Pumeza Olona Ceza
Communications Strategist
Pretoria
Summary
Communications & Corporate Relations Executive Strategic and results-oriented business leader with experience in strategy, planning and operations. Skilled in developing and executing business plans to maximize profitability, streamline operations and maintain compliance with industry regulations. Proven people leader motivates and optimizes staff performance and productivity.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Director and Business Coach
Mentemore Consulting Services
12.2016 - Current
- Business owner of a consultancy agency that deals with business consultancy services, business and executive coaching, leadership, and youth development.
- Implemented robust financial controls and reporting systems, ensuring accurate forecasting and budget management.
- Championed process improvement initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and enhance productivity.
- Drove bottom-line results through rigorous financial analysis, cost containment measures, and efficient capital deployment strategies.
- Expanded market presence through successful negotiation of key partnerships and acquisitions.
- Strengthened client relationships with regular communication, timely project delivery, and high-quality services.
- Enhanced workplace safety protocols proactively addressing potential hazards before they became critical incidents.
- Developed comprehensive business plans, outlining long-term goals and actionable steps toward success.
- Increased overall company performance by implementing strategic management initiatives and streamlining operations.
- Fostered an inclusive work environment by championing diversity initiatives and empowering employees at all levels.
- Promoted a culture of continuous learning by investing in employee development programs and resources.
- Managed risk effectively by instituting comprehensive mitigation strategies across the organization''s operations.
Senior Manager Strategic Relationship— Civil Society
Brand South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
09.2017 - 02.2022
- The Strategic Relationship Manager in Brand South Africa is the custodian of the relationships with stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of all collaborations: Setting agenda for the civil society engagement strategy development and implementation
- Working mainly with the civil society stakeholders
- Managing and influencing relationships with key stakeholders as prioritized in the strategic plan to extend Brand South Africa’s marketing and communications objectives
- Playing a key relationship manager role in the definition and delivery of projects by assessing stakeholders’ needs and expectations and ensuring they are effectively addressed
- Leveraging stakeholder resources effectively and efficiently Liaison with local and international civil society bodies
- Internal Stakeholder Relations Research and Development: Commissioning cross-industry secondary research on related topics
- Leading the streams to extract, package, and disseminate key research insights via relevant digital content pieces; research and internal analysis, producing research updates and reports
- Marketing: Leading the Activations Manager and Marketing Manager on brand alignment and brand positioning
- Liaising with brand agencies, providing briefs, and maintaining strategic relationships and campaign management
- Communications: PR and digital media relations
- International Relations: Overall management of the programme for the Global South African in Australasia (Australia and New Zealand)
- Collaborating with business, sports, tourism, investment, and mining sector stakeholders and customers.
- Evaluated vendor offerings critically to select the most appropriate partners for delivering desired results at optimal costs.
- Increased customer satisfaction with timely project deliveries and seamless communication.
- Managed budgets effectively, achieving financial objectives while maintaining strict control over expenditures.
- Achieved operational excellence by streamlining processes and implementing best practices.
- Demonstrated exceptional adaptability in navigating complex situations or rapidly changing environments with ease.
Manager: Reputation Management & Corporate Social Responsibility
SITA
Pretoria, South Africa
06.2008 - 08.2017
- Developing and executing CSR strategy
- Managing partnership projects
- Liaising with the ministerial office on issues of reputation management and CSR projects
- Managing the SMME Development programme in line with supply chain management
- Driving the CSR and reputation management strategy
- Implementing the CSR plan
- Programme management and community liaison
- Running the community and schools’ development programmes
- Contributing to CSR corporate reporting to the Board’s Social and Ethics Committee
- Encouraging CSR contributions to BBBEE
- Managing internal and external communication channels
- Maintaining internal communication support (supporting business units)
- Managing industry campaigns aimed at reputation management
- Internal and external roadshows.
- Reduced operational costs through comprehensive process improvement initiatives and resource management.
- Championed diversity and inclusion efforts within the workplace, resulting in an inclusive environment that fostered creativity and innovation among employees from various backgrounds.
- Established robust risk mitigation strategies to safeguard against potential operational challenges or disruptions.
- Implemented innovative marketing campaigns that boosted brand awareness and generated significant sales leads.
- Optimized resource allocation by conducting regular performance evaluations and providing personalized coaching for staff development.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
- Facilitated successful cross-functional collaborations for the completion of key projects, fostering strong working relationships among team members.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations and legal requirements by implementing comprehensive policies and training programs for staff members.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Cultivated partnerships with external stakeholders to maximize business opportunities and extend network reach within the industry sector.
- Built high-performing teams through effective recruitment, onboarding, and talent development initiatives.
Director and Business Owner
Le-Mbinga Communications Consultancy
01.2008 - 12.2015
- Business owner for a PR and communications consultancy agency
Senior Specialist: Stakeholder Relations Management
SITA
04.2011 - 03.2013
- Coordinating and providing high-level strategic support to the Office of the CEO in planning, executing, and ensuring the success of the Office of the CEO mandate
- To serve as a liaison between the CEO and executives and business units; organise and coordinate internal and external efforts
- Scrutinizing government policies and their implications to the company (i.e., the Presidential Review on SOE’s)
- Coordinating and integrating public policy and government relations work with the shareholder (MPSA) Preparing written responses, critiques or comment in response to stakeholder relations issues
- Creating engagement models for reputation management and effective stakeholder engagements to help the company identify potential reputational risks and areas of reputational advantage
- Monitoring and scanning the dialogue on policy and legislative processes that impact on the company and advising accordingly
- Conducting research and liaising with institutions of research and information on issues of importance to the Office of the CEO
- Analyzing all forms of communication (e.g., correspondence and documents directed to the OCEO) and playing an advisory role to the OCEO on marketing and communications principles
- Keeping track of dates of government-related events that require the company’s participation
- Collaborated with cross-departmental teams in developing cohesive strategies aimed at achieving long-term organizational goals.
- Enhanced team productivity by implementing efficient project management strategies.
- Conducted thorough market research to identify new business opportunities, leading to increased revenue streams.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, securing favorable terms that benefited the organization''s bottom line.
- Conducted regular performance reviews for team members, providing constructive feedback that encouraged continuous improvement.
- Streamlined internal processes for improved operational efficiency and cost savings.
- Managed complex projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery and client satisfaction.
- Drove organizational growth by identifying areas for expansion and spearheading initiatives focused on market penetration and increased sales.
- Introduced innovative solutions to address critical business challenges, driving significant improvements in performance metrics.
- Optimized resource allocation through careful analysis and data-driven decision-making, maximizing departmental efficiency.
- Spearheaded cross-functional collaboration initiatives to foster innovation and drive business growth.
- Played a key role in shaping company culture by promoting core values such as integrity, accountability, and teamwork among employees.
- Developed comprehensive training programs for new hires, resulting in faster onboarding and better overall performance.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations by keeping abreast of changes in legislation and updating internal policies accordingly.
- Established strong working relationships with clients through exceptional customer service and proactive communication efforts.
- Delivered high-quality results consistently by adhering to strict quality control measures and industry best practices.
- Influenced organizational change by effectively communicating the benefits of proposed initiatives to stakeholders at all levels.
- Evaluated vendor proposals thoroughly, selecting partners who provided the best value for the investment made by the organization.
- Mentored junior staff members, fostering professional development and nurturing future leaders within the organization.
- Led a team of professionals in executing strategic objectives, achieving key milestones ahead of schedule.
- Identified areas in need of critical improvement and implemented strategies to achieve targets.
- Supported department leadership in implementing new policies, procedures and controls.
- Led projects by coordinating schedules, organizing resources and delegating work to meet deliverable and timeline requirements.
- Modeled effective and constructive communication behaviors between department heads, low-level staff and senior leaders to improve cross-functional collaboration.
- Oversaw work of junior personnel, helping to motivate strong performance and improve overall knowledge with focus on mentoring and coaching.
- Assisted with developing effective [Type] policies and procedures to improve operations.
- Drove change through quality-oriented strategies to help operations accomplish ambitious short- and long-term goals.
- Guided less experienced staff through processes such as [Type] and [Type] as singular point of contact for high-level needs.
- Verified accuracy and effectiveness of reporting processes, effectively using [Software] to track and model data for management review.
- Conducted independent technical reviews of current processes and records to proactively identify and correct process and system issues.
- Listened and responded to customer requests and forwarded necessary information to superiors.
- Attended training programs to deepen professional skillset and assisted in training fellow store associates on existing and new training programs.
- Offered coaching and resources to help program participants maintain progress and achieve goals.
- Interpreted clients' needs and introduced services to fit specific requirements.
- Followed all company policies and procedures to deliver quality work.
- Created and delivered presentations to internal and external stakeholders to showcase work.
- Built and managed relationships with key clients and partners to drive growth.
- Analyzed marketing data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Coordinated and executed marketing campaigns to generate new leads and sales opportunities.
- Assisted with staff training to enforce quality, safety and sanitation guidelines.
- Collaborated with internal departments to align marketing campaigns.
- Monitored industry trends to adapt strategies accordingly.
- Maintained current understanding of market conditions, compliance standards and best practices.
- Devised and implemented strategies to optimize digital marketing campaigns.
- Developed and implemented systems to track customer feedback and satisfaction.
- Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
- Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.
- Frequently inspected production area to verify proper equipment operation.
- Provided reporting for forecast analysis and ad-hoc reporting in support of decision-making.
- Maintained database systems to track and analyze operational data.
- Supported creation of detailed, technical financial models to value potential acquisition targets.
- Developed effective improvement plans in alignment with goals and specifications.
- Helped meet changing demands by recommending improvements to business systems or procedures.
- Optimized customer experience by delivering superior services and effectively troubleshooting issues.
- Created and managed project plans, timelines and budgets.
- Devised and implemented processes and procedures to streamline operations.
- Maintained overall safe work environment with employee training programs and enforcement of safety procedures.
- Observed packing operations to verify conformance to specifications.
- Gathered, organized and input information into digital database.
- Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
- Evaluated customer needs and feedback to drive product and service improvements.
- Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
- Cultivated positive relationships with vendors to deliver timely and cost-effective supply of services and materials.
Senior Specialist: FOSS Project Communications and Advocacy
SITA
06.2008 - 03.2011
- Managing the development and implementation of the public relations programme, communications, relevant corporate brand/identity, stakeholder relationship management, event management programmes, and liaising with key stakeholders Developing and delivering outcomes as per the annual communication’s strategic plans, detailing corporate branding, and public relations and stakeholder management
- Coordinating and managing the development and production of communication materials for all initiatives within the programme
- Working closely with departmental, operational, and senior management to develop communications materials and producing internal publications such as newsletters, reports, speeches, memorandums, brochures, presentations pamphlets, etc
- Delivering external PR and communication to media and identified stakeholder groups, including communities and government; ensuring sound media relations and stakeholder perception management
- Developing and executing branding and image management policies and implementation plans
- Writing, editing, and distributing newsletters and other publications according to the overall publication schedule
- Media relations and liaison.
Advocacy/Awareness Specialist
CSIR/Meraka Institute
11.2006 - 05.2008
- Managing partnerships and relationships, creating awareness, ensuring stakeholder satisfaction
- Working on the Free Software and Open-Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) Secretariat
- Engaging stakeholders via the website and newsletter
- Distributing information via symposiums and workshops; writing media releases Creating presentations (nationally and globally) and reports
- Project management (financial and administration); coordinating all relevant programme activities in general
- Establishing networks and partnerships
- Maintaining the pre-existing partnerships and integrating new partnerships
- Actively involved in promotions, publicity exhibitions, and the marketing of programme models and writing proposals
- Identifying loopholes in the African skills gap; involved in projects that aim to spread ICT skills across the continent.
Conference Producer / Events Coordinator
Trade Conferences International
08.2004 - 10.2006
Journalist/News Reporter
Media 24
01.2001 - 07.2004
Education
Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration -
UNISA School Of Business Leadership
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing - undefined
University of South Africa
Bachelor of Social Science in Communication - undefined
University of Fort Hare
Skills
Business Experience
- Mentemore Consulting Services, Dec 2016- Date, Business owner of a consultancy agency that deals with business consultancy services, business and executive coaching, leadership, and youth development.
- Le-Mbinga Communications, Jan 2008- Dec 2015, Business owner for a PR and communications consultancy agency
Skills Development And Training
- Level 1 Coaching Essentials - The Art of Communications (Neuro-Linguistics Programme) – 2009
- Level 2 Coaching Essentials - Personal Mastery Mindlib Meta-Coach and Training Institute – 2012
- NLP/ Neuro-Semantics Master Practitioner Training (Qualified as A Specialist) – 2013
- Associate Meta Coach Training (ACMC) - Institute of Neuro-Semantics – 2015
- Module Trainer- Qualification – 2017
Previous Work History
- Trade Conferences International, Aug 2004 – Oct 2006, Conference Producer / Events Coordinator
- Media 24, Jan 2001 – Jul 2004, Journalist/News Reporter
Personal Information
Gender: Female
References
References are available on request.
Timeline
Senior Manager Strategic Relationship— Civil Society
Brand South Africa
09.2017 - 02.2022
Managing Director and Business Coach
Mentemore Consulting Services
12.2016 - Current
Senior Specialist: Stakeholder Relations Management
SITA
04.2011 - 03.2013
Manager: Reputation Management & Corporate Social Responsibility
SITA
06.2008 - 08.2017
Senior Specialist: FOSS Project Communications and Advocacy
SITA
06.2008 - 03.2011
Director and Business Owner
Le-Mbinga Communications Consultancy
01.2008 - 12.2015
Advocacy/Awareness Specialist
CSIR/Meraka Institute
11.2006 - 05.2008
Conference Producer / Events Coordinator
Trade Conferences International
08.2004 - 10.2006
Journalist/News Reporter
Media 24
01.2001 - 07.2004
Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration -
UNISA School Of Business Leadership
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing - undefined
University of South Africa
Bachelor of Social Science in Communication - undefined
University of Fort Hare
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