Athenkosi Lolwana
Communication Specialist
Randburg
Summary
I am a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner and Communication Specialist with expertise in writing, editing and proofreading for strategic business communication. My experience includes change and communication management in the Healthcare, IT and Higher Education industries. I currently work as a Senior Branding and Digital Marketing Specialist at AfroCentric Group in South Africa. I am known for my detail-orientation and ability to deliver thorough and well-structured engagements. My creative, logical and analytical thinking abilities also enable me to manage multiple projects simultaneously, thus making me an ideal candidate for positions requiring sharp and strategic business communicators.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Specialist: Branding & Digital Marketing
AfroCentric Group
Roodepoort, Johannesburg
05.2024 - Current
- Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards
- Manage expenses and identify cost-saving opportunities
- Drive cohesive brand presence across AfroCentric Group and subsidiaries
- Support and align brand initiatives and campaigns with company objectives
- Monitor and direct daily operations to ensure adherence to goals
- Supervise brand standards and usage guidelines
- Plan, execute, and measure social media activities
- Collaborate with GM: Corporate Affairs and Group Marketing for consistent branding
- Manage content creation and online campaigns
- Identify target audiences and tailor marketing strategies
- Create marketing videos and multimedia content
- Analyze social media metrics and adjust strategies for engagement
- Prepare KPI reports and recommend marketing improvements
- Optimize website content for SEO and manage paid advertising campaigns
- Provide staff development, coaching, and mentoring
- Maintain stakeholder relationships
- Oversee marketing and branding collateral and activations and manage divisional budget
Senior Specialist: Digital Awareness and Adoption
Multichoice Group
12.2023 - 04.2024
- Developed and executed strategies to increase digital platform usage and user base
- Managed creation, editing, and consistency of digital content in alignment with brand guidelines
- Exceeded targets for digital usage and customer acquisition
- Analyzed competitor strategies to enhance the company's competitive edge
- Translated customer requirements into actionable insights to improve engagement
- Identified and addressed gaps in the digital sales process, leading to process improvements
- Led digital sales campaigns, driving growth in digital sales and adoption
- Implemented initiatives promoting self-service activation
- Managed financials and ensured cost control
- Ensured compliance with business risks and operational processes
Communication Specialist
LegalWise SA
06.2023 - 12.2023
- Develop comprehensive communication strategies to enhance employee engagement and raise awareness of strategic initiatives
- Create and edit impactful communication materials for internal distribution
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure effective communication flow
- Conduct research and analysis to identify communication needs and opportunities
- Plan and execute communication campaigns across various channels
- Support in organizing and facilitating company events and internal communication sessions
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication activities
Corporate Editor
GEMS
05.2022 - 04.2023
- Developed and edited content for dissemination to members and stakeholders
- Provided high-quality editorial services for the Scheme's communication material
- Ensured clear, simplified communication of Scheme messages to the targeted audience
- Created communications supporting corporate messages to drive engagement and deliver results
- Collaborated with internal business units to meet communication objectives
- Corrected factual, grammar, and spelling errors, ensuring logical presentation
- Edited and packaged content for various communication channels
Digital Change & Communication Coordinator
Nihilent Limited
11.2020 - 04.2022
- Created and implemented change management strategies to drive digital platform awareness and adoption
- Collaborated with the Data & Analytics team to inform product awareness decisions
- Created and edited platform roll-out plans, Go-To-Market plans, and communications across 49 markets
- Developed FAQ documents, call-center, and IVR messaging scripts for platform awareness
- Created and updated digital platform training documents
- Managed the digital content calendar
- Executed promotional and platform adoption notifications based on the content calendar
- Conducted live demo sessions and face-to-face activations
- Wrote and edited content for digital product launches
- Proofread and edited spelling, grammar, and syntax across multiple digital platforms
- Verified content, implemented SEO, and approved copy based on the client's in-house style guide
Content Editor
Nihilent Limited
12.2018 - 11.2020
- Proofread and edited spelling, grammar, and syntax
- Ensured content met client needs and followed the in-house style guide
- Organized, modified, and updated existing content
- Verified content and information
- Collaborated with the graphic design team for a user-friendly experience
- Developed fresh, creative content ideas with the audience in mind
- Analyzed data and analytics to increase reader engagement
- Wrote SEO and industry best practices
Chief Editor: Student Publications
TUT: Student Affairs & Extracurricular Development
01.2017 - 11.2018
- Supervised the production of the monthly online and print campus newspapers
- Edited and prepared submitted articles for publication
- Trained staff through brainstorming and information-sharing sessions
- Managed and produced news to present information accurately and timely
- Managed BUA Social Media accounts
- Organized and presented activities and events
- Identified potential strategic partners
- Identified and managed advertising partnerships and promotional opportunities
- Developed a communication management plan across all campuses
- Proofread and edited articles according to TUT corporate communications standards
- Organized newspaper distribution across all 9 campuses
Education
B-Tech - International Communication
Tshwane University of Technology
Tshwane, South Africa 01.2016 - 12.2017
N-Dip - International Communication
Tshwane University of Technology
Tshwane, South Africa 01.2013 - 12.2015
Grade 12-Matric -
Queen's College Boys' High School
Queenstown, South Africa 01.2006 - 12.2010
Skills
- Proofreading & Copy Editing
- Content Management
- Change & Communications
- Stakeholder Relations Management
Certification
Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, 05/22, Change Management Short Course, University of Cape Town
Timeline
Senior Specialist: Branding & Digital Marketing
AfroCentric Group
05.2024 - Current
Senior Specialist: Digital Awareness and Adoption
Multichoice Group
12.2023 - 04.2024
Communication Specialist
LegalWise SA
06.2023 - 12.2023
Corporate Editor
GEMS
05.2022 - 04.2023
Digital Change & Communication Coordinator
Nihilent Limited
11.2020 - 04.2022
Content Editor
Nihilent Limited
12.2018 - 11.2020
Chief Editor: Student Publications
TUT: Student Affairs & Extracurricular Development
01.2017 - 11.2018
B-Tech - International Communication
Tshwane University of Technology
01.2016 - 12.2017
N-Dip - International Communication
Tshwane University of Technology
01.2013 - 12.2015
Grade 12-Matric -
Queen's College Boys' High School
01.2006 - 12.2010
Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, 05/22, Change Management Short Course, University of Cape Town
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