Karen Snyders
Cape Town
Summary
Energetic business development professional driven to motivate and excite employees to reach optimum performance. Natural leader and complex problem solver. Experienced with product testing, management and development of new business opportunities. Goal-orientated manager with distinguished experiences in financial industries and proven leadership abilities. Expert in increasing productivity and customer satisfaction while driving revenue and sales. Committed to streamlining procedures while optimizing employee talent.
Overview
2
2
Languages
1
1
Certification
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Service Centre Operator / Cash Office Clerk (Rotat
Edcon Group
02.2004 - 01.2008
- Delivered exceptional customer service and resolved customer queries in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Processed refunds, exchanges, lay-bys, account payments, and customer service transactions in line with company policies.
- Operated Point of Sale (POS) systems accurately and efficiently.
- Rotated into the Cash Office, performing daily cash-ups, till reconciliations, banking, and cash balancing.
- Investigated and resolved cash discrepancies while maintaining strict cash control procedures.
- Assisted with store administration and supported the day-to-day operational requirements of the store.
- Worked closely with management and colleagues to ensure smooth store operations and a positive customer experience.
- Maintained accurate records and complied with company policies and internal controls.
- Assisted with stock-related administration and operational support where required.
Sales Consultant
Professional Provident Society
02.2008 - 06.2012
- Created detailed sales presentations to communicate product features and market data
- Cold called and conducted face-to-face sales calls with C-level executives and directors in assigned sales territory
- Presented products or services using interactive materials such as videos, charts and slideshows
- Followed up with existing customers to provide additional support and address concerns
- Retained consistent client base by conducting market research to develop brand strategy
- Applied knowledge of market and full range of innovative and unique products to meet customer needs, expanding company’s customer base
- Oversaw daily outbound calls to identify services that address primary needs
- Provided sales and customer service assistance to walk-in traffic
- Increasing profitability and pipeline development by leveraging multiple sales strategies and distribution channels
- Implemented up-selling strategies
- Maintained sense of urgency in answering customer questions and requests through email and telephonically
- Responded to telephone and in-person requests for information
- Increased sales by fostering relationships with customers, implementing business strategies and suggesting areas for improvement
- Used consultative sales techniques to understand customer needs and recommend relevant products and services
- Conducted on-site product demonstrations to highlight features, answer customer questions and redirect concerns toward positive aspects
- Stayed knowledgeable on latest innovations and technological advancements through continuous training
- Maximized customer retention by resolving issues quickly
- Improved sales by managing sales lifecycle from lead generation through contract negotiations and closings
Team Leader
Professional Provident Society
07.2012 - 02.2014
- Increased productivity and revenue streams through effective change management practices
- Monitored incoming calls and provided feedback to improve quality of service
- Collaborated with sales team to set monthly funding goals and tracked progress
- Met with clients to maintain communication to enhance teams’ execution on new products/processes
- Facilitated meetings to communicate team performance goals and results
- Resolved customer service issues by finding immediate solutions, increasing customer confidence and decreasing escalations to executive office
- Led employee relations through effective communication, coaching, training and development
- Implemented new processes to streamline workflow within team, averaging additional productivity per day
Quality Assurance Manager
Professional Provident Society
03.2014 - 06.2021
- Cooperated with engineering, manufacturing and corporate accounting to verify adherence to quality standards
- Estimated financial requirements of new projects
- Prepared and collection of production reports
- Collected production samples regularly and performed detailed quality inspections
- Monitored staff organization and suggested improvements to daily functionality
- Inspected products and worker progress throughout production
- Evaluated interactions between associates and customers to assess personnel performance
- Recorded, analyzed and distributed statistical information
- Determined quality department standards
- Developed quality planning for multiple new product launches by verifying customer requirements and implementing in design and production
- Applied coaching techniques and tools to support managers and team members in improving performance
- Scheduled and chaired quality review meetings and to review effectiveness of performance mitigating risk, improving throughout and achieving customer satisfaction
- Established and tracked quality department goals and objectives
Business Development Manager/Operations/& Compliance Officer (Acting)
Vision Insurance Brokers
07.2021 - Current
- Developed and implemented favourable pricing structures balancing firm objectives against customer targets
- Researched industry and marketplace trends to develop marketing solutions and enhance business operations
- Consulted with product development teams to enhance products based on customer interest data
- Developed and promoted successful company sales and account management personnel into leadership positions to drive company growth
- Completed and submitted monthly and yearly reports to support executive decision making
- Developed new proposals, contracts and procedures to draw in more clients and streamline work operations
- Identified key products, services and customers and used data to devise innovative sales and marketing plans enabling dramatic growth
- Generated new business with marketing initiatives and strategic plans
- Negotiated, prepared and signed contracts with clients
- Taught consultative selling techniques to new and existing staff members to build expertise
- Collaborated with sales and marketing departments to support project rollout
- Implemented successful approaches to revitalize underperforming product lines and create new profit-generating enterprises
- Devised effective marketing, sales and other promotional initiatives
- Compiled product and customer data to generate informed profit projections
- Partnered with business teams and IT personnel to align project goals with business strategy and define project milestones
- Worked with existing customers to increase purchases of products and services
- Collaborated with company departments to develop new strategies to capitalize on emerging customer and market trends
- Collected data and performed customer needs analysis
- Kept meticulous client notes and updated account information in company databases
- Established relationships with key decision-makers within customer’s organization to promote growth and retention
- Identified and pursued valuable business opportunities to generate new company revenue and improve bottom line profit
- Created reports and presentations detailing business development activities
- Compliance oversight: maintaining regulatory requirements, monitoring internal controls, ensuring documentation accuracy, and supporting audits
Education
Diploma - Management of Technology and Innovation
Da Vinci Institute
Johannesburg, South Africa01-2014
Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management
Da Vinci Institute
Johannesburg, South Africa09-2020
Master of Business Administration - undefined
University of Hertfordshire
England01-2021
Postgraduate Certificate - Senior Phase and Further Education and Training
STADIO Higher Education, School of Education, Distance Learning Campus
Cape Town, South Africa12-2024
Skills
Verbal and Written Communication
Business Development and Planning
Goals and Performance
Market Understanding
Strategic Planning
Marketing
Cold Calling
Key Decision Making
New Business Development
Product and Service sales
Relationship Building and Management
Certification
Professional Certifications / Accreditations Oct 2025 Commissioner of Oaths (South Africa) — Appointed under Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act :16 of 1963
Interests
Watching Rugby, Being outdoors surrounded by nature
Qualities
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Team Leadership
- Time Management
- Adaptability
- Decision Making
- Conflict Resolution
- Coaching and Training
- Creativity
- Negotiation
- Empathy
- Motivation
- Attention to Detail
- Resilience
- Collaboration
- Strategic Thinking
- Leadership
- Analytical Skills
- Initiative
- Persuasion
- Active Listening
- Multitasking
- Patience
- Accountability
- Relationship Building
- Presentation Skills
- Change Management
- Salesmanship
- Goal Orientation
- Communication Skills
- Customer Focus
- Teamwork
- Flexibility
- Emotional Intelligence
- Conflict Management
- Stress Management
- Organizational skills
- Conflict resolution
- Coaching
Courses
- Wealth Management National Certificate 2010
- Basic economic principals to the financial service sector, knowledge and insight into the changing nature of the financial services industry and its consumers, risk in a financial service environment, principals of ethics to a business environment, technical knowledge and skill to advise on individual planning for retirement, knowledge of business insurance to propose a long-term financial solution for business entity
- Professional development Management Diploma 2014
- Problem-solving, creative thinking and decision making, Self, others and social context, Managing systems, Management of Innovation, Management of Technology, Implementation Management, Management and Leadership development, Management of People, Change management
Leadership and School Activities
- Deputy Head Girl SRC Leader 1998 - 1998
- Bernadino Heights School of Commerce
Timeline
Business Development Manager/Operations/& Compliance Officer (Acting)
Vision Insurance Brokers
07.2021 - Current
Quality Assurance Manager
Professional Provident Society
03.2014 - 06.2021
Team Leader
Professional Provident Society
07.2012 - 02.2014
Sales Consultant
Professional Provident Society
02.2008 - 06.2012
Service Centre Operator / Cash Office Clerk (Rotat
Edcon Group
02.2004 - 01.2008
Postgraduate Certificate - Senior Phase and Further Education and Training
STADIO Higher Education, School of Education, Distance Learning Campus
Master of Business Administration - undefined
University of Hertfordshire
Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management
Da Vinci Institute
Diploma - Management of Technology and Innovation
Da Vinci Institute