Joseph Rutakangwa
About
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Founder, CEO
Los Angeles, California, United States
Résumé
Jobs
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Founder, CEORwaziJun 2021 - Current (5 years 4 months)Rwazi is a decision AI platform that helps enterprise teams drive growth through smarter, faster decisions.
It transforms continuous consumer activity and customer-ingested data into signals, recommendations, simulations, and automated actions that drive measurable outcomes.- Business DevelopmentPernod RicardSep 2017 - Dec 2017 (4 months)Supported the development and implementation of Route-to-Market initiatives across multiple regions, contributing to the design and rollout of distribution and execution strategies aligned with national commercial objectives.
Led data collection, processing, and project-specific analysis for the regional team, providing structured inputs used to assess performance, identify execution gaps, and inform adjustments to Route-to-Market programs.
Contributed to the development of a consumer-driven supply network aimed at improving operational effectiveness, aligning demand signals with distribution and supply planning to support more efficient market execution.
Worked on additional cross-functional assignments tie - Trade MarketingPernod RicardSep 2016 - Dec 2016 (4 months)Supported trade marketing initiatives across the business cycle, contributing to sales force action planning, performance follow-up, and the development of commercial recommendations used to guide field execution and account strategy.
Conducted competitive intelligence on trade marketing practices, including point-of-sale activations, promotional mechanics, merchandising assets, and in-store theatrical execution, providing structured inputs to inform campaign design, execution standards, and negotiation support for product launches and promotional initiatives.
Monitored gray market activity to identify distribution inconsistencies and pricing leakage, supporting efforts to protect brand positioning and trade integrity. - YVice PresidentYoung Professional Economists NetworkJan 2016 - Aug 2017 (1 year 8 months)Served as Vice President of a non-profit professional network focused on economics, public policy, and development. Supported organizational strategy, programming, and member engagement initiatives across events, training, and partnerships.
Worked with leadership to coordinate activities, support community growth, and facilitate dialogue among early-career professionals across economics and related fields. - Business Intelligence and Analytics ConsultantSelfemployedAug 2013 - May 2021 (7 years 10 months)Worked as an independent business intelligence and analytics consultant, supporting multinational companies on market expansion and growth initiatives across complex, low-signal environments. Engagements focused on enabling leadership teams to make high-confidence decisions in markets where traditional data sources were fragmented, delayed, or unreliable.
Owned the full data lifecycle end to end, including data sourcing, design and development of custom data capture tools, and the creation of verification methodologies to ensure accuracy, consistency, and trustworthiness of inputs. Built systems to collect, validate, and structure consumer, retail, and market activity data, with an emphasis on making raw inputs decision-ready ra - Alumni TrainerKennedyLugar Youth Exchange and Study YES ProgramJan 2013 - Dec 2015 (3 years)Served as an Alumni Trainer within the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, supporting the restructuring and delivery of alumni engagement initiatives. Contributed to the redesign of alumni project frameworks and training activities, increasing participation and effectiveness across international exchange alumni innovation programs.
- YRegional ChairpersonYouth of United Nations AssociationNov 2011 - Jan 2013 (1 year 3 months)Regional Chairperson responsible for leading youth employment creation and community development initiatives in Tanzania. Designed and executed programs for secondary school leavers and university graduates, aligning regional activities with the Millennium Development Goals and United Nations development objectives.
Education
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Projects (professional or personal)
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- LLeading Technology Company Consultancy ProjectThe project was aimed to develop an understanding of the African healthcare system in order to single out areas where data and technology solutions can make a momentous impact. Health care provision, together with the deficiency of existing heath care models, are two major subjects in the health care system in Africa. Hence, it will benefit from knowing the structure, current state, and the most innovative trends shaping the future of healthcare in Africa, which tie the present and future potential. My team was submitting reports and recommendations on that project.
Awards
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- Certificate of RecognitionCity of Los AngelesMay 2023
- LInnovator in TradeLos Angeles Area Chamber of CommerceMay 2023In recognition of companies that have applied or developed innovative products or services to improve or transform processes and procedures to increase international trade and enhance global competitiveness.
- GPeople's Choice Award NomineeGlobal Startup AwardsJan 2021
- Future News Worldwide 2017 WinnerBritish CouncilJan 2017Future News Worldwide is a unique partnership programme between the British Council and the world's leading media organisations. It aims to assist young people to develop a wide range of journalism skills and to establish the UK as a global leader in the nurturing of young journalists and media figures. Underlying this, the programme builds strong and lasting connections to the next generation of media leaders across the globe.
- BGuest Speaker: The Future of African Talent, from a Millennial’s PerspectiveBANKSETA International Executive Development Programme IEDPAug 2016The BANKSETA IEDP supports transformation and personal development through partnerships to enable stakeholders to advance the national and global position of the broader banking and micro-finance industry.
- SBrave Founder BeginningsSouthern Africa Startup AwardsA migrant startup founder in the technology field who has shown notable achievements over the last year and acts as a role model for their own community.
- Outstanding Community Service & VolunteerismIowa Resource for International Service IRISIRIS is a nonprofit, non-religious organization founded in Iowa to promote international understanding, development and peace by connecting Iowans to communities worldwide. IRIS brings students, journalists, business people, educators, and government leaders to Iowa from Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia.
- SFounder of the YearSouthern Africa Startup AwardsA tech startup founder that has shown notable achievements over the last year in terms of great customer growth, sales, funds raised, uniqueness, impact of the product/service and leadership in the ecosystem.
- IOutstanding Performance in Theater ArtsInternational Thespian Society
- ISpecial AchievementIowa Academic Decathlon
- VVienna Startup PackageVienna Business AgencyThe Vienna Startup Package is awarded to 20 ambitious startups from all around the world who are motivated to scale to the German-speaking market and want to benefit from the Austrian startup ecosystem.
- UOutstanding AchievementUnited States Academic Decathlon
- SBrave Founder of the YearSouthern Africa Startup AwardsA migrant startup founder in the technology field who has shown notable achievements over the last year in the SADC region and acts as a role model for their own community.