Professional Summary
Professional Overview
Juan Herbst is an accomplished Director of Engineering with over 20 years of experience leading high-performing engineering teams and driving digital transformation across various industries. He is an expert in software architecture, DevSecOps, and integration solutions, with a proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale projects that drive business growth and operational efficiency.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Director of Engineering at Hāpara, Juan is responsible for overseeing the entire engineering function, including software development, infrastructure, and DevSecOps. He leads a talented team of engineers in the development and delivery of innovative solutions that enhance the company's product offerings and customer experience. Under his leadership, the engineering department has achieved significant improvements in delivery speed, code quality, and customer satisfaction.
Career Progression
Prior to his current role, Juan held several senior engineering leadership positions, including Head of Engineering at MEGA The Privacy Company, Tribe Engineering Lead and Chapter Area Lead at One New Zealand (formerly Vodafone New Zealand), and Engineering Manager - Platforms at Vodafone. He has also served as a Practice Manager Architecture at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and a Chapter Lead for Integration and Middleware at The Warehouse Group. Throughout his career, Juan has consistently demonstrated his ability to build and lead high-performing teams, implement best-in-class engineering practices, and drive digital transformation initiatives that deliver tangible business results.
Academic Background
Juan holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Areas of Expertise
- Software architecture design and implementation
- DevSecOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices
- Integration solutions and middleware technologies
- Agile software development methodologies
- Cloud-based infrastructure and platform engineering
- Talent management and team building
- Strategic planning and change management
Professional Impact
Under Juan's leadership, the engineering teams he has managed have consistently delivered innovative, high-quality solutions that have driven significant business impact. Notable achievements include:
- Spearheading the implementation of a robust DevSecOps framework at MEGA The Privacy Company, resulting in a 30% reduction in deployment time and a 40% improvement in code quality.
- Leading the integration of disparate systems and the migration to a modern, cloud-based architecture at One New Zealand, which resulted in a 25% increase in operational efficiency and a 15% improvement in customer satisfaction.
- Developing and implementing a comprehensive talent management strategy at Vodafone, which led to a 20% increase in employee engagement and a 25% reduction in engineering team turnover.
Conclusion
With his extensive experience, exceptional technical expertise, and proven leadership abilities, Juan Herbst is a valuable asset to any organization seeking to transform its engineering capabilities and drive sustainable growth. He is committed to continuously improving processes, fostering innovation, and empowering his teams to deliver exceptional results that positively impact the business and its customers.
