Heather Reed
Cape Town
Summary
Detail-driven and people-focused, I bring over 10 years' experience supporting senior leaders across the education, tech, and nonprofit sectors. With a background in operations, project planning, and client relationship roles, I’ve coordinated complex projects, managed stakeholder communications, and kept fast-paced teams moving forward. I thrive in founder-led environments where structure, trust, and ownership are key. Whether managing inboxes, chasing deliverables, or streamlining client onboarding, I deliver calm, consistent service and take pride in keeping things organised, accurate, and on track.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Non-Executive Director
Learn to Grow
08.2023 - Current
- Responsible for overall effective governance of the NGO to uplift education in South Africa through increased parental involvement of learners at underprivileged schools.
- Ensure the legal and ethical integrity of the NGO.
- Support strategic decision-making and fundraising.
Partnership Manager
StudentCrowd
11.2023 - 10.2024
- Reporting to the Client Success Director, served as the main point of contact for new and existing partnerships.
- Delivered training and demonstrations of products and services, ensuring clients gained the best value from their products.
- Collaborated with internal teams to create partnership strategies that advanced company goals and in alignment with OKR's.
- Responsible for all renewals and supported upselling.
- Analysed performance of partners, providing reporting and strategic insight to stakeholders.
- Worked with internal teams to deliver regular initiatives to improve partner performance.
- Communicated feedback to relevant team members and maintained accurate partner records in the CRM.
Head of Education Operations
HyperionDev
09.2021 - 11.2022
- Reporting to the Chief Academic Officer, managed the education operations of short online technology courses.
- Oversaw the management of two campuses in South Africa, and online students.
- Responsible for 15 academic staff to successfully deliver courses to over 500 students, online and onsite.
- Oversaw code review services to four international clients.
- Promoted student progression and retention, and managed Student Success escalations.
- Achieved 70% of OKR's for Education Operations and Student Success across Q1 and Q2 2022.
- Organized onsite events for students and staff.
UK Academic Lead
2U GetSmarter
10.2018 - 08.2021
- Reporting to the Academic Manager, managed the successful delivery of international online courses with teaching teams.
- Worked with University partners from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, the University of Oxford, and the London School of Economics.
- Provided training on the online grading system to teaching teams
- Ran weekly tutor calls, live sessions and resolved contracting, content, and technical queries.
- Established and maintained relationships with teaching teams to successfully run the courses.
- Regularly communicated with internal teams to improve course content, delivery, and overall student experience.
- Supported academic integrity and the administration of plagiarism cases.
Programme Director
SICAS (SA)
05.2016 - 04.2018
- Reporting to the CEO, managed the rollout of educational programmes across 76 underprivileged schools in South Africa.
- Managed relationships with provincial education departments, donors, and school governing bodies to deliver sanitation upgrades.
- Oversaw brainstorming sessions and leadership seminars across 76 government schools.
- Delivered training to learners at schools and ran roadshows across 3 provinces.
- Presented at International Conferences and school sanitation launches.
- Co-led a delegation of Representatives for an international Conference to India.
Project Manager & Trustee
SICAS (SA)
02.2015 - 04.2016
- Reporting to the CEO, managed staff across 3 provinces to successfully deliver an educational programme to >50 government schools.
- Arranged school sanitation project launches and the roll-out of maintenance programmes to Principals, staff and learners.
- Sourced and established relationships with service-providers to run educational training at schools.
- Assisted with NGO marketing-material.
- Represented the NGO for television, radio, and newspaper interviews.
Executive Professional Assistant & Trustee
SICAS (SA)
05.2014 - 01.2015
- Reporting to the CEO, supported with all administrative tasks.
- Minuted legal meetings to register SICAS as a non-profit organization in South Africa.
- Expedited registration with the Department of Social Development.
- Arranged meetings with Government Departments to discuss providing sanitation to local communities.
- Assisted in setting up an office in Cape Town.
- Events-planning and arranging travel.
- Training new team members.
- Liaison with the Principal Organization in New Delhi, India.
Education
Honours - Psychological Counseling
Cornerstone Institute
2012
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of South Africa
2011
Bachelor of Commerce - Marketing, Management and Economics
University of Kwazulu-Natal
2002
Matric - Matric Exemption (Independent Examination Board)
Durban Girls' College
1997
Skills
- Executive & Operational Support
- Client Onboarding & Journey Management
- CRM Management
- Communication & Professional Correspondence
- Deadline & Milestone Tracking
- Process Improvement & Problem Solving
- Stakeholder Coordination
- Remote Work Excellence
Accomplishments
- Impi Challenge (2016)
- Midmar Mile (2009)
- Comrades Marathon & Two Oceans Ultra-Marathon (2008)
- Dubai Marathon (2006)
- Burj Al Arab Swim (2006)
- 2nd year President of the Dietetics Committee (1999)
- Kathryn Purkins Fellowship Award (1997)
References
- Written references available upon request
Education
other,other,other,other
Hobbies and interests
- Travel & engaging with international people
- Maintaining balance & keeping active
- The Royal Foundation
- Earthshot Prize
Timeline
Partnership Manager
StudentCrowd
11.2023 - 10.2024
Non-Executive Director
Learn to Grow
08.2023 - Current
Head of Education Operations
HyperionDev
09.2021 - 11.2022
UK Academic Lead
2U GetSmarter
10.2018 - 08.2021
Programme Director
SICAS (SA)
05.2016 - 04.2018
Project Manager & Trustee
SICAS (SA)
02.2015 - 04.2016
Executive Professional Assistant & Trustee
SICAS (SA)
05.2014 - 01.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of South Africa
Bachelor of Commerce - Marketing, Management and Economics
University of Kwazulu-Natal
Matric - Matric Exemption (Independent Examination Board)
Durban Girls' College
Honours - Psychological Counseling
Cornerstone Institute
Similar Profiles
Heather ReedHeather Reed
Non-Executive Director at Learn to GrowNon-Executive Director at Learn to Grow
Meredith GeddingsMeredith Geddings
Daycare Head Teacher at Learn 2 GrowDaycare Head Teacher at Learn 2 Grow
Darius LadstetterDarius Ladstetter
Student Aide at Work Learn And Grow ProgramStudent Aide at Work Learn And Grow Program
Wiedaad SamaaiWiedaad Samaai
Product Consultant at SamsungProduct Consultant at Samsung
Zakeer KhanZakeer Khan
Project Manager Services & Repairs at Damen Shipyards CTProject Manager Services & Repairs at Damen Shipyards CT