Kirsty McLeod
Johannesburg
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record, excelling in team management and fostering exceptional interpersonal relationships. Leveraging marketing expertise to drive brand growth; harnessing business acumen and interpersonal skills to create operational efficiency, achieving sustainable business success. Skilled in team development and collaborative work environment building with seamless P&L management, demonstrating a significant impact on performance and client satisfaction.
Adaptive, resourceful and deadline-oriented; meticulous leader and strategic planner offering vision and motivational skill.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
Mettlestate (Pty) Ltd
09.2023 - 12.2024
- Managed overall business operations to ensure alignment of service delivery with customer expectations, driving a sustainable business.
- Monitored financial performance and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
- Long-range resource and business planning while leading operations strategic vision.
- Implemented effective cost-saving measures to reduce overhead expenses without compromising quality or service.
- Managed a diverse team, fostering a positive work environment and high employee satisfaction.
- Managed employee development and performance reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on operational principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement, introducing regular review sessions that boosted team performance and morale.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
Marketing Head
Brand Hubb (Pty) Ltd
11.2021 - 08.2023
- Built and led marketing team for a group of 15 online stores.
- Elevated brand visibility by developing and executing comprehensive marketing campaigns across multiple digital platforms.
- Management of paid media campaigns and budgets for all e-commerce stores
- Developed and implemented marketing strategies to use for launches, rebranding campaigns and promotions.
- Boosted sales performance through the creation of engaging promotional materials and targeted advertising strategies.
- Analyzed market trends to identify new opportunities, adjusting marketing plans accordingly for maximum effectiveness.
- Improved customer loyalty by implementing effective email marketing campaigns and personalized offers; nurture leads and convert prospects into customers.
- Mentored junior team members, providing guidance and support to foster professional growth and skill development within the marketing department.
- Enhanced online presence, optimizing website content for SEO and improving user experience.
- Implemented data-driven marketing strategies, utilizing analytics tools to track campaign success and refine tactics as needed.
- Managed budgets, allocating funds strategically towards high-impact initiatives that supported overall business goals.
- Coordinated with sales teams to align marketing and sales strategies, driving revenue growth.
- Oversaw preparation of marketing copy, images, videos, emails, and other collateral.
- Devised content strategy to effectively engage target audiences.
- Coordinated with design and media teams to develop high-quality creative assets.
- This role encompassed the positions of Marketing Manager for Brand Direct (digital agency division of Brand Hubb) as well as ChipIn (online gifting platform founded by Brand Hubb)
Founder and Owner: Marketing Consultant
Source Marketing Solutions
08.2014 - 10.2021
- Established a successful business by identifying market needs and developing innovative solutions.
- Delivered turnkey outsourced marketing functions for a range of SME clients.
- Delivered exceptional customer service by addressing client concerns promptly and effectively resolving issues.
- Established and grew digital presence for multiple brands, including building and managing all social media platforms.
- Provided expert guidance on branding strategy to establish consistent messaging across all platforms and touchpoints.
- Enhanced social media engagement with regular, impactful content creation and active community management.
- Managed budget allocations for marketing projects, maximizing ROI through strategic resource deployment.
- Delivered insightful data analysis and reporting to clients, demonstrating campaign success and areas for improvement.
- Planned and executed events and marketing programs.
- Implemented creative solutions to address unique challenges faced by clients in a variety of industries.
- Consulted with clients on business issues and developed innovative, high-impact proposals.
- Collaborated with public relations specialists to secure positive media coverage for client products or services.
- Crafted persuasive copywriting for various channels including websites, advertisements, blog posts, and more.
- Leveraged analytics tools to monitor campaign performance, making adjustments for improved outcomes.
- Leveraged email marketing best practices to increase open rates, click-through rates, and overall campaign effectiveness.
- Developed comprehensive marketing plans for clients, incorporating a mix of traditional and digital tactics for optimal results.
Lecturer (Part Time)
Vega School of Brand Leadership
07.2016 - 07.2017
- Cultivated critical thinking skills through challenging assignments that required analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information from various sources.
- Developed strong relationships with colleagues, collaborating on curriculum development and sharing best practices in teaching strategies.
- Evaluated student progress through regular assessments, providing detailed feedback for improvement and growth.
- Selected and designed lesson plans and curriculum to meet academic objectives.
- Increased student interest by incorporating real-world examples into lessons and connecting material to relevant experiences.
- Mentored and advised students to explore career pathways based and amplify knowledge, skills and strengths.
- Developed and implemented innovative teaching strategies to engage students in lectures and coursework.
- Managed large class sizes effectively, maintaining an orderly learning environment conducive to student success.
- Fostered supportive and inclusive classroom environment, leading to improved student engagement and participation.
Marketing Specialist
CMN Marketing
10.2013 - 07.2014
- Increased brand awareness by developing and implementing targeted marketing campaigns.
- Elevated brand reputation through the development of compelling public relations strategies and media outreach efforts.
- Boosted lead generation through the creation of engaging content for social media platforms.
- Conducted competitor analysis for better positioning in the market and identifying growth opportunities.
- Managed cross-functional teams to successfully execute product launches and promotional events.
- Crafted compelling press releases, securing favourable media coverage and elevating brand reputation.
- Wrote engaging and successful marketing, advertising, and website copy.
- Tracked key performance indicators to measure success of campaigns.
- Assembled reports and presentations to share insights and recommendations with stakeholders.
Brand Manager, SanDisk
Tudortech (Pty) Ltd
09.2010 - 09.2013
- Researched market trends to identify customer needs and preferences for strategic planning.
- Presented regular updates to senior leadership and international principals, demonstrating progress towards key objectives and securing ongoing support for marketing initiatives.
- Planned, implemented, and tracked sales and marketing strategies to promote brand products.
- Aligned internal teams with brand guidelines, ensuring consistent representation of the brand across all departments and touchpoints.
- Increased customer loyalty through effective management of consumer feedback and timely resolution of concerns.
- Analyzed competitor offerings to identify opportunities for differentiation and capitalize on unique selling points.
- Monitored and evaluated marketing and advertising campaigns to support brand consistency and engagement.
- Developed and executed branding campaigns to educate target audiences on product features and benefits.
- Developed strategic partnerships with complementary brands, expanding market reach and driving collaborative promotions.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, vendors and industry influencers to create positive brand experiences.
- Worked closely with public relations teams to generate positive press coverage for new product releases and announcements.
- Managed and oversaw creative projects to drive quality, accuracy and deadline management.
- Organized and delivered training sessions for new product content and technological advancements.
- Coordinated trade show participation, showcasing products effectively while networking with industry professionals to expand business relationships.
- Negotiated vendor contracts for advertising placements, obtaining favourable terms that maximized value for the brand.
- Spearheaded strategic brand plans for multiple product lines to increase market share and brand awareness.
- Conducted research and analysis to determine brand positioning and messaging.
- Monitored industry news closely, staying abreast of emerging trends for quick adaptation of branding strategies accordingly.
- Oversaw preparation of marketing copy, images, videos, emails, and other collateral.
- Executed comprehensive marketing plans that consistently achieved targets for increased revenue.
- Developed creative presentations, trend reports, kitted assets, and product data sheets.
- Generated sponsorships with related and partnering entities to enhance marketing objectives.
Marketing Executive
Pastel Accounting (Pty) Ltd
02.2008 - 08.2010
- Planned and executed events and marketing programs to drive brand awareness.
- Planned and executed marketing campaigns to target reseller community.
- Launched marketing activities for new product lines and market penetration.
- Developed strong relationships with key industry influencers, leading to increased brand exposure and partnership opportunities.
- Identified target audiences and devised campaigns to match target demographics and optimize results.
- Collaborated with developers and product managers to market products and services.
- Managed relationships with key industry partners and implemented promotional initiatives to maximize marketing program performance.
- Managed and oversaw design of marketing material and promotional literature for organization.
- Developed innovative and targeted collateral to support overall branding objectives.
- Collaborated closely with sales teams to ensure alignment between promotional activities and revenue goals.
- Increased customer loyalty through the development of tailored loyalty programs and personalized marketing efforts.
- Identified value propositions and key messages for company marketing campaigns.
- Spearheaded successful rebranding efforts which resulted in a more cohesive brand identity across all channels.
- Oversaw preparation of marketing copy, images, videos, emails, and other collateral.
Marketing Manager
Insync Mobile
09.2006 - 01.2008
- Boosted brand awareness while managing external marketing campaigns and programs.
- Developed and implemented marketing strategies for launches and promotions.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent branding across all touchpoints.
- Organized successful trade show exhibits, showcasing products effectively to potential customers and partners.
- Boosted sales performance through the creation of engaging promotional materials and targeted advertising strategies.
- Analyzed market trends to identify new opportunities, adjusting marketing plans accordingly for maximum effectiveness.
- Mentored junior team members, providing guidance and support to foster professional growth and skill development within the marketing department.
- Increased customer engagement with creative content strategies, tailoring messages to target demographic preferences.
- Oversaw preparation of marketing collateral.
- Continually maintained and improved company's reputation and positive image in markets served.
Marketing Officer
Leaf Wireless
05.2005 - 08.2006
- Increased brand awareness by implementing targeted marketing campaigns and strategies.
- Organized events to showcase company products, building awareness and generating valuable leads.
- Coordinated with sales teams to develop effective promotional materials and sales collateral.
- Contributed to the creation of sales presentations that effectively communicated product value propositions.
- Provided feedback to all departments on brand consistency in outbound communications.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent messaging across all marketing channels.
- Identified value propositions and key messages for company marketing campaigns.
- Preserved brand integrity by monitoring consistency and quality of marketing content.
PA and Office Manager
Denverdraft Group
10.2000 - 04.2005
- Maintained appropriate filing of personal and professional documentation.
- Oversaw personal and professional calendars and coordinated appointments for future events.
- Responded to emails and other correspondence to facilitate communication and enhance business processes.
- Improved time management of the executive through effective prioritization and organization of tasks.
- Maintained confidentiality and discretion while handling sensitive information relevant to company operations.
- Coordinated events and functions with attention to detail ensuring successful execution.
- Assisted in the preparation of presentations and reports, contributing to well-informed decision making.
- Contributed to a positive work environment through professional demeanor and strong interpersonal skills.
- Facilitated smooth office operations by managing supplies inventory and overseeing maintenance requests.
- Managed travel arrangements including flights, accommodations, and itineraries for smooth business trips.
- Boosted team morale, organized team-building activities that fostered positive work environment.
- Streamlined communication, acted as primary point of contact between executives and internal/external stakeholders.
- Enhanced executive productivity by managing complex calendars and scheduling high-level meetings.
- Contributed to strategic planning sessions, prepared comprehensive meeting minutes for future reference.
- Participated in team meetings and staff training sessions.
- Served as a liaison between upper management and staff members, facilitating open channels of communication to address concerns or issues promptly.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Marketing Management
Unisa
PretoriaHonours - Clinical Psychology
RAU
JohannesburgBachelor of Arts - Psychology And English
Unisa
PretoriaMatric - Senior Certificate
Brescia House Convent
JohannesburgSkills
- Operations management
- Team player
- Effective leader
- Problem resolution
- Staff training and development
- P&L management
- Exceptional interpersonal communication
- Operations oversight
- Marketing
- Relationship building
About Me
- I'm a mad runner. Having completed three Comrades Marathons, one could say I'm either brave or stupid (but definitely resilient and dedicated). Fourth Comrades Marathon loading; I'll be running for charity in June 2025.
- At the centre of everything I do is a passion for mentoring and empowering teams to achieve their full potential.
- I am an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast, with a keen interest in personal growth and leadership.
- Achieving full Colours for Drama, and holding the position of Chairman of the Debating team in high school have led to me being an accomplished public speaker, having lectured university students, run client training sessions and delivering addresses at various events, most recently the EmpowaWomen Leadership Summit (August 2024)
- I also love a good cappuccino and the sound of the sea.
Timeline
General Manager
Mettlestate (Pty) Ltd
09.2023 - 12.2024
Marketing Head
Brand Hubb (Pty) Ltd
11.2021 - 08.2023
Lecturer (Part Time)
Vega School of Brand Leadership
07.2016 - 07.2017
Founder and Owner: Marketing Consultant
Source Marketing Solutions
08.2014 - 10.2021
Marketing Specialist
CMN Marketing
10.2013 - 07.2014
Brand Manager, SanDisk
Tudortech (Pty) Ltd
09.2010 - 09.2013
Marketing Executive
Pastel Accounting (Pty) Ltd
02.2008 - 08.2010
Marketing Manager
Insync Mobile
09.2006 - 01.2008
Marketing Officer
Leaf Wireless
05.2005 - 08.2006
PA and Office Manager
Denverdraft Group
10.2000 - 04.2005
Postgraduate Diploma - Marketing Management
Unisa
Honours - Clinical Psychology
RAU
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology And English
Unisa
Matric - Senior Certificate
Brescia House Convent
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