Building High Performing Tech Teams: Platform Engineering and Client Centricity at Scale with Blessing Mgaga
Loading player...
In this episode, Lebogang Langa sits down with Blessing Mgaga, Divisional Executive for Retail Client Experience Delivery at Capitec Bank, for a masterclass on building technology organisations that deliver real impact.
Blessing unpacks the critical balance between innovation and execution — from cutting through AI hype to focus on measurable outcomes, to implementing platform engineering principles that scale without creating legacy debt. He introduces the "product health" framework that's democratising data across Capitec, turning every business owner into a data-informed decision
In this conversation, we explore:
- Building high-performing tech and data teams that understand client outcomes
- Platform engineering roadmaps: bringing product, architecture, and DevOps together
- Why tech fluency at leadership level matters (but client centricity matters more)
- Measuring what matters: governance frameworks for AI and data investments
- Designing for equality in diverse markets with infrastructure challenges
- The importance of walking in your client's shoes (literally)
- Micro-learning, certifications, and accessible paths into tech careers
- The future of agentic AI and what leaders should watch
Drawing from over two decades in financial services and his journey from the township of Kagiso to leading product development for millions of clients, Blessing offers practical frameworks for sustainable growth and a refreshing perspective: the best technology decisions start with understanding the people you serve.
Whether you're scaling engineering teams, modernising platforms, or leading digital transformation, this conversation delivers actionable insights from building South Africa's largest digital bank.
Blessing unpacks the critical balance between innovation and execution — from cutting through AI hype to focus on measurable outcomes, to implementing platform engineering principles that scale without creating legacy debt. He introduces the "product health" framework that's democratising data across Capitec, turning every business owner into a data-informed decision
In this conversation, we explore:
- Building high-performing tech and data teams that understand client outcomes
- Platform engineering roadmaps: bringing product, architecture, and DevOps together
- Why tech fluency at leadership level matters (but client centricity matters more)
- Measuring what matters: governance frameworks for AI and data investments
- Designing for equality in diverse markets with infrastructure challenges
- The importance of walking in your client's shoes (literally)
- Micro-learning, certifications, and accessible paths into tech careers
- The future of agentic AI and what leaders should watch
Drawing from over two decades in financial services and his journey from the township of Kagiso to leading product development for millions of clients, Blessing offers practical frameworks for sustainable growth and a refreshing perspective: the best technology decisions start with understanding the people you serve.
Whether you're scaling engineering teams, modernising platforms, or leading digital transformation, this conversation delivers actionable insights from building South Africa's largest digital bank.
Chapters
- 00:12 Introduction and guest background
- 01:56 Personal introduction and philosophy
- 02:56 Upbringing and early influences
- 05:57 Technology Investment Strategy and AI implementation
- 08:20 Governance and Measurement Framework
- 11:00 Technology Fluency in Leadership
- 13:49 Customer experience in 2025
- 16:49 Successful Customer Experience
- 19:41 Data literacy and organisational impact
- 22:52 Data impact and self-service
- 23:22 Captiec's digital transformation journey
- 27:36 AI Regulation and Policy Recommendations
- 29:09 Leadership development and formative experiences
- 31:44 Core values and truth in leadership
- 32:25 Understanding individual uniqueness in development
- 33:49 Leadership legacy modernisation
- 34:34 Platform engineering and legacy modernisation
- 36:31 Collaborative platform engineering principles
- 39:26 High-performing tech and data teams
- 41:15 Education and career development paths
- 43:35 Future of AI and leadership
- 46:07 Closing remarks
