Thabani Ndlovu
Internal Communications And Sponsorships Specialist
Johannesburg,GP
Summary
Accomplished Internal Communication Specialist at McDonald's with a strong background in developing and executing strategic communication initiatives that drive employee engagement and align with company values. Experienced in collaborating with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to deliver consistent messaging across multiple platforms. Prior roles include supporting marketing campaigns at Tesero Hub and managing brand and event initiatives at SqwidNet. Holds a BCom Honours in Communication Management and a BCom in Marketing, combining solid theoretical knowledge with practical expertise. Passionate about leveraging communication to build trust and collaboration within organizations, with a commitment to continuous improvement and delivering exceptional results.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
4
4
Languages
Work History
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS & SPONSORSHIPS SPECIALIST
McDonald's South Africa
Johannesburg
8 2022 - Current
- Develop and implement a comprehensive internal communications plan.
- Establish and maintain a robust two-way communication channel.
- Craft effective and impactful messages tailored for diverse audiences.
- Lead content creation and distribution to ensure consistent messaging.
- Enhance employee engagement through strategic communication efforts.
- Manage change communication to support transitions within the organization.
- Provide leadership communication support by drafting and editing messages for senior leaders.
- Plan and support internal events to foster a cohesive company culture.
- Manage relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and collaboration.
- Conduct industry trends research to keep the communication strategy relevant.
- Oversee budget management to optimize resource allocation.
- Manage relationships with partners and sponsors.
- Execute contract management to ensure compliance and deliverables.
- Align brand messaging with partners to maintain consistency with McDonald’s brand image and corporate identity.
- Develop and implement activation plans to maximize sponsorship impact.
- Evaluate sponsorship performance to measure ROI and effectiveness.
- Engage with internal and external communities across platforms such as Workplace, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
- Communicate updates and collaboration opportunities with internal stakeholders.
- Identify and prospect potential sponsorship and partnership opportunities that align with the organization's brand, mission, and target audience.
- Review unsolicited proposals to assess alignment with strategic goals.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
Tesero Hub
Johannesburg
07.2021 - 07.2022
- Successfully managed agencies, online advertising campaigns, website development projects, and the production of monthly newsletters.
- Oversaw brand management to ensure consistency and alignment with organizational goals.
- Led content planning and management across all social media platforms, brochures, and conferences.
- Developed and executed content strategies to enhance brand visibility and engagement.
- Produced high-quality thought leadership articles, website content, and social media posts.
- Ensured all written content adhered to brand guidelines and effectively communicated key messages.
- Planned and executed various events, including golf days, conferences, interviews, and company-wide town halls.
- Coordinated logistics and managed event execution to ensure seamless operations and positive attendee experiences.
- Provided an exemplary level of service to clients, maintaining and strengthening relationships to foster future business opportunities.
- Fostered cooperative and positive communications with clients to ensure project success and client satisfaction.
MARKETING ASSISTANT
SqwidNet
Centurion
04.2018 - 06.2021
- Brand Management: Ensured consistency and alignment of brand messaging across all platforms.
- Social Media Management: Oversaw the planning, execution, and monitoring of social media campaigns.
- Weekly Newsletter Co-editor: Co-edited the weekly newsletter to maintain high standards of communication.
- Creation of Marketing Materials: Developed use cases, case studies, and customer presentations to support sales and marketing efforts.
- Agency Management: Managed relationships with PR and graphic design agencies to ensure the delivery of high-quality work.
- Corporate Social Responsibility Management: Led initiatives to align with corporate social responsibility goals.
- External & Internal Stakeholder Support: Provided comprehensive support to both external and internal stakeholders.
- Events Planning: Organized and executed various events to promote company initiatives and foster engagement.
- Research: Conducted research to support marketing strategies and decisions.
- Created content to support key events and product launches, and monitored metrics to inform future strategies.
- Prepared PowerPoint presentations to convey new ideas, status updates, and campaign pitches.
- Supported clients with marketing assets, gathering or creating relevant images, videos, and graphic design elements.
- Monitored competitor activity to evaluate products, pricing, and promotions.
- Drafted internal and external communication for colleagues, stakeholders, and customers.
- Wrote professional business correspondence, set up spreadsheets, and created presentations.
- Liaised with stakeholders to identify key sales objectives and devised strategies to achieve goals.
- Negotiated optimal placement of advertisements across different media types.
- Created customer awareness of goods, services, and special promotions with creative advertising strategies.
SOLUTIONS ASSISTANT
SqwidNet
Centurion
09.2017 - 03.2018
- Compiled comprehensive solutions product brochures to effectively communicate product features and benefits.
- Conducted in-depth research on devices to ensure informed procurement and management decisions.
- Managed stock levels and procurement processes to maintain optimal device availability.
- Created detailed devices comparison tables to aid in decision-making and customer presentations.
- Conducted device demonstrations to showcase functionality and value to stakeholders.
- Performed backend device activations to ensure smooth deployment and user readiness.
- Produced and presented detailed reports outlining departmental and organizational activities to supervisors, facilitating strategic planning and resource allocation.
- Identified depleted stock items, requested necessary supplies, and submitted purchase orders to maintain optimal stock levels.
- Listened to oral instructions or correspondence and accurately transcribed information, formatting documents to meet specific purposes.
- Attended meetings and captured minutes using shorthand techniques to accurately record discussions and conclusions.
- Managed company databases to ensure accurate tracking of organizational activities and information safeguarding.
- Leveraged prioritization, organization, and multitasking skills to handle multiple tasks efficiently, thereby amplifying productivity.
- Utilized various tools to manage and streamline information across different organizational activities, ensuring accuracy and accessibility.
Education
McKinsey Forward Program
McKinsey & Company
Online04.2024
SLP Introduction to Desktop Publishing and Design - undefined
Vega school
BCom Honours Communication Management - undefined
University of Pretoria
BCom Marketing - undefined
University of Free State
Skills
Strategic Communication Planning
Content Creation
Employee Engagement
Change Management
Leadership Communication
Event Planning
Stakeholder Management
Crisis Communication
Digital Communication
Public Relations
Market Research
Budget Management
Attributes
- Service-focused
- Reliable
- Team player
- Responsible
- Hardworking
- Eager & Fast learner
- Ethical
- Friendly
- Attentive
References
- Sechaba Motsieloa, Marketing Director (McDonald's SA), +27 82 376 1384
- Karen Koen, Marketing Manager (Macrocomm), +27 72 387 0622
- Phathizwe Malinga, Managing Director (SqwidNet), +27 83 209 1121
- Minty Smouse, Marketing Manager (SqwidNet), +72 82 555 2140
- Sean Laval, Executive Solutions and Innovations (SqwidNet), +27 82 791 0802
Timeline
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
Tesero Hub
07.2021 - 07.2022
MARKETING ASSISTANT
SqwidNet
04.2018 - 06.2021
SOLUTIONS ASSISTANT
SqwidNet
09.2017 - 03.2018
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS & SPONSORSHIPS SPECIALIST
McDonald's South Africa
8 2022 - Current
McKinsey Forward Program
McKinsey & Company
SLP Introduction to Desktop Publishing and Design - undefined
Vega school
BCom Honours Communication Management - undefined
University of Pretoria
BCom Marketing - undefined
University of Free State