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Network Power<100 people

Roles

💸42%

Marketing

✔️42%

✨28%

Business Owner

Geos

🇿🇦28%

South Africa

🇦🇲14%

Armenia

🇬🇦14%

Gabon

Work Background

Private-I CorpExecutive: Director of Customer Success, Partnership & Alliances

Sep. 2023South Africa · HybridWith extensive experience in client relationship management and improving company efficiency, I excel at strategic planning, cross-functional team leadership, and developing business strategies. Additionally, I possess a strong ability to identify and cultivate new business opportunities. I am a skilled communicator with exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills. My key account management experience has enabled me to satisfy clients' needs and improve their overall satisfaction. Moreover, I am proficient in developing and executing strategic plans to improve customer experiences and drive growth. I collaborate effectively with senior leadership and key stakeholders to identify new business opportunities while nurturing relationships with existing clients. My ability to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations is a key asset. My key skills include customer relationship management, strategic planning and execution, team leadership, business development, operational efficiency, project management, risk analysis and mitigation, and client and partner enablement.

OrdAos Business,Strategy & CoachingFounder

Jan. 2023City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa · RemoteI am excited to share my journey with you. With over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, I have earned a reputation for driving transformation and empowerment through strategic partnerships, global strategies, and exceptional sales expertise. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to client success and integrity as the cornerstone of my work. My goal is to support clients in developing sustainable strategies that drive growth and benefit their enterprise and customers. I value building enduring relationships, and I strive to exceed expectations to establish long-term partnerships. My passion for empowerment extends beyond the business world. I hold a specialised degree in Information Science, along with advanced leadership and sales certifications. Recently, I earned a Strategic Business Management certificate from the University of Cape Town with Distinction, solidifying my position as an industry leader who blends technical acumen with a dedication to continuous professional advancement. I have held pivotal roles at renowned firms such as IBM, Siemens IT Solutions, and Microsoft DPSS, which have provided valuable insights into service delivery and support across various industries, including infrastructure, software, and EUC products. My career has been marked by numerous milestones, including surpassing sales targets, negotiating successful contracts, and receiving prestigious awards for performance and dedication. These accomplishments are a testament to my ability to drive positive outcomes and create lasting impacts. If you are looking for a transformative and innovative leader who values integrity and is committed to achieving collective success, I would be thrilled to connect with you. Let us work together towards our shared goal of driving transformation and empowerment in the world of IT. https://www.credly.com/users/celeste-higgins “Be effective, responsible and powerful in all YOU do.”

MicrosoftSenior Partner Sales Lead

Apr. 2022 - Nov. 2022City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South AfricaDirect various business development initiatives in close collaboration with cross-functional teams and senior management. Cultivate and fortify relationships with employees, key stakeholders, and business partners to improve sales and overall company growth. Create and execute connected sales and marketing strategies to comprehend potential of Microsoft platform by leading with end-to-end solutions and services approach. Collaborate with senior business shareholders to develop and implement strategic plans for competing with fast-growing markets across all segments. Develop and maintain Microsoft's reputation for integrity by promoting moral business practices, and fostering long-term success. • Ensured compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. • Aligned innovative strategies with Microsoft key priorities through increasing share of wallet across all client segments and activating new channel capabilities across all segments to use Edge/Cloud platform. Skills: • Strategic Alliance Management • Project Management • Team Building & Leadership • Risk Analysis & Mitigation • Relationship Management • Strategic Planning & Execution • Key Account Management

IBMSenior Technology Seller

Nov. 2014 - Feb. 2022Johannesburg Area, South AfricaAccountable for overall Client relationship management for key and valued lBM clients. The role is focused on managing the accounts to drive profitable and long-term revenue growth, and consistent customer satisfaction and to ensure effective service and product delivery, protection/renewal of existing business, and driving significant new sales opportunities. "Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent but great inner drive go much further than people with vastly superior talent." ~Sophia Loren

IBMConsulting Bid Manager (IBM Certified)

Oct. 2012 - Nov. 2014Sandton, JohannesburgServed as team and deal leader for strategic outsourcing and IBM pre-sales operations. Assisted cross-functional sales force to drive complex deals from opportunity identification to fulfillment, handover, contract signature, and delivery. Oversaw bid teams to ensure creation and delivery of timely and high-quality proposals, solutions, and contracts for engagements spanning all brands and areas of business. • Designed solutions processes, and managed projects and sales procedures for lifecycle of a sales chase.

IBMClient Solutions Executive

Nov. 2010 - Sep. 2012Sandton,Johannesburg · On-siteSelling and negotiating complex business relationships is an area in which I have extensive experience. I have a proven track record of successfully leading sales engagements, selling solutions to complex IT and business requirements. My skills in assembling a sales engagement team, managing the group (which involved numerous people), and economically managing the substantial engagement budget have resulted in successful business outcomes. • Understood the client's needs and the entire portfolio to ensure the most valuable solutions are provided. • Communicated complex concepts to the client and the team, ensuring everyone is on the same page. • Developed meaningful relationships with clients and third-party advisors to gain insight to prepare professional deliverables that are compelling for our clients to act on in relation to their requirements and business objectives • Attention to detail and excellent problem-solving skills to identify and resolve problems quickly. • Accomplished my goals by being an exceptional leader, an astute businessperson, and a highly adept individual at handling business. • Achieved the company’s Sub-Saharan Africa strategic goals by closing new logo revenue and signings

Siemens IT Solutions and ServicesIT Account Executive: Public Sector and Health

Oct. 2006 - Nov. 2010• Ensuring a growing base of new sales, as well as cross-selling and consolidation of existing sales base • Ensuring identification of sales of as many solution sets as possible into identified customers • Structure, implement, monitor and evaluate pricing, marketing strategy and delivery for clients • Manage Account Plans • Provide accurate and effective reports to Senior Management • Liaise with relevant departments to source and implement correct solutions for customers • Build and maintain relationships with external suppliers and key contacts

Siemens IT Solutions and ServicesIT Consultant - Pre-Sales

Nov. 2005 - Sep. 2006• Develop, implement and manage innovative sales programmes for all SBS Service offerings within allocated customers, which allow for the upselling and cross-selling of these service offerings across all solutions sets. • Support of the Business Development team • Proposal and Tender documentation • Solution mapping to Business needs • License Administration: (Microsoft, Citrix, Adobe) • Interface with departments i.e. ORS & SOL to ensure proposals and implementation of services are meeting customer's satisfaction. • High level project management across departments to allow for the completion of planned services according to planned timelines • Uncover new accounts and opportunities within these and leverage off the team to plan, develop and close these • Build and maintain relationships with customers and maintain tight control over these • Continuous development of product knowledge and skills

Cell C (Pty) LtdNational IT Channel Support Operations Manager

May. 2004 - Oct. 2005Johannesburg Area, South AfricaResponsible for overall performance of the IT Franchise and Dealer Support Team Develop and manage strategic plans for the IT Channel support unit Compile and manage the budget of the IT Channel support Plan and manage the operation of the IT Channel support activities Assesses and manage risks and issues facing the department Manage and supervise the daily activities of the IT Channel support function, to include training, coaching, organizing, planning, and recruitment activities Direct systems and operations support relative to the maintenance and enhancement of the IT Channel support system Prepare operational reports and analysis setting forth progress, adverse trends and appropriate recommendations and conclusions Monitor all calls logged to ensure they are allocated to technicians and resolved timeously Ensure all calls are closed and manage problems that may arise. Handle all escalations

Cell C (Pty) LtdIT Account Manager

Apr. 2003 - Apr. 2004Johannesburg Area, South Africa• Ensure that all IT requirements for the Service Provider and Network Operator’s Company and extended channels are gathered (documented), reviewed and supported through the negotiation and management of service level agreements according to agreed change management processes • Manage Customer Relationship with Heads of Departments and Divisions • Serve as a single point of contact and first level of escalation for the Service Provider and Network Operator’s IT requirements • Responsible to ensure that the SP and NO Companies business needs are met by helping determine the business needs and reflect these in change requests and service level agreements. • Ensure the availability of Business Analyst resources to support and complete documentation of SP and NO Companies customer’s business/user requirements in accordance with approved SLA and KPIs • Participate in SLA Reviews. • Chair weekly operational meetings with the SP and NO Companies business users and report progress • Ensures that all SP and NO Companies requirements are logged as change requests by the Change Administrator • Report Project Management Status • Management of Critical Problems raised by the SP and NO Companies • Report on Change Management status (Promoted to IT Channel Support OPS Manager)

Cell C (Pty) LtdBusiness Process Architect

Oct. 2002 - Mar. 2003Johannesburg Area, South Africa• Design, Re-engineering and Implementation of Operational processes (Corporate, Technical Repairs and VAS) • Conduct business analysis sessions • Produce signed off process documentation • Process support – business re-engineering • Assist with process training (user/end-user) • Continuous process re-engineering initiatives with relevant process owners • Operational and management reporting • Promote Process Culture • Assess the Process, System & People effectiveness. • Link all signed off operational processes to the signed off high level processes. (Promoted to IT Account Manager)

VodacomBusiness Analyst - Product & System Integration

Mar. 2000 - Jul. 2002Cape Town Area, South Africa• Manage the operational and support aspect of system analysis for certain Prepaid Systems • System Enhancement and Support. • System Administration and security for Prepaid Systems. • Negotiation and Creation of Service Level Agreements • Design of business processes • Operational and management reporting. • Support and Training the team and customers. • Reviewing new/changed products, services and tariffs in order to ensure that they make business sense and that they can be administered and billed by the company. • Influence business rules for each new product or service. • Prepare business needs, URS’s and UAT's for systems involving the division and /or SP’s. • Promote and develop new version features and system changes. • Develop and implement procedures for the testing of new software releases • Functional Testing for Prepaid Related Systems. • Perform pre and post testing on all new products and tariffs. • Investigate, develop and manage the accurate provision and distribution of information on services, tariffs, products, policies and procedures to the Service Providers. • Communication with Internal and External Customers • Represent and communicate the needs of SPs within Vodacom. • Involvement and provide input in new/changes to systems and procedures.

VodacomSupervisor: Senior Administrator

Sep. 1998 - Feb. 2000Cape Town Area, South Africa• Management of staff duties and responsibilities • Responsibility for the entire staff selection and performance management. • Responsibility of 10 staff members (including contractors) • Fault and Fraud Management • Reconciliation of amounts/Rand values pertaining to customer accounts in order to maintain integrity of the individual accounts. • Operational and management reporting. • System Enhancement and Support. • System Administration and security for Prepaid Systems. • Business Continuity Planning • Negotiation and Creation of Service Level Agreements • Design of business processes • Communication with Internal and External Customers • Operational and management reporting. • Support and Training the team and customers. (Promoted to Business Analyst)

VodacomSenior Administration Officer

Jul. 1997 - Aug. 1998Cape Town Area, South Africa• Customer and Voucher Administration Support • Fault Management pertaining to the Prepaid product. • Support and Training (Promoted to Senior Administrator)