Altenar now employs more than 500 staff members with a wide variety of skills and expertise.
As a global company, the Altenar team is made up of many different nationalities, backgrounds, and languages. Each individual contributes to our success in different ways, and their paths to get here vary as well.
In the latest installment of our ‘Getting to Know You’ series of interviews, we learned more about our Data Science and Business Intelligence Team Lead Darren Willenberg.
How long have you been a member of the Altenar team and what made you want to join the company?
I've been part of the Altenar team for three years. I was drawn to the company because of my passion for data science and the opportunity to lead projects that deliver high-impact insights. Altenar offered the perfect environment where I could apply my expertise and continue growing in the data science field, while also helping the company stay ahead in a fast-moving industry.
What are your main roles and responsibilities here at Altenar?
I lead the Data Science and Business Intelligence team, focusing on building data applications and delivering actionable insights to key stakeholders. My role involves overseeing the design and implementation of data-driven solutions that help guide strategic business decisions. It’s all about ensuring we provide quality insights that drive business success.
What do you think makes you good at your job/what you do?
I believe what sets me apart is my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and my dedication to delivering quality work. I care deeply about the outcomes and make sure that every solution we build is both effective and insightful. I also enjoy working closely with stakeholders to ensure we meet their needs, and I think that a collaborative approach is key to my success.
How does your department help the company reach its overall targets and goals?
Business Intelligence plays a crucial role in helping the company stay agile and informed. We provide the data and insights needed to make strategic decisions, whether that’s optimizing current processes or identifying new opportunities for growth. By delivering timely, accurate insights, we help the company move quickly in a competitive market.
What are the key skills you need to be a success in your team/department?
Key skills for success in my department include a strong foundation in mathematics and statistics, solution architectural design, and excellent problem-solving abilities. On top of technical skills, strong communication is essential, as we need to translate complex data into clear insights for stakeholders.
How do you expect your role in this industry to change and develop in the future?
I expect data science to evolve rapidly, particularly with the integration of large language models (LLMs) into data solutions. Leveraging these technologies within our architecture will become more common, enabling even more sophisticated analytics and automation in the near future.
Tell us about your career prior to joining Altenar
Before joining Altenar, I spent three years as a civil engineer, followed by seven years at the City of Cape Town as a Senior Analytics Professional. There, I focused on network simulation and advising infrastructure investments, and I completed my master’s in transactional data processing via agent-based models. Afterward, I worked at Amazon for two years, building network optimization models and guiding investment into sort center hubs.
What’s the one thing you’d love to change about your role/industry?
Like most analysts, I would love to have cleaner data. Data quality is often the biggest challenge we face, and having access to more accurate and structured data would make our jobs much easier and improve the overall quality of insights we deliver.
What did you want to do as a job/career when you were a child?
When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut. The idea of exploring the unknown and pushing boundaries was incredibly exciting to me and, in many ways, that same curiosity drives me today in my data science work.
Away from work do you have any hidden talents?
I’m actually pretty good at snooker and racket sports, which I enjoy in my free time. It’s a great way to stay active and have fun.
What is your biggest achievement away from your work career?
I’d say my biggest achievement outside of work is making lasting friendships around the world. I travel regularly, and the connections I’ve made with people across different cultures are something I truly value.
