Account Manager, Digital Virgo
Biography:
Lerato Schoombee is a South African telecommunications and digital services professional with more than 10 years of experience across the Value-Added Services (VAS), mobile content, and digital ecosystem sectors in South Africa and Botswana. Currently serving as Account Manager at Digital Virgo, she works closely with leading telecom operators including MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, Cell C, Mascom, and Orange, supporting the development and growth of digital services across multiple markets and verticals such as Video on Demand (VOD), gaming, music, and lifestyle services. Prior to joining Digital Virgo, Lerato held key roles at OnMobile and Content Connect Africa, where she developed strong expertise in digital content distribution, customer engagement, partner management, and operational execution within the mobile ecosystem. Throughout her career, Lerato has built a solid understanding of the South African telecom and digital services landscape, working at the intersection of operators, content providers, and technology partners. She is passionate about responsible innovation, sustainable growth, and contributing to a trusted and consumer-focused digital ecosystem.
Lerato speaks English, Sotho, and Zulu, bringing both strong local market understanding and a broad perspective to industry collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
Motivation:
The South African mobile and digital services ecosystem is evolving rapidly, driven by changing consumer expectations, new technologies, evolving payment models, and increasing regulatory focus. In this context, Lerato is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to an industry that continues to innovate while maintaining strong standards around transparency, compliance, and consumer trust. With more than a decade of experience working across telecom operators, digital service providers, and content ecosystems, she has seen firsthand the importance of collaboration between industry stakeholders to support sustainable growth and positive customer experiences.
Part of her motivation also comes from working within an international group operating across multiple countries and actively involved in professional industry associations. This exposure gives her access to diverse market perspectives, concrete use cases, and practical field experience that she would be able to bring and relay within the WASPA ecosystem. Through a position on the WASPA Board, Lerato would aim to contribute to: strengthening collaboration across the mobile ecosystem; supporting responsible and consumer-centric innovation; encouraging best practices around compliance and operational standards; and helping ensure the long-term sustainability and credibility of the digital services industry in South Africa.
Her experience across both commercial and operational environments gives her a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today, from digital monetization and customer engagement to evolving user expectations and market dynamics. Lerato is passionate about contributing to an ecosystem that balances innovation, business growth, and consumer trust, while supporting the continued evolution of South Africa’s mobile digital economy.