Nkululeko Thangelane

Position: Executive Head AI & Big Data
Organization: Vodacom
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Nkululeko Thangelane is the Group Executive Head of Big Data, AI & ML at Vodacom, where he leads transformative initiatives across telecommunications and fintech in Africa. He guides a dedicated team of data scientists in deploying intelligent systems that boost decision‑making, streamline operations, cut costs, and significantly enhance customer experiences. Under his leadership, Vodacom has accelerated AI integration to drive measurable business value and maintain its competitive edge Nkululeko is passionate about advancing the AI agenda in Africa, particularly in upskilling emerging data science talent and embedding intelligent systems into corporate workflows. He believes that at its best, AI should empower teams—and whole industries—to innovate faster and more responsibly. He’s excited by the potential of artificial intelligence to bridge the data‑business divide and unlock new growth opportunities across the continent . When he’s not architecting AI strategies, Nkululeko channels his curiosity into exploring the latest in technology and innovation—and occasionally shares his insights at events like GITEX Africa and many more. He also champions tech education, mentoring young professionals to pursue careers in data science. Nkululeko Thangelane is an AI and Big Data visionary driving strategic digital transformation at Vodacom. He’s energized by the power of data to empower people and businesses across Africa, and in his downtime, he’s a dedicated mentor helping shape the next generation of tech leaders.

Session Overview

Driving Value from AI and implementations for a Gen AI ready Organisation
Drawing on his experience leading large-scale AI deployments across fintech and telecoms in Africa, Nkululeko will share how Vodacom has successfully embedded machine learning and generative AI into core operations, from customer engagement to fraud detection. The talk explores key lessons in aligning AI with business goals, building responsible and scalable AI pipelines, and preparing people, platforms, and processes for the next wave of generative intelligence.
Attendees will walk away with actionable insights on:
  • Bridging the gap between data teams and business strategy
  • Developing AI solutions that are explainable, trusted, and enterprise-grade
  • Operationalising Gen AI use cases in customer experience, product innovation, and productivity
  • Building a culture and infrastructure ready to support generative AI at scale
This session is ideal for leaders and practitioners looking to unlock sustainable value from AI and ensure their organisation is future-fit for the Gen AI era.
Three Tangible Learnings
  1. Build AI with the Business in Mind – Learn how to design and implement AI solutions that are directly tied to business outcomes—whether it’s revenue growth, customer retention, or operational efficiency—by establishing strong alignment between data teams and commercial objectives from the start.
  2. Operationalise Gen AI Responsibly and at Scale – Discover the essential building blocks for deploying generative AI across the enterprise—from choosing the right use cases to ensuring data governance, explainability, and model monitoring are embedded into your AI lifecycle.
  3. Create a Gen AI-Ready Culture and Infrastructure – Understand how to future-proof your organisation by investing in AI-ready talent, agile data platforms, and change management practices that support continuous innovation and responsible AI adoption.

Buy Tickets

Team Tickets (Minimum of 5)

R11,995

P/P – PRICE EXCL. VAT

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Individual Ticket (1 Ticket)

R13,995

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Alternatively, please email sales@eventfulpeople.com for quote, invoice or any queries and we’ll be glad to assist.

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Nkululeko Thangelane is the Group Executive Head of Big Data, AI & ML at Vodacom, where he leads transformative initiatives across telecommunications and fintech in Africa. He guides a dedicated team of data scientists in deploying intelligent systems that boost decision‑making, streamline operations, cut costs, and significantly enhance customer experiences. Under his leadership, Vodacom has accelerated AI integration to drive measurable business value and maintain its competitive edge Nkululeko is passionate about advancing the AI agenda in Africa, particularly in upskilling emerging data science talent and embedding intelligent systems into corporate workflows. He believes that at its best, AI should empower teams—and whole industries—to innovate faster and more responsibly. He’s excited by the potential of artificial intelligence to bridge the data‑business divide and unlock new growth opportunities across the continent . When he’s not architecting AI strategies, Nkululeko channels his curiosity into exploring the latest in technology and innovation—and occasionally shares his insights at events like GITEX Africa and many more. He also champions tech education, mentoring young professionals to pursue careers in data science. Nkululeko Thangelane is an AI and Big Data visionary driving strategic digital transformation at Vodacom. He’s energized by the power of data to empower people and businesses across Africa, and in his downtime, he’s a dedicated mentor helping shape the next generation of tech leaders.