logo
Keep in touch with meI'm using Intch to connect with new people. Use this link to open chat with me via Intch app
Network Power<100 people
Roles
🔥100%
Startup Founder
✔️100%
IT
100%
Business Owner
Geos
🇿🇦100%
South Africa
Work Background
Director of University Partnerships
iXperienceDirector of University Partnerships
Apr. 2023Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaWe work at iX to help our students harness their limitless potential. Led a team of over 50 Business Development Associates and 4 Regional Business Development Managers spanning over 100 universities in the US Conducted market-specific research and delivered recommendations on new market expansion Trained and Developed a team of new Regional Business Development Managers to successful target acquisition Engaged University affiliates in long-term strategic mutually beneficial partnerships
Co Founder
EvertheeCo Founder
Jan. 2016Cape Town, Soutrh AfricaAn Immersive Cultural Exchange built to Foster Conversations, to create a community of today’s renaissance men and women who engage, listen and emerge as globally active citizens Today, Everthee operates in an operational and consultative capacity helping organizations successfully bring brands to life through high-level intercultural experiences.
VP Global Student Recruitment, Enrollment and Alumni Relations
alx_africa VP Global Student Recruitment, Enrollment and Alumni Relations
Jan. 2021 - Dec. 2022On a moon-shot mission to educate, empower and equip 3 million entrepreneurial and place 2 million young leaders by 2035 Internally this role is denoted as Global Activation which encompasses all the above. Led and Managed teams spanning 9 countries each responsible for individual markets Achieved a 400% improvement on lead to enrolled participant rate compared to markets with no Activation Manager and Team Maintained a greater than 80% share of all enrolled students in Activation Manager Markets based on 65% of lead generation Successfully closed over 45 strategic partnerships to grow qualified lead pools in specific markets Conducted market-specific research and delivered recommendations to the Marketing teams to improve quality of lead pools Mapped out and validated the end-to-end customer journey for the Young Leader experience Conducted Operational Audit and delivered recommendations Established cross-team ways of working and added capacity to projects with no clear ownership Trained and mentored teams in the use of the customer journey map as a key strategic business artefact Established cadence for leadership meetings and that of the wider organisation Guided and mentored the selection lead on iterating the selection processes to improve overall conversion rate within the selection process Led the Software Engineering Team to its single largest intake (> 30000 students) and contracted cohort in the Holberton Programme history Established safe spaces for emerging leadership to engage with the organisation, solve challenges and enable effectiveness Former Roles at ALX/ The Room - Director of Strategic Initiatives until April 2021 Chief of Staff until December 2021 Dual Roles of Global Activation and the Director of the ALX Software Engineering programme until July 2022
Head of Business Strategy
Vantibuzz (Pty) Ltd Head of Business Strategy
Jan. 2020 - Jan. 2020Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaWhen Covid-19 hit South Africa, I brought my expertise in sustainable development and empowerment-focused business models to the family business in order to help ensure continued employment and opportunities for the community of 50+ individuals that rely on Ruitersvlei for their livelihoods. Key Initiatives and Responsibilities included Established a food bank for the local communities of farmworkers and their families through partnerships with surrounding estates and local businesses Developed internal control mechanisms for business operations Designed socially distant, Covid-aware proposals for the Estate to engage new clients under Lockdown Levels 3, 2 and 1 in South Africa Led, trained and mentored the hospitality team in securing new business and revenue streams during Covid-19 Supplied Venue and Logistics Management for the Bazique Music Festival Spearheaded the redesign of the Ruitersvlei Estate identity in line with market opportunities to become Ruitersvlei Adventure Lifestyle Estate Completed the Western Cape Government (Wesgro) Export Advancement Programme
Strategic Activations and Development
Independent Media (Pty) LtdStrategic Activations and Development
Jan. 2017 - Jan. 2020Cape Town Area, South AfricaWhere People are at the Heart and Soul Providing Activations and Business Solutions services across the Independent Media, Conde NAST south Africa, AEEI and Sekunjalo Groups to create new, immersive opportunities to engage with key stakeholders across a number of industries AEEI acquired MCI in mid-2017. Through internal restructuring, I was moved into AEEI’s sister company, Independent Newspapers, to establish a strategic activations division in Cape Town. My role within the division focused on projects with an educational and/ or African lens. Developed project plans and project budgets for sign-off with built-in control mechanisms Enabled additional revenue streams through commission as a Conference and Meeting Organisation Led, trained and mentored the team in providing business solutions to 21 titles and across the Group Developed educational content for high level executives for workshop and conference delivery mechanisms Seconded to the Chief of Staff’s team, acting as Chief Secretariat for the BRICS Business Council Successfully delivered Projects include The 22nd and 23rd Editions of the Raging Bull Investment Summit and Awards The 6th BRICS Business Council Annual Meeting 2018 The Launch of the African Independent Magazine The 4th Anuual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Development Bank The BRICS Business Council of South Africa Year End Function
Member of the Executive Board
South African Chamber of Commerce in SpainMember of the Executive Board
Jan. 2016 - Jan. 2019Madrid Area, SpainThe Chamber of Commerce facilitates increased Bilateral Relations and Trade between South Africa and Spain. Ambassador Smuts Ngonyama approached me to assemble a group of South Africans with business and educational interests in Spain to design a chamber of commerce based on intensive market research and feasibility studies. Headed the team of consultants for a proposed chamber of commerce for South Africa in Spain Elected as a member of the steering committee for the first constitution and statutes for operation and membership, thereafter being selected as a vocal member of the board, overseeing Arts and Culture and Education Represented the chamber in South Africa, acting as the host and key contact for potential chamber activities
Head of Marketing and Business Development
MCI GroupHead of Marketing and Business Development
Jan. 2016 - Jan. 2017South AfricaFounded on a simple human insight - that when people come together, magic happens! MCI is the largest meeting and conferencing company in the world, with operations in 31 countries. Following my appointment as Head of Operations, I was transferred to the role of Head of Business Development and Marketing. Within this role, my focus shifted to expanding MCI's presence throughout the African continent and securing new regional business. The Integrated Marketing Strategy for MCI South Africa positioned MCI as the activations company of choice in the sub-region, designing events to create lasting impact and achieve strategic objectives. Focus on expanding MCI's presence throughout the African Continent and a focus on securing new business with regional focus Position MCI as the Activations Company of Choice in the region - specialising in events that create lasting impact and achieve strategic objectives Developed an Integrated Marketing Strategy for MCI South Africa to be rolled out across Sub-Saharan Africa Previous Role at MCI South Africa - Head of Operations Executed Activations for MCI Across 4 African Countries and successfully negotiated partnerships in a further 6 African countries Developed full project plans with strict financial control systems Led a team of 6 Co-Ordinators and Project Managers in executing activation events across South Africa and the rest of the continent Performed full skills assessment on the MCI South Africa Project Team for continued training and development
Director of Admissions
IronhackDirector of Admissions
Jan. 2016 - Jan. 2016GlobalA Coding Academy founded to address the unemployment crisis in Spain and change the face of Education Design and Implement a Global Admissions strategy for entire portfolio of programmes Identify new markets for recruitment into the entire portfolio of programmes Identify market trends for Student Recruitment Develop and Maintain strategic partnerships with institutions that share Values and Vision Responsible for overall funnel management
Associate Director for the Middle East and Africa
Instituto de Empresa - IE Business School and IE UniversityAssociate Director for the Middle East and Africa
Jan. 2013 - Jan. 2016SpainA Business School founded by Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs embracing innovation to create lasting impact Development of an Africa Focused Business Development Plan for increasing market share on the continent Support the Regional Director in business development activities Plan & execute commercial activities in the region, with a special focus on Sub Saharan Africa Successfully deliver events and commercial activities in 33 African Countries Develop new Sales & Marketing channels to promote the institution’s program portfolio & services Coordinate with various departments to maximize the institution’s recognition Develop & maintain corporate and strategic partnerships Competitors’ benchmarking focusing mainly on their commercial activities and program offering Attend various international fairs & events to represent the institution in the region
Vice-Chairman
Engineers Without Borders South AfricaVice-Chairman
Jan. 2007 - Jan. 2010South AfricaCo-founder Wrote proposal that secured implementation of UCT and South African chapters Collaborated and spearheaded logistical plans with international chapters working on projects in South Africa Implemented project designing and installing solar ovens in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa
Intch is a Professional Networking App for the Future of Work
300k+ people
130+ countries
AI matching
See more people like Daena on Intch
Sales & BizDev
132346 people
16
CEO @ Brandurpassoin
15
Business Development Manager @ Self-Employed
19
Director @ Strauss Plant Hire
Sales & BizDevHead of Growth
17162 people
16
CEO @ Brandurpassoin
19
Director @ Strauss Plant Hire
38
Entrepreneur / 3x Tech Startup / Marketing and Growth @ Morlean Trading Group