Curriculum Vitae
Lerato Madiseng Shai
Address
Phone: +27 21 671 1402
PO Box 46830, Glosderry, Cape Town, 7702
Fax: +27 (0) 21 671 1409
Cell: +27 (0) 76 429 3854
South Africa
lerato@pdg.co.za
Personal
Date of birth:
12 December 1989
Languages:
English (Fluent) · Sepedi (Native) · Afrikaans (Intermediate) ·
German (Intermediate) Zulu (Beginner)
Education
Degrees


2013 – 2015 Master of Commerce specialising in Applied Economics University of Cape Town
Key courses: Advanced Econometrics and Microeconometrics
Dissertation: The impact of financial incentives on student performance.
Evidence from a study in South Africa
2008 – 2011 Bachelor of Business Science specialising in Economics University of Cape Town
Majors: Economics and Mathematical Statistics
Non-Degrees

June 2012 Course: Building the new global welfare: The search for stability
in the worldwide economies and markets - Institute of Economics and
Employments (ISEO), Italy
Field of Specialisation
I am a dynamic professional with excellent interpersonal, communication and
negotiation skills, and the ability to influence decisions and to develop strong
positive relationships. I like to help people overcome obstacles that prevent them
from linking up with one another to deliver value to clients and I thrive on being
part of, as well as managing, motivating and developing, a successful and
productive team. I possess strong quantitative skills which I have applied across
different sectors gaining diverse approaches to solving analytical problems. I find
it easy to put my thoughts, ideas, solutions and findings into words and possess
outstanding argumentative writing skills. Driven by my quest for excellence, I
have a strong desire to learn, am constantly seeking ways to improve myself and
I am drawn to organisations that strive to be industry leaders.
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Curriculum Vitae : Lerato Madiseng Shai
Project experience
Feb 2015 - present Research Fellow and Team Leader, Economic Policy
Research Institute,Cape Town
 Completed supply side and option analysis of a feasibility assessment for the
South African Security Agency
 Prepared and submitted technical and financial proposal for the design of exit
strategy and grievance mechanism for Zimbabwe Harmonised Social Cash
Transfer
 Meticulous management of the research department's project pipeline, peer
reviewing deliverables and managing the research team
Dec 2013 – Jan 2015 Student assistant in Strategic Sourcing, Maersk
Group, Cape Town
 Data analysis and interpretation of financial cost data for business units to
determine and implement cost optimisation strategies
 Quantitative data analysis using regression analysis to test whether
interruptions to workflow at the Durban Container Terminal was the result of
wind or port inefficiencies. Received an award for most innovative project in
the global team.
Sep 2012 – Dec 2012 Product Management Intern, Mercedes-Benz South
Africa, Centurion
 Comparative analysis of competitors marketing and pricing strategies
 Managing the distribution of vehicles provided to media professionals for
media coverage
 Design of pricing strategy for A-Class and customisation to the South African
market
Mar 2012 – Aug 2012 Research Intern, Daimler AG Society and
Technology Research Group, Berlin
 Research on and profiling of the South African middle class based on
literature and interviews with members of the segment
 Market scoping project for Mercedes-Benz Guard vehicles in South Africa
inclusive of data collection through interview with key informants and
analysis and presentations of outputs
Nov 2011 – Apr 2014 Research Assistant to Associate Professor Corne
Van Walbeek, SALDRU, Cape Town
 Second author on paper providing evidence that the tobacco industry in
South Africa has over the years exaggerated the extent of tobacco smuggling
in the economy
 Collection, compilation and analysis of data. Presentation and write up of key
findings
Publications
van Walbeek C. and Shai L. Are the tobacco industry’s claims about the size of the
illicit cigarette market credible? The case of South Africa Tobacco Control
Available at: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/24/e2/e142.full.pdf+html
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