Kwena

MAKWENA MAMABOLO • Gauteng, South Africa •-•- • Portfolio – https://kwenathedouble.my.canva.site/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwena-mamabolo-25bb8b33/ SKILLS Event Planning - Public Relations - Media Relations - Interpersonal Skills - Excellent Communications - Operations Management – Administration Assistance - Newsletter & Publication Management - Expo, exhibition & Mall activation execution - Budget Management - Microsoft Office - Writing & Editing - Account Management - Budget Reporting – Social Media Marketing – Customer Service - Good leadership traits– Marketing - Active Listening - Critical Thinking - Active Learning – Office Administration – Diary Management - Monitoring – Facebook – Press Releases – Strategic Communications - Problem Solving – Project Management - Systems Evaluation – Crisis Communication - Operations Analysis – Influencer Management -Marketing communications - copywriting - teamwork -project implementationproject delivery - team motivation - strategic thinking- non-government organizations - government - risk management - quality management - project planning - procurement - project charter - business writing - stakeholder management - task estimation - project execution - agile management -scrum - coaching - influencing - business communication PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE FREELANCER CLOCKWORK MEDIA Account Director 2024/11- current Clients: Openserve, inDrive, Disney+, PepsiCo, Planet Fitness • • • • • • • • • • • • • Managing business areas of PR and Media Relations, Consumer, Influencer Marketing, Employee Engagement and Corporate Communication. Monitoring the account terms and deadlines. Developing PR proposals and comms strategies to be presented to clients. Completing billings, managing budget targets, and tracking financial progress against each client account. Developing monthly reports on activities delivered against the retainer, and quarterly client health reports. Carrying out the new business participation which includes research, brainstorms and developing new business proposals for pitches. Developing and guiding media relations strategies. Media lobbying and securing additional coverage according to client’s KPIs. Assisting and alerting clients to potential crisis or negative publicity. Efficiently planning and managing large-scale events which includes the management of all suppliers, and internal people resources involved in the event execution. Directing the development of a range of materials developed by the account team including client memos, press releases, speeches, articles, presentations, and collateral materials. Applying specialised expertise to client work, through an understanding of the business trends in the industries I consult in. FREELANCER Marketing Comms Specialist 2024/07- 2024/10 Clients: Lightstone Pty LTD(Auto & Property), GE HealthCare + Swaziland Radiology Services • • • • • Internal Collaboration & Communication - Build and nurture positive relationships across internal teams, including Traffic, Creative, Strategy, and Management. Client relations & service - Lead client meetings, overseeing agenda creation, scheduling, and meeting protocols to ensure seamless communication. Provide weekly status updates, ensuring all deliverables are clear and tracked. Draft and deliver client contact reports within 24 hours of meetings, outlining key takeaways and next steps. Present strategies, plans, and creative ideas with confidence. • • • • • • • • • • • • Project Management - Collaborate with creative teams to develop comprehensive timing plans, ensuring timely delivery of all campaigns and initiatives. Project Management - Continuously monitor project progress, keeping all stakeholders informed and ensuring deadlines are met. Compile and present integrated monthly reports that highlight performance metrics and campaign impact. Write and proofread content with an eye for detail and brand consistency. Develop and manage content calendars, campaign strategies, and production timelines. Develop short-form copy for client collateral and effectively brief content teams for specialised work. Repurpose newsletter articles into press releases for distribution. Manage client social media pages, posting organic content regularly and ensuring consistent brand messaging. Draft and manage social media calendars, identifying opportunities to amplify PR efforts through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, while responding to comments to protect the client’s reputation. Distribute press releases, securing media coverage, and pitching interviews. Lead the execution of PR campaigns, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and exceed client expectations. Brief client spokespeople on interview opportunities to ensure they are well-prepared and aligned with brand messaging. BCW AFRICA. – HYBRID JOB/CONTRACT Senior PR Account Manager South Africa 2023/02- 2024/06 Lead of new Account Sage South Africa lead a team of three, account moved from eight-month retainer to a oneyear contract. We have surpassed coverage and campaign expectations by 100% and grew our retainer fee by 80%. I currently work on the BCX, Sage South Africa, Cox Yeats Attorney’s, Bluetti, Board of Health Funders (BHF), General Electric accounts. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Client management & reporting - Managing and managing several campaigns and client expectations. Reporting through status and contact reports Strategy planning - Developing and managing creative PR strategy for projects/programmes and campaigns. Social media management Crisis Communications – attending media queries, drafting holding statements. Internal Communications – Developing employee morale, internal comms campaign. Revamped media relations strategy, leveraging data-driven insights to identify key media outlets and target audience segments; successfully secured coverage in top ten industry publications, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic and a 20% boost in lead generation. Influencer management – working with influencers for key campaigns and projects. Campaign management - Overseeing and directly managing media campaigns through the established relationships have created with social media, print and broadcast journalists. Day-to-day support of client management with the account lead Writing - Press release, thought leader, POV, commentary. Project Management – liaison between agencies and client. First point of contact for all agencies, lead an integrated approach to plans/campaigns. Finance – managing campaign budgets, budget management. Reporting - Managing weekly meetings and reporting for the client’s, proposal drafting. Research business or industry trends Reporting to senior management Media event preparation- Preparing press packs for events i.e., press release, photos, infographics. FTI CONSULTING – FULLY REMOTE JOB Strategic Communications Consultant South Africa 2021/06-2023/02 Originally hired to project mange the SANRAL account, but later moved over to assist the team with strategic communications. I managed a R50 million account. The team needed my approval before spending the budget and it was imperative, I know the budget like the back of my head. My role grew from being the 10% of the team to being and 100% part of the overall strategic comms team. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Project management Writing briefs and ensuring that these are delivered against. Daily management of projects, both internally and externally, within budgets and timelines Managing and negotiating with external suppliers and freelancers Scoping projects and managing delivery against budget Overseeing the issuing of Cost Estimates, receipt of POs, delivery of work, and invoicing and payment receipting as required. Budget Control and Management Attend and lead on elements in client budget meetings. Produce, manage Financial Reports, reconciliation and manage financial functions. Reconcile project budgets to include internal time and supplier cost. Travel & Accommodation arrangement Support the PR team on projects when needed Strategic Communication Assist in managing client relationships with senior supervision and help to creatively prepare and deliver the client programme. Develop professional relationships with clients and respond to their requirements for advice, deliverables and counsel when required. Write press releases, talking points, interview background materials, award submissions and Web content. Attend and participate in client status and other meetings as part of the account team and lead elements of the meeting. Assist senior team members in managing accounts on a day-to-day basis and develop excellent relationships with clients. Maintain professional, credible, and beneficial relationships and associations with the media. Maintain media lists, conduct media monitoring and analysis, prepare client media reports. Proactively track media opportunities for the clients and suggest responses for these. Distribute approved media releases, opinion pieces and other content. Produce first drafts of communications plans aligned to the clients' communications strategies. Demonstrate high quality original thinking around content development, writing and research documents from client briefs. Work alongside colleagues to ensure timescales and quality assurance are adhered to. Support senior management in ensuring team processes are in place and share ideas on ways to evolve these. Stakeholder relations & management Share industry and media insights across the team, based on journalist and industry contacts as well as thorough reading of the news. TSOGOSUN MONTECASINO - HYBRID Marketing & Promotions Coordinator South Africa 2018/04-2019/03 This role started out as a PA/admin role but after three months I was moved to the promotions department as a coordinator. I managed over R2 million budget plus additional budget for the promotions department. • Financial Control and Budget Management • Produce Financial Reports and manage financial functions. • Manage Payroll Reconciliations and submissions timeously every month. • Conceptualize and fulfil aspects of the Company’s Event and Theatre Production Strategy • Diary Management for the Marketing Manager • Management of ad-hoc Marketing Projects • Ensure Compliance with the company’s policies and procedures. • Display strong ethics and respect for confidentiality. • Work as part of a team or individually to deliver high quality standards consistently and accurately. • Promotions develop effective promotional strategies and consult with all stakeholders for the duration of the project’s implementation. • manage & analyse the execution of all aspects of promotions, including media liaison. • To plan, co-ordinate and implement innovative promotions/events that achieve pre-determined objectives. • Communicate details of promotions to all relevant departments • Co-ordinate promotional events, ensuring all coordination are managed and smoothly executed. • Promotion post analysis reports: supply photo collection, winner’s details & prizes won. • • Ensure promotion is in line competition, FICA, or compliance regulations. Compile a promotional brief and distribute to the Marketing management. EGG ENTERTAINMENT & PRODUCTIONS Operations and PR executive South Africa 2017/05-2018/03 I assisted a team that never believed in PR by proving there was an opportunity. I managed to generate over R2 million worth of coverage for Operation Hunger an NGO we did work for on ad hoc basis. I also worked on the MasterCard and SONY accounts. • Third-party supplier negotiations, payment terms, due diligence, and quality control on final delivery • Focus based on retail elements of campaigns (including reviews, reports, sourcing specialist production companies, suppliers and managing production processes) including new elements. • Download artwork from Source+ • Sourcing of product and give-away options, including quotations and supplier options • Production of all POS elements and ensure that samples of each element are approved before delivering bulk to the specified locations. • Assisting retained account team operationally as and when required • Assisting with planning and execution of activations and events • All POS and POP elements delivered to SMC warehouse; please note that Egg has a national footprint and therefore can also arrange logistics around distribution to stores and application of POS and POP items upon request. Full written and photographic reports in this case will be provided. RESEARCH & RECOMMENDATIONS: POINT OF PURCHASE & POINT OF SALE • Sourcing specialist production companies and suppliers and managing development and production processes. • Production of branding for activations and events, delivery of branding, set-up and delivery of stand units and collateral • Assist on general day-to-day requests with images, information, downloading of all current or upcoming videos, print, retail elements off Source+ so that when needed it is on hand for client reference and design briefs PUBLIC RELATIONS • Media Relations • Drafting of PR Plans ECLIPSE PUBLIC RELATIONS Public Relations Account Executive South Africa 2015/10-2017/03 I worked on the following clients: Builder warehouse, Gold Reef City Casino, Silverstar Casino, Coca-Cola (all the coke brands: sprite, Fanta, GVW, Valpre), SA Mint, Baby soft, READ, CHOC, Novartis, Smirnoff, Heineken. • Day-to-day management of several accounts in several different industries • Development and management of campaigns. Development of PR Plans and implementation • Developing relevant and unique content for distribution across multiple media platforms – from digital to traditional • Constantly maintaining and developing strong relationships with the media – pitching articles, assisting with enquires etc. • Media liaison including monitoring media response to press releases and campaigns, managing interviews, article distribution. • Researching, writing, and distributing press release – following up and tracking coverage • Liaise with clients on a weekly and monthly basis – managing client expectations, status meetings, reports etc. • Budget management, budget recons post events. • Proactively reach out to the media, journalists, and bloggers to build relationships and secure opportunities for client exposure. • Ongoing research to identify new industry trends relevant to clients and new opportunity for exposure for clients. • Maintaining up-to-date media and feature lists. • Event, campaign and activation planning and implementation • Arrangement of ticket giveaways/competitions with media- broadcast/print/online • Working with Newsclip & Media Manager to track coverage, find media contacts. TRIBECA PR SOUTH Africa Public Relations Intern 2015/06-2015/08 I worked on the following clients: EPSON, Retroviral, Cape Town Fashion Week. This was an admin extensive position. • Daily media monitoring • Drafting features lists and informing Account Managers of opportunities for clients. • Generating coverage on behalf of client • Media relations • Filing all coverage received to compile coverage reports. • Issuing press releases and writing motivations • Social media - content development and managing social media platforms. FCB AFRICA South Africa Public Relations Intern 2014/04-2014/12 I worked on the following clients: EMC Technologies, VMWare, IDC, Cell C, Gordons Gin, Dignity Dreams, Baker & McKenzie, Giant Flag, • Arranging/facilitating media interviews for clients • Developing angles with PR team and identifying issues and trends. • Distributing press releases and company announcements to media • Sourcing feature opportunities • Drafting of Q & As for client • Drafting of PR calendars • Working with 1886 briefing designers for Cell C POS • Proactively pitching ideas and selling into media • Creative writing for client internal communications • Media liaison EDUCATION COURSERA Certificate Project Management • Certificate Project Execution: Running the project – 89.34% • Certificate Project Planning: Putting it all together - 83.50% • Certificate In Agile Project Management – 93% • Certificate Foundations of Project Management – 89.09% • Certificate Project Initiation: Starting a successful Project – 91.82% • Certificate Capstone: Applying Project Management in the real world – 86.44% ROSEBANK COLLEGE(IIE) Diploma in Public Relations ● Awards: Top Performing Student for three years consecutively South Africa Complete 2024 South Africa-