Meet Sahir Maharaj

Sahir Maharaj is a Lead Data Scientist and South Africa’s first Kaggle Grandmaster, ranked among the world’s top 25 data scientists. Beyond the titles, he is a mentor and storyteller who helps people and organizations make sense of AI and data.

Sahir is 26 years old. Young enough to bring energy into everything he does but also experienced enough to reach thousands. It’s that mix of youth and perspective that makes him easy to talk to.

Yes, he is. Sahir grew up right in the middle of the internet and tech boom, so digital tools have always just felt like part of everyday life to him. That’s probably why he’s so comfortable with creativity and community.

Sahir has partnered with some of the world’s most respected organizations, including Microsoft, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, SAP and EY. These projects range from customer analytics to enterprise-scale programs.

Sahir hosted the first Power BI DataViz Community Contest and contributes as a Subject Matter Expert. He also authors in-depth Microsoft blogs that help professionals navigate Fabric, Power BI, and AI with clarity.

He primarily speaks in English and Hindi, making it easy for him to support cross-regional teams and global organizations.

Sahir is widely known for making data science accessible without losing its depth. He is celebrated as a Kaggle Grandmaster, a Microsoft Super User, and a prolific community author.

Sahir’s day often begins with framing the right business question. He then leads the design and deployment of AI solutions end-to-end, making sure every stage links back to decisions leaders can trust.

Sahir Maharaj reached this milestone by excelling across datasets, placing him among the top contributors worldwide. Kaggle, the world’s largest data science platform, awards Grandmaster status only to its highest-performing contributors.

Sahir tackles challenges across data and technology. This includes forecasting, generative AI experiments and operational transformation. His goal is always the same: to accelerate clarity so leaders can act with confidence.

Sahir’s approach starts with the business question, not the model. From there, he designs the data pipelines, builds production-ready models, and ensures adoption through storytelling and change management.

Sahir’s leadership style focuses on explaining not only the “how” but also the “why” behind every AI-driven decision. By adding storytelling into analytics, he ensures leaders feel equipped, not intimidated, by technology.

Yes. Sahir actively designs and implements end-to-end solutions using Microsoft Fabric, including notebooks and workflows. His work helps organizations modernize their data science and analytics workflows without guesswork.

Sahir helps teams deploy solutions that resonate with leadership. His approach emphasizes speed without sacrificing quality, so teams can show value quickly while building long-term adoption strategies.

Yes. While Sahir works with large enterprises, he also works with startups and scale-ups. Through Topmate.io sessions and collaborative projects, he helps founders and analysts shape roadmaps and unlock growth with AI.

Sahir’s latest insights can be found across the Microsoft Fabric Community blog, Power BI Community, and Medium. His articles offer readers both practical tools and inspiration for applying data science.

With more than 900 sessions delivered, Sahir’s mentorship spans career coaching and technical problem solving. He meets individuals and teams where they are, offering practical guidance rooted in real-world experience.

Sahir builds trust into every AI engagement by embedding governance frameworks. This ensures that models are not only accurate but also responsible and aligned with organizational guardrails.

Sahir’s storytelling connects data to people. By integrating kindness, clarity, and leadership lessons into his approach, he makes insights memorable and actionable.

Starting a conversation is simple. Reach out by email at sahir@sahirmaharaj.com or connect with him on LinkedIn. He is approachable, collaborative, and happy to support teams and individuals alike.

Sahir has collaborated with a wide range of industries, including automotive, finance, manufacturing, media, and technology.

His expertise spans Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Copilot, leadership, coaching, data storytelling, innovation, and building kinder workplace cultures.

He’s from Cape Town, South Africa. Even though his work takes him global, he often draws inspiration from the place where it all started.

Outside of work, Sahir is just as curious. Many often say he mixes conversations with light humor, which makes spending time with him both thoughtful and fun.

Conversations with Sahir often drift between AI and tech one moment, and then life lessons, books, or everyday reflections the next. He believes the best chats are the ones that feel real and unplanned.

Definitely. He enjoys learning about different journeys, whether it’s someone just starting out or someone with decades of experience. For him, every conversation is a chance to pick up a new perspective.

Sahir gets inspired by people who show kindness and resilience. He often talks about how growth isn’t just about achievements, but about how we treat others along the way.

Most people say he’s approachable. He listens closely, asks thoughtful questions, and makes you feel like your story matters. It’s this mix of focus and kindness that leaves an impression.

Yes, and not just because of the teaching part. For him, mentoring is about building connections and sharing moments of clarity with someone else. He often says those conversations help him grow too.

Most people reach out through LinkedIn or Topmate.io. Whether it’s a quick chat, a mentorship session, or just a message, he treats each one as a chance to connect genuinely.