Data Governance & Compliance Professional

Bianca
Knight

MBA Candidate · Admitted Attorney · Regulatory Strategist

I bridge the gap between legal precision, regulatory accountability, and data-driven decision making, bringing a rare combination of litigation experience, cross-African policy work, and advanced business analytics to data governance leadership.

Data Governance Regulatory Compliance Policy & Advocacy Python · SQL · PowerBI Human Rights Law STEM MBA
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Bianca Knight
5+ Degrees & Diplomas
12 African Countries
8+ Years Practice

Who I Am

A uniquely cross-disciplinary professional
at the intersection of law and data

I am an admitted attorney (South African High Court, 2019) and current STEM-designated MBA candidate at Hult International Business School in Boston, specialising in Business Analytics. My professional journey spans legal practice, regulatory program coordination across 12 African nations, academic lecturing, and advanced data analytics, giving me a perspective few professionals can match.

At the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, I designed compliance frameworks, managed data partnerships with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and produced evidence used by policymakers across the continent. I understand governance not as a theoretical exercise, but as a practice with real accountability at its core.

"Bianca has shown a remarkable ability to grasp complex issues and translate them into actionable plans... Her aptitude to work in diverse cultural settings, along with her strong sense of equity and justice, makes her a highly adaptable and empathetic leader."
— Matilda Lasseko-Phooko, Programme Manager, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

I am currently eligible for STEM OPT in the United States, providing up to three years of post-graduation work authorization. My target is a Data Governance Manager role, where I can bring together my legal rigour, cross-sector regulatory experience, and technical analytics skills to create governance frameworks that actually work.

Legal Rigour

Admitted attorney with expertise in compliance, regulatory frameworks, and accountability structures.

Data Fluency

Hands-on with Python, SQL, PowerBI, and Tableau for analytics, visualisation, and data management.

Cross-cultural Leadership

Led programs spanning 12 African countries, coordinating high-level policy and advocacy stakeholders.

Academic Depth

Five qualifications from the University of Pretoria including an LLM in Multidisciplinary Human Rights.

Teaching & Communication

Part-time lecturer who reduced student failure rates by 58% through structured academic guidance.

Honours Recognition

Golden Key International Honour Society member, University of Pretoria chapter, 2023.

Career

Professional Experience

Project Officer, Women's Rights Unit Oct 2022 – Aug 2025

Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria · Pretoria, South Africa

  • Established a formal data-sharing partnership with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, establishing the first structured continental data access framework for the Women's Rights Unit and reducing compliance risk across 12 African member states.
  • Designed and delivered a Judicial Colloquium in Nigeria for judges of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, building judicial capacity on gender-based violence frameworks and women's rights obligations under the Maputo Protocol.
  • Led a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Colloquium in Kenya for East African judges and magistrates, translating international human rights law into enforceable domestic judicial standards.
  • Co-authored shadow reports submitted to the African Commission that directly informed state accountability reviews; research outputs shaped policy positions across multiple African jurisdictions.
  • Managed data governance and alumni engagement across the SRHR in Africa practitioner network, improving cross-continental collaboration and data integrity among 12 country programmes.
  • Represented the Centre as a panelist at the African Youth Human Rights Conference, presenting on the intersection of women's rights and xenophobia before a continental audience of policymakers and civil society leaders.
Part-time Lecturer Mar 2021 – Dec 2023

Varsity College · Pretoria, South Africa

  • Delivered lectures in Law of Succession, Mercantile Law, and Constitutional Law to undergraduate law students via both contact and remote teaching formats.
  • Reduced student failure rate from 12% to 5% through targeted academic guidance and structured feedback on legal reasoning and critical analysis.
  • Developed course materials, assessments, and digital teaching aids compliant with institutional curriculum standards, improving student engagement and accessibility.
Attorney Jan 2019 – Jan 2022

Brookswood Cost Consulting · Pretoria, South Africa

  • Specialised in legal cost analysis, client advisory, and litigation support with a focus on drafting, negotiation, and dispute resolution.
  • Ensured compliance with procedural and legal standards by drafting and inspecting detailed bills of cost.
  • Conducted comprehensive legal research and prepared well-reasoned legal opinions, increasing client satisfaction and supporting complex litigation matters.
  • Trained and supervised new employees, fostering professional development and consistency in legal practice standards across the team.
Candidate Attorney Jan 2017 – Dec 2018

FourieFismer Inc. · Pretoria, South Africa

  • Completed articles of clerkship under supervision, building foundational experience in legal drafting, court procedure, and client-facing advisory work.
Founding Director Apr 2026 – Present

Legal Daily (Pty) Ltd · Pretoria, South Africa

  • Co-founded a legaltech venture developing a digital platform for deceased estate notice publishing, fulfilling mandatory regulatory requirements under South African law for law firms and estate practitioners.
  • Applied legal domain expertise to shape the regulatory compliance framework and product positioning of the platform; all operational management is led by co-founder.
  • Company registered and incorporated in South Africa; platform currently in pre-launch development phase.

Academic Background

Education

In Progress

Master of Business Administration (STEM-Designated)

Hult International Business School · Boston, USA

Expected August 2026

Specialisation: Business Analytics. Relevant courses include Machine Learning & AI, Data Management & SQL, Python for Analysts, PowerBI, and AI Strategy.

Conferred 2025

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria

May 2025 · Weighted average: 71.54%

Distinctions in Economics, Management Accounting, Macro-economics, and Operations Management.

Conferred 2024

LLM: Multidisciplinary Human Rights

University of Pretoria

May 2024 · Weighted average: 72.90%

Distinctions in Law & Sustainable Development and Socio-economic Rights under Comparative and International Law.

Conferred 2017

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

University of Pretoria

April 2017 · Weighted average: 67.06%

Distinctions in Insolvency Law, Legal Pluralism, Legal Interpretation, Insurance Law, International Humanitarian Law, and Civil Procedure.

Conferred 2015

Bachelor of Arts in Law

University of Pretoria

April 2015

Minor in Criminology. Distinctions in Family Law and Law of Succession.

Qualifications & Certificates

Credentials & Honours

Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division April 2019 · Conferred by Justice Fabricius & Justice Louw
Golden Key International Honour Society University of Pretoria Chapter 2023 · Academic excellence recognition
Advanced Human Rights Course: Women's Rights in Africa Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria May 2023
Understanding Data Science DataCamp 2024
Statistics Foundations 1 LinkedIn Learning 2024
Business Math & Financial Decision Making LinkedIn Learning 2024
DAX Functions in Power BI DataCamp · 3 hrs March 2026
Introduction to Power BI DataCamp · 4 hrs March 2026
Introduction to SQL DataCamp · 2 hrs May 2026
Intermediate SQL DataCamp · 4 hrs May 2026
Introduction to Statistics in Google Sheets DataCamp · 4 hrs September 2025

Capabilities

Skills & Competencies

Technical Tools

Python SQL PowerBI Tableau Excel (Advanced) R Canva Microsoft Office Suite

Domain Expertise

Data Governance Regulatory Compliance Legal Research & Drafting Policy Development Human Rights Law International Law Data Privacy Risk Management

Professional Skills

Project Management Stakeholder Engagement Data Visualisation Agile Methodologies Cross-cultural Leadership Academic Lecturing Report Writing Capacity Building

Work & Research

Selected Projects

A selection of analytical, research, and strategic projects that reflect the depth and range of my work: from field research across African jurisdictions to applied business strategy and hands-on data analytics.

Business Analytics · Strategy

Enabling Internet Accessibility in Rural South Africa

Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria · 2023

Led a syndicate research project investigating supply-side barriers to rural internet access in South Africa. Conducted qualitative research across 7 semi-structured interviews with telecom executives and a focus group in Eastern Cape rural communities. Proposed the "Outsource Your SDG" business model: a B2B matching platform pairing corporate donors with rural communities, validated by industry stakeholders and modelled with a positive NPV of R615,000 and 115% IRR.

Qualitative Research Business Modelling Financial Analysis SDG 4 Atlas.ti
Legal Research · Policy

Child Marriage in South Africa: Legal Frameworks and Reform

LLM Mini-Dissertation · University of Pretoria · 2023

Conducted an in-depth comparative legal analysis of child marriage practices in South Africa, examining gaps between domestic legislation and international human rights obligations under CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol. Applied qualitative legal research methodology to develop evidence-based policy recommendations for legislative reform, contributing to the academic and advocacy discourse on girls' rights and gender-based harm.

Comparative Law Human Rights Policy Analysis CEDAW Maputo Protocol
Data Analytics · Python

Applied Data Analysis: Python Notebook

Hult International Business School · 2025

Developed a Python-based analytical notebook demonstrating applied data analysis skills including data wrangling, exploratory analysis, and visualisation. Built as part of the STEM MBA Business Analytics programme, reflecting hands-on proficiency with Python for real-world analytical tasks relevant to data governance and compliance reporting.

Python Data Wrangling EDA Visualisation
View Notebook
Strategic Consulting · Compliance

ADL Sentinel Playbook

Hult International Business School · Business Challenge · 2025

Contributed to a strategic compliance playbook developed as part of a Hult business challenge engagement. Applied governance frameworks and stakeholder analysis to develop structured risk mitigation recommendations, translating regulatory complexity into clear, actionable policy guidance for organisational decision-makers.

Compliance Strategy Risk Frameworks Stakeholder Analysis Policy Design

Notable Engagements & Presentations

"

Bianca is an exceptional individual capable of making a memorable impact as she is set apart by her performance, potential and personal traits. She approaches every task with confidence, positivity and a collaborative spirit. Even under pressure, she remains composed and solution-oriented. Her aptitude to work in diverse cultural settings, along with her strong sense of equity and justice, makes her a highly adaptable and empathetic leader.

Matilda Lasseko-Phooko

Programme Manager, Women's Rights Unit · Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

Get in Touch

Let's connect

I am actively seeking roles in data governance, compliance analytics, and regulatory strategy in the United States. I am eligible for STEM OPT authorisation upon MBA graduation (expected August 2026), providing up to three years of work authorisation.

Whether you are hiring, exploring a collaboration, or simply want to talk about the intersection of law and data, I'd love to hear from you.

biancaknight00@gmail.com
(617) 835-4487
Boston, MA · Open to relocate

Currently open to

  • Data Governance Manager
  • Compliance Data Analyst
  • Regulatory Data Specialist
  • Data Privacy & Policy Roles

Connect & Follow

Find me on professional networks or download my resume below.

LinkedIn · biancaknightmba Email Me Directly (617) 835-4487