Sithembinkosi Ndiweni

• Manage all aspects of podcast creation, from editing audio content using tools like Audacity to delivering well-structured and engaging episodes focused on business innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Curate and develop customized playlists, selecting relevant audio content that aligns with the podcast’s themes of digital transformation and business strategy.
• Edit and produce high-quality audio, ensuring seamless integration of jingles, voiceovers, and other elements to enhance the overall listener experience.
• Structure podcast content to maintain a clear, confident, and engaging flow, adapting to feedback to continuously improve episode quality.
• Provide voiceovers with the appropriate energy and tone to captivate and retain the audience.
• Collaborate with radio station management to diversify musical selection, integrate playlists seamlessly into episodes, and enhance listener engagement.
• Conduct research on trending topics and music genres to create playlists that appeal to a broad audience and complement the podcast’s educational content.
• Monitor and analyze listener feedback to refine and optimize playlists, contributing to increased audience retention and engagement.
• Work closely with team members to meet project goals and advance both technical and creative skills.
  -Currently leading the development of an investor pitch deck to secure $1-3 million in funding for company expansion, showcasing financial projections and growth strategies to attract potential investors.

In my consultancy role as a Regional Business Development Manager for the 7th African Agri Investment Indaba, I was responsible for driving sponsorship, exhibition, and delegate sales for this premier agricultural investment forum. My key responsibilities included:

• Reaching out to prospects through emails, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings to drive sales.
• Building and managing relationships with key clients to ensure seamless event execution, enhance customer satisfaction, and foster long-term partnerships with investors and agri project developers.
• Achieving and exceeding sales targets and product budgets through a strategic approach to selling sponsorships (Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Bronze packages), exhibition packages (6-72 sqm), and delegate tickets (single and group bookings).
• Connecting with decision-makers to align offerings with their needs and secure their investment commitments.
• Collaborating with finance and marketing teams to manage timely onboarding, payment follow-ups, and optimize brand visibility through targeted communications and outreach.
• Maintaining high customer satisfaction by conducting regular outreach and addressing client needs throughout the event lifecycle.
• Documenting all sales activities in Pipedrive and HubSpot, maintaining detailed records of client interactions, and implementing lead research strategies for effective campaigns.
• Participating in weekly pipeline and product meetings, logging sales activities, and providing monthly performance reports to refine sales strategies.
• Conducting competitor analysis and fostering relationships with industry leaders to identify and capitalize on new opportunities, ensuring accurate data for effective marketing efforts.
• Engaging in industry webinars, conferences, and workshops to connect with potential leads and stay informed about industry trends.

-Led a cross-functional team across operations, marketing, finance, and digital technology, collaborating with engineers and industrial designers to develop a 3D-printed MVP.
-Applied design thinking, innovative methodologies, and product sprints throughout the ideation process lifecycle, ensuring iterative improvements through focus groups, surveys, interviews, and design sprints with end users, industry experts, and donors.
-Tested and validated the platform's concept by facilitating four focus groups with residents of Gugulethu, ensuring the solution provided both safe sanitation options and financial empowerment for disabled individuals.
-Successfully launched the platform into the market, surpassing adoption and performance goals.
-Conducted workload assessments and implemented new processes, boosting growth and productivity by 40% and resolving stagnation in two underperforming departments.
-Supervised strategic meetings to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, onboarding new clients and increasing profitability by 15%.
-Organized an endowment fundraiser, managing 12 volunteers and securing over 100 attendees, exceeding the $2,500 donation goal by pitching to over 10 prospective sponsors.

-Achieved 22% business growth within one year by recruiting and training employees, attending national business events, and selling 200+ orders.
-Spearheaded the social media strategy, creating eye-catching promotional content that increased visibility for new products by 15% and boosted Instagram followers by 25%.
-Developed and managed a Salesforce calendar for tracking client milestones and scheduled weekly follow-up calls with 70+ clients, resulting in a 25% increase in client retention.
-Implemented a full website redesign informed by market trend analysis, customer segmentation, and competitive research, leading to a 200% increase in website leads.
-Organized and designed trade show stalls, attracting over 50 clients daily, efficiently managing customer orders, identifying fulfillment errors, and resolving them promptly.
-Analyzed business trends, data, and financial metrics to identify growth opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and inform strategic decisions.
-Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align strategies with business goals and customer needs, enhancing both internal processes and client satisfaction.
-Conducted in-depth market research, competitor analysis, and feasibility studies to support informed decision-making and long-term business planning.
-Developed and maintained detailed reports, dashboards, and presentations to track KPIs and business outcomes, providing actionable insights for stakeholders.
-Specialized in transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights that supported data-driven decisions and helped optimize business operations.
-Excelled in customer-facing roles within the hospitality industry, earning commendations for outstanding sales techniques and customer service.