Tania Benade
Pretoria
Summary
Experienced professional demonstrating strengths in relationship-building and account servicing. Adapts to changing demands through strategic negotiation and problem-solving capabilities. Committed to bringing a proactive approach to client engagement and delivering value in every interaction.
Overview
1
1
Certification
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Account Manager South Africa
Elsevier B.V.
01.2018 - 12.2018
- Core focus on renewal and growth of Elsevier products: ScienceDirect, Scopus and Mendeley
- Managed library accounts across academic, government, and corporate sectors in South Africa, targeting subscription renewals and cultivating new customer relationships.
- Cultivated strong relationships with university faculties, including academics, heads of departments, and research offices, to support product adoption and engagement.
- Delivered exceptional customer service and expert guidance on publishing processes to enhance client satisfaction and retention.
- Negotiate license agreements for online books and journals access
- Assisted clients with technical product issues, including access and copyright inquiries., i.e. access related, copyright guidance, publishing
- Have thorough understanding of all products lines in research sales solutions: Engineering, Life Sciences, Clinical Sciences and Research Intelligence and provide support and guidance
- Understand the acquisitions process in various types of libraries: financial, payment terms and budget timelines.
Operational Supplier Manager
Sasol South Africa (Pty) Ltd
04.2015 - 01.2018
- Manage a complex supplier base across 3 sites (Johannesburg, Sasolburg and Secunda)
- Enhanced supplier performance metrics by implementing strategic initiatives to improve on-time-in-full delivery
- Rolled out supplier performance measurements, conducted qualitative surveys, captured data in supplier database, communicated outcomes, and guided improvements
- Develop a supplier scorecard and provide monthly feedback and action plans to improve
- Manage Supplier Performance review sessions
- Recommended supplier de-selection based on thorough evaluations of performance and misconduct analysis
- Excellent stakeholder management across all levels of management
- Collaborate in terms of supplier selection, performance management and de-selection. Make decisions relating to strategic suppliers for organisational unit
- Comprehend and communicate inbound supply chain policies and procedures to organisational business unit and suppliers
- Preferential Procurement compliance and target achievement in organisational unit
- Legislative compliance of supplier management practices (e.g. competition law compliance)
- Convey business specific performance expectations in collaboration with supplier management and build strategic relationship
- Training: Solis Training certificate courses on Supplier Management by using the Train-the-trainer skills and presentation development (Prezi)
Electronic Resource Management and Copyright Specialist
Sasol South Africa (Pty) Ltd
01.2007 - 03.2015
- Acted as copyright specialist and custodian in research and development, implementing copyright policies globally and providing regular presentations and training on copyright compliance.
- Timely negotiation and renewal of subscription agreements (95 plus license agreements)
- Detailed understanding of license and subscription agreements, i.e. type of licences; Terms and conditions of use; liabilities, copyright, intellectual property, renewal conditions, etc.
- Electronic resource strategy and policy development globally
- Demonstrated expertise in evaluating e-resources and compiling comprehensive needs analyses
- Managed acquisitions of all online and print orders for the global corporate research library
- Converted print resources to electronic access, implementing new electronic resource solutions for improved accessibility.
- Conducted identification of target groups for trials, negotiated prices, understood license agreements, and managed the acquisition process.
- Negotiated effectively with vendors to secure the best prices and packages
- Conducted budget planning and control, including financial reporting on escalation rates, currency fluctuations, volume growth, best product, usage statistics, cost flow management, and regular feedback.
- Analysis and comprehension of usage statistics reports to evaluate return on investment and value
- Provided training on various subject-related databases to Specialist Information Services and clients, enhancing user proficiency and knowledge.
- Provided customer-focused training on various database platforms and assisted with search queries
- Risk and governance role with identification within acquisitions and job area, i.e. Copyright policies, automatic renewals, exchange rate, agreements, etc.
- Technical problem solving and ability to comprehend technical challenges and offer effective solutions
- Excellent internal and external stakeholder relationships and networking
- Reason for leaving: Due to company I was moved to Supply Chain
Account Manager
Sabinet Online
05.2005 - 01.2007
- Grew revenue within portfolio of clients, ensuring high renewal retention rates
- Built strong working relationships with clients through regular communication, particularly during renewal cycles
- Advised clients on maximising value from subscribed services, enhancing customer satisfaction
- Strategic account management for existing group of clients in the Mining and Financial sector with territory in Gauteng, Free State and North West province
- Sales focus on electronic legal information services locally and database of South African electronic journals Internationally with focus on new business
- Excellent knowledge on online legal portfolio of electronic information products which covers the SA Statutes, National and Provincial Gazettes, Parliamentary monitoring as well as reference research databases covering all subject areas
- Managed budget control processes to ensure financial compliance and efficiency
- Training customers on using platform and assisting with search queries
- Prepare and deliver regular PowerPoint presentations
- Register clients for trials on electronic products, follow-up on service and quick turn-around time
- Attend industry related conferences and meetings (work groups, SLIS, OSAL, LIASA)
- Reason for leaving: New career opportunity
Account and Development Manager
EBSCO Information Services
04.2002 - 04.2005
- Responsible for all aspects of Sales and Marketing and strategic account planning
- Annual renewal retention and new sales targets to be met or exceeded as set out by Headquarters
- Seeking new prospects and expand on current business by using selling skills and methodology linked to Brian Tracy’s sales strategy
- Negotiated with academic consortia (SANLiC) on access, trials, and pricing, enhancing partnerships and service availability.
- Connect to c-level managers across organisations and build long term relationships with all stakeholders
- Managed new product marketing and demonstrations.
- In-depth knowledge on the customer, their market and regions in Sub-Saharan Africa
- In-depth knowledge on international publishers, their licensing models and pricing structures
- In-depth knowledge on all electronic research products and solution orientated
- Customer training on various databases hosted on EBSCOhost
- Plan and organise training sessions with customers (on all levels of the profession)
- Work independently and within team - managed a team of two people
- Strong technical skills in order to translate problems into solutions
- Register customers / prospects for trials in electronic products; follow-up service and quick turn-around response. Provide local support to customers on electronic products & quick and efficient problem solving required
- Prepared and delivered PowerPoint presentations to customers and prospects on services and products, effectively communicating value and engagement.
- Liaised with customers and prospects to facilitate communication with support structures in Birmingham, Alabama, and Boston, USA.
- Managed events for seminars, product launches, and demonstrations for customers and prospects, including planning, promotions, exhibit stands, conference materials, sponsorships, travel grants, and budgets.
- Travelled extensively across national and international locations, facilitating business engagements and client meetings.
- Inform all current customers and prospects improvements on e-resource access & management tools.
- EBSCO is a diverse company that manages print and online journal subscriptions for Academic, Research, Medical and Corporate Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa and publish full text research & bibliographic databases and journals within web-based programmes (EBSCOhost)
- Reason for leaving: I was offered a position at Sabinet Online Ltd as Portfolio manager and decided to take the opportunity to further my career development.
Project Co-ordinator
EBSCO Information Services
07.2001 - 03.2002
- Handling all incoming projects from European offices (UK, Germany, France, Italy, etc.)
- Prioritise projects and complete according to deadlines
- Coordinated journal and magazine lifecycle processes for European clients, ensuring timely delivery and compliance
- Managed quotations, orders, claims, and renewals, streamlining workflows for efficiency
- Liaise with publishers internationally to obtain information on orders
- Facilitated communication with international publishers via fax, e-mail, and telephone, enhancing collaboration and order accuracy
- Registered electronic journals on publishers' websites to ensure accessibility for clients.
- Use EBSCO’s mainframe and online systems to obtain information
- Covered large institutions in academic, medical, corporate and government areas
- Reason for leaving: promoted to Account Manager within EBSCO
Assistant Research and Client Relations
Telematic Learning Systems (TLS), North-West University
09.1999 - 06.2001
- Facilitated communication between clients and internal teams to address concerns and provide information.
- Assisted postgraduate students with queries, providing tailored solutions to enhance their study experience
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Surveys in the form of questionnaires and telephonic interviews
- Statistical evaluation of student data (including graphical presentation)
- Information searches on internet (www), intranet and library databases for MBA students
- Excellent knowledge on the following degrees / programmes: MBA, BBA, B,Com; BA Nursing & diplomas, L LB and Honours in Pharmacology
- Marketing of programmes delivered via TLS and business schools
- Conducted nationwide study centre visits and evaluations based on established criteria to ensure quality standards
- Coordinated registration of delegates, set up information helpdesk, and selected chairpersons for 48 sessions at International Conference on Technology and Education – Potchefstroom 2000
- Managed everyday office tasks including scheduling, correspondence, and record-keeping to support efficient operations., Filing and telephonic enquiries
- Reason for leaving: Furthering my career in the information services and publishing area
Education
Post Graduate Diploma - Marketing Management
IMM Graduate School of Marketing Management
Pretoria, South Africa07-2026
Post Graduate Diploma - Library and Information Science
North-West University
Potcherstroom, North West01-1998
B.A. - Private and Public Sector
North-West University
Potchefstroom, North West01-1997
High School Matriculation -
Fochville High School
Fochville, Gauteng01-1994
Skills
- Contract negotiation
- Negotiation skills
- Sales strategy
- Account development
- Business development
- Client development
- Client engagement
- Account optimisation
- Product and service sales
- Customer relationship management
- Customer relations
- Customer Service
- Information research training
- Data analysis
- Data analytics
- Research and analytical skills
- Time management skills
- Project management skills
- Problem solving skills
- Stakeholder engagement
- Vendor management
- Bibliographic and cataloguing skills
- Database management
- Microsoft suite expertise
- Microsoft office suite proficiency
- Advanced internet searching
- Information research training
- Presentation and training skills
- Training delivery
- Sales pitch development
- Competitive analysis
- Excellent communication skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Network and liaising skills
- Networking skills
- Team Leadership
- Business development planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Networking skills
- Sales pitch development
- Vendor management
Languages
English
Afrikaans
Certification
- International Copyright certified
Interests
- Reading
- Nature and hiking
Personal Information
ID Number: 760305 0077 084
Timeline
Account Manager South Africa
Elsevier B.V.
01.2018 - 12.2018
Operational Supplier Manager
Sasol South Africa (Pty) Ltd
04.2015 - 01.2018
Electronic Resource Management and Copyright Specialist
Sasol South Africa (Pty) Ltd
01.2007 - 03.2015
Account Manager
Sabinet Online
05.2005 - 01.2007
Account and Development Manager
EBSCO Information Services
04.2002 - 04.2005
Project Co-ordinator
EBSCO Information Services
07.2001 - 03.2002
Assistant Research and Client Relations
Telematic Learning Systems (TLS), North-West University
09.1999 - 06.2001
Post Graduate Diploma - Marketing Management
IMM Graduate School of Marketing Management
Post Graduate Diploma - Library and Information Science
North-West University
B.A. - Private and Public Sector
North-West University
High School Matriculation -
Fochville High School