Sharon Manzini

As a director of my own company, I worked on a number of long- term and short- term projects with global clients both remotely and on site, some of the achievements with the short-term contracts include:

• Analysed Agro Automation industries in selected Eastern European and Asian counties with a focus on specific players in those markets as with a deep dive into companies’ financial standings and ownership models for potential partnerships and acquisition.
• Developed market entry mode strategy for a telco company looking to enter the South African, Zimbabwean, Zambian and Kenyan markets through analysing socio-economics of each market, regulatory environment, market players and their market share, trends in the sector as well as potential partnerships and acquisitions.
• Produced competitor analysis report for US on-demand recruitment company across indicators such as business models, compliance, funding sources, product and service offerings, via desktop research and mystery shopping services.
• Developed and recommended entry mode strategy through conducting market research and competitor analysis for an Indian telco company investigating the viability of entering Zimbabwean and Zambian markets.
• Analyzed South African flooring industry for a German company considering entering the industry, through investigating the construction sector and providing information on the future outlook of flooring.
• Delivered recommendations for an Australian company on the viability foreign doctors offering telehealth services, by reviewing regulatory frameworks of the medical fraternity, telehealth industries, and drugs & medicine control boards in selected developing nations.
• Analyzed the impact of Covid-19 on South African Higher Education Sector and universities’ responses in adapting their teaching and learning for a US company providing a student-first connected learning platform, towards the development and enhancement of e-learning products and services.
• Reviewed British Council funded study into the state of Inclusive Education and the implication of teacher training programmes on Inclusive Education in South Africa.
• Conducted a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) benchmark study for a client in the energy sector against 12 other global leaders in the mining, oil & gas, and energy sector on 5 parameters towards improving the client’s performance in CSI.

• Making advanced and meaningful contributions to strategic recommendations that The OMG is tasked to make by clients and grow in capability to deliver The OMG's advisory approach to an ever-increasing array of clients.
• Deputise for the CEO in all relevant forums and situations where The OMG COO or other assigned team member is not the relevant deputy.
• CEO’s right hand, requiring acquaintance with The OMG’s current and potential projects and various stakeholders to understand the prioritization of various activities, the various variables that need to be taken into account in order to arrive at optimal prioritization decisions.
• Increased overall team productivity by implementing innovative management strategies and streamlining communication channels.
• Fostered collaborative work environment through regular team-building activities designed to enhance interpersonal relationships.

• Identified and ventilated staff well-being issues at a South African social enterprise, in a Programme Manager role which increased morale and reduced staff turnover by 50%.
• Developed marketing strategy and implemented the first communication and branding strategy towards assisting a 30-year-old social enterprise become more profitable and reduce reliance on donor funding.
• Developed, implemented, monitored and oversaw a stakeholder management system which allowed the company to effectively monitor its performance towards client acquisition targets and enhanced business development and presales activities.
• Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness through the development of innovative solutions.

Developed, implemented, monitored and oversaw the following:

• A companywide business processes and IT systems to effectively improve customer communication and response time by 60%, reducing the time therapists spend on admin tasks and thus maximizing the number of clients serviced.
• A marketing strategy which generated 50% increase in new client acquisitions in a 24 months period.
• Implemented new business operational model that still ensured the continuation and enhancement of services at reduced costs following reviews after 1.5 years and 2.5 years, which reduced company overheard by 30%.
• Conducted thorough research on potential funding sources, identifying new opportunities for growth and expansion.
• Investigated market changes and devised approaches to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
• Managed day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.

• Designed and conducted analysis of a university’s HR, Payroll, ITC divisions as well 42 academic departments to deliver academic model highlighting the strategic and viability position of 42 academic departments which assisted the university come out of administration.
• Increased client satisfaction by providing tailored consulting services and effective problem-solving strategies.
• Managed multiple deadlines across several businesses to meet dynamic needs of multiple clients.

• Analyzed global energy crisis between 2000 and 2012, identifying root causes, best practices and produced a report with recommendations on successful mechanisms for South Africa to avoid a repeat of the 2008 energy crisis and how to respond to such crisis in future.
• Conducted root cause analysis and assessment of Eskom’s underperforming networks in a selected region to analyze the high impact feeders contributing the most to supply average interruption frequency Index (SAIFI) and supply average interruption duration index (SAIDI), then delivered reports on 18 Eskom feeders with recommendations on capital, operations and maintenance improvements to reduce SAIDI/SAIFI.
• Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
• Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.

• Improved company operating efficiencies by 30% within 18 months, by developing and deploying standardized business processes across six departments in eight global offices.
• Introduced new methods, practices, and systems to reduce turnaround time.
• Facilitated workshops for clients'' staff members to improve their understanding of new systems or processes introduced in the organization.

• Planned, coordinated and oversaw the delivery of a development framework that informed budget, priority alignment and all planning processes and resource allocations for 14 provincial departments in Gauteng Province.
• Headed a foresight visioning process to produce a set of scenarios and identify strategic choices to be made ‘today’ for the sustainable future of King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality and delivered a report on the possible future of Umthatha community.
• Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to customers.
• Provided detailed technical and operational direction in project challenges, consistently meeting deliverables according to deadlines.
• Coordinated cross-functional teams and resolved conflicts, maintaining a positive work environment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Recruited and oversaw personnel to achieve performance and quality targets.
• Provided detailed project status updates to stakeholders and executive management.

• • Investigated and evaluated 2008/2009 pay increase for industries in the UK, and produced a report which assisted the Police Negotiation Board with upcoming pay negotiations.
• Established connections with liaisons to industrial and commercial stakeholders, allowing industry trends to inform research and vice versa.

• Audited a select number of housing projects delivered through People’s Housing Process Programme in Western Cape’s townships, delivering a model for effective and successful management and delivery of People’s Housing Process Programme for the National Government.
• Compiled research data and gave professional presentations highlighting finds and recommended optimizations.

• Surveyed and mapped on ArcGIS, City of London’s retail stock and trends over a 6-month period, producing a 10-year Retail Info report which facilitated the replacement of the City’s development plan in monitoring the implementation of planning policies.
• Maintained database systems to track and analyze The City's Planing data.
• Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
• Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.

• Surveyed and investigated the participation, or lack thereof, of women in local government in the Western Cape province to produce a report on issues affecting women’s participation with recommendations including a conference.
• Initiated intervention and capacity building programmes to assist government officials deliver as per mandate of the national Local Economic Development Fund in 30 Western Cape Municipalities.
• Initiated, orchestrated, planned, coordinated and executed a Woman in Local Government Conference involving national, provincial and local champions, to deliberate and devise solutions to challenges of women’s participation in local government.
• Planned, coordinated and oversaw delivery of a 4 weeks training Certificate Programme in Developmental Local Government with 40 municipal officials graduating.
• Presented progress reports regularly to senior management during project updates meetings.

• Mapped out a tourism product database for the City of Cape Town, towards delivering a Tourism Development Strategy.
• Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
• Organized research materials, maintaining a well-ordered workspace conducive to productivity.
• Conducted literature reviews to support hypothesis development and identify gaps in existing knowledge.