"Do whatever you think is best, don’t be limited by the path others walked before you."
Thule Hlophe is a Director in Digital and IT Audit at SNG Grant Thornton. With over 20 years of experience, she is passionate about helping clients navigate emerging risks in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. Thule leads teams that support assurance, conduct IT audits, assess system controls, and advise on digital transformation projects. For her, technology is not just about systems, but about enabling trust, safeguarding data integrity, and guiding businesses through change with confidence.
Her career began in internal auditing, where she built a strong technical foundation before moving into IT audit when the discipline was first introduced. Her curiosity and passion for computers drove her to embrace the challenges of mainframe systems in the early 2000s.
A defining moment came when she realised the potential of technology to reshape business, not only by automating processes but also by creating new risks that required proactive management. Over time, she expanded her expertise into digital transformation, data analytics, and cyber risk, building a career that blends deep technical understanding with strategic advisory.
Thule sees the future of digital and IT audit shaped by:
She believes IT auditors must become trusted advisors, helping organisations not only comply with standards but also anticipate and mitigate risks in an increasingly digital world.
For Thule, Women Powering Progress means mentoring the next generation of women in technology and showing them that IT is not just for men. As she explains:
"The Women Powering Progress platform is important because it encourages young girls to see technology as a career. When women bring empathy, perspective, and their voice to tech spaces, it changes how problems are solved and inspires others to follow."
When asked what Turning Growth into Shared Progress means to her,
Thule says:
"Turning growth into shared progress means growing and sharing progress while leaving no one behind. It is about growing each service line and the organisation as a whole, across geographies and globally, and making sure that everybody is included."
Thule’s team helps clients secure and strengthen their digital environments through:
Her approach combines technical rigour with a business-centric lens, ensuring clients understand the risks, the controls, and the opportunities technology presents.
Thule believes the future of IT audit lies in integrating advanced tools such as AI with human judgment and advisory insight. She remains committed to mentoring young professionals, particularly women in technology, and ensuring that as businesses grow digitally, progress is shared inclusively and sustainably.
Let’s shape a future where growth uplifts everyone.
Partner with SNG Grant Thornton, Turning Growth into Shared Progress.
