non-executive director for AssetPool.

Keith Milner
Head of Coastal
Keith Milner
Head of Coastal

Keith has over 35 years of experience in the software industry across Africa, UK and Europe. He drives strategy and commercial development both locally and internationally while managing the establishment and growth of strategic accounts.

Howard Feldman
Head of Marketing and Communications
Howard Feldman
Head of Marketing and Communications

Howard is an author, columnist and speaker. Media is his passion. He is a lawyer by training. He is obsessed with people and their wellbeing but is sadly always one step behind on anything tech. That said, he tries really hard. He is a daily talk show host, and that’s not because he has a face for radio.

Carl Singleton
Head of Business Development & Commercial Partnerships
Carl Singleton
Head of Business Development & Commercial Partnerships

Carl brings to the team over 20 years of technology consulting and personal business experience mixed with customer obsession.

Hidden Talent: Qualified Chef

Deborah Miller
Head of Talent
Deborah Miller
Head of Talent

Seasoned Headhunter boasting extensive experience gained in Finance and Information Technology. Honours Degree obtained in Clinical Psychology. Adaptable and dynamic. Cancerian. Passionate about transforming lives through employment.

 

Marais Neethling
Principal: Artificial Intelligence
Marais Neethling
Principal: Artificial Intelligence

MSc Computer Science

Experience: Combining 20 years of technology experience, cutting edge AI and solutions delivery with a focus on the human side.

Favourite Quote: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Sharon Andrews
HR Manager
Sharon Andrews
HR Manager

Sharon has a passion for people and their well-being and ensuring the growth, development and success of our team while aligning with the company strategy and mission.
Advice for Life: Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.

Jeanette Fevrier
Senior Software Developer
Jeanette Fevrier
Senior Software Developer

BSc (Hons) Computer Science
Her passion for collaboration drives her focus to help clients achieve true business value.
Favorite Quote: Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

Archana Arakkal
Practice Lead: Intelligent Data Engineering
Archana Arakkal
Practice Lead: Intelligent Data Engineering

Archana is pursuing her PhD in Privacy - preserving AI and multi-agent reinforcement learning.
She is a thought leader for AI in Africa and has many machine learning community affiliations. She is a specialist engineer within the Data and AI practice.

Luke Machowski
Specialist Product Architect
Luke Machowski
Specialist Product Architect

MSc (Engineer) in pursuit of his PHD

Luke is an architect & leader for RegTech & MarketTech.

Advice for Life: It’s easy to make something complex that solves a problem. It’s REALLY hard to make something simple that solves the same problem.

Tracy Morris
Head Solutionist
Tracy Morris
Head Solutionist

Tracy manages the growing solutionist team to enhance consulting experiences with customers and to ensure alignment of strategies and vision by closing the gap in selection of partnerships, products, technical capabilities and team compilation.

Advice for Life: Be kind, it's free.

Join The
Synthesis Team

If you are interested in joining our innovative team, please email your CV to [email protected].

Please note that if we do not contact you within 14 days you should please consider your application to be unsuccessful.

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