Winnie Wanzetse | Freelancer Resume

WINNIE WERE WANZETSE Communications, Advocacy & Diplomacy Professional Portfolio: muckrack.com/winnie-were-wanzetse/articles/ PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY A strategic Communications, Advocacy & Diplomacy Professional with 10+ years’ experience leading communication, publishing, and stakeholder engagement across development, private, and public sectors. Adept at shaping narratives that drive visibility, influence, and measurable results. Recognized for organizational excellence, storytelling skill, and an unwavering pursuit of quality in every initiative. CORE COMPETENCIES           Strategic Communications & Advocacy Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management Public Relations & Media Liaison Program & Project Coordination Content Strategy, Editing & Publishing Brand Development & Corporate Storytelling Digital Marketing & Social Media Management Event Planning & Campaign Delivery Research, Analysis & Knowledge Management Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Sales & Marketing Lead — Josef Seibel Africa (Romika) Feb 2023 – Present Lead marketing and stakeholder engagement strategies across regional distribution networks. Key Achievements • Expanded brand visibility across new markets, increasing regional sales by 30%. • Strengthened client relationships and retention through personalized account management. Core Responsibilities • Develop and execute product-marketing strategies and promotional campaigns. • Manage partner relations, training, and after-sales communication. • Conduct market research to guide brand positioning and decision-making. Publishing Consultant — Independent Consultant Apr 2015 – Present Provide editorial leadership, content strategy, and communication consultancy to publishers and institutions. Key Achievements • Supported leading publishers (Longhorn, Moran, Access, RTI, Kenya Police) in content innovation and brand visibility. • Delivered publication projects that improved market share and readership by 20%. Core Responsibilities • Develop, edit, and manage content for academic and corporate publications. • Lead project management and quality assurance for publishing pipelines. • Manage digital content and social-media storytelling for corporate clients. Content Specialist — iWorker International Sep 2020 – Sep 2023 Provided leadership in digital communication and content strategy for international clients. Key Achievements • Produced 250+ digital pieces per quarter, increasing engagement by 40%. • Improved clients’ website visibility by 30% through optimized SEO and analytics. Core Responsibilities • Lead end-to-end content creation, editing, and publishing • Manage social-media calendars and performance reporting • Mentor junior writers across distributed teams Managing Editor – Autonews Magazine (Marketing & PR) — Automobile Association of Kenya Aug 2018 – Jan 2020 Provided strategic direction for AA Kenya’s communications and brand visibility. Key Achievements  Revived the Autonews Magazine after a 10-year hiatus, growing magazine readership to 50K+ and boosting ad revenue by 35%. Led campaigns positioning AA Kenya as a mobility and road-safety thought leader.  Championed lasting partnerships with other corporate leaders for Autonews Magazine and AA Kenya in general  Organised staggered year-long celebrations for AA Kenya’s 100th anniversary celebrations  Hosted motor vehicle clinics several times as a membership drive and chance to connect with target clientele  Hosted golf tournaments to drive membership and sustainable partnerships with key stakeholders  As Road Safety Committee Coordinator, I championed road safety efforts including organizing walks to sensitise the populace on acceptable road safety practices. Core Responsibilities • Direct editorial strategy and content development. • Coordinate national events and brand activations. • Serve as media liaison and spokesperson for road-safety initiatives. Consulting Editor – Lubezine Magazine — Lubes Africa Limited Oct 2017 – Sep 2022 Oversaw editorial quality and stakeholder engagement for a regional energy publication. Key Achievements  Oversaw editing, publishing and circulation of magazine across East Africa across a span of 5   years. Trained and mentored 2 assistants in magazine production, a role they still execute well to this day. Expanded readership to six countries and advertiser base by 25%. Core Responsibilities • Edit and proofread technical articles. • Manage contributor relations and scheduling. • Align content strategy with audience analytics. Senior Account Executive – Content Development — BSD Group Limited Led PR and communications strategies for corporate clients. Jan 2017 – Jul 2017 Key Achievements  Increased media coverage for clients by 45%.  Organised and hosted presidential event – graduation for the 2017 second 2jiajiri cohort.  Co-designed award-winning KCB 2jiajiri Programme for the second cohort reaching 200K+ youth. Core Responsibilities • Develop press materials and campaign content. • Manage stakeholder relations and analytics. • Supervise junior account staff and interns. Online Sub Editor — Standard Media Group Limited Apr 2015 – Jan 2017 Managed real-time digital news and editorial quality control. Key Achievements   Edited 3,000+ articles with 99% accuracy and raised engagement by 25%. Created a user manual to raise accuracy and quality standard for information published on Standard Digital online platform    Successfully repackaged content for various social media platforms i.e. Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) Successfully covered highly followed events, e.g. the Pope’s visit, Obama’s visit and even First Lady’s funeral Swiftly communicated breaking news and maintained accurate periodic updates on developing stories e.g. the Garissa University massacre and the El Adde attacks. Core Responsibilities • Edited and publish breaking-news content • Coordinate updates with field reporters • Maintain editorial and SEO standards Editorial Assistant — Longhorn Publishers Feb 2014 – Mar 2015 Supported editorial and production operations for leading educational titles. Key Achievements    Managed 40 + titles to print; cut delays by 20% Guided authors to write proper well researched manuscripts Created proper work quality control manual for editors to use to produce quality works Core Responsibilities • Edit and proofread manuscripts. • Liaise with authors, illustrators, and production teams. Assistant Editor / Proofreader — Oxford University Press East Africa Ensured editorial excellence for academic and general publications. Key Achievements • Edited 100 + titles with 98% accuracy; improved workflows by 25%. Core Responsibilities • Review manuscripts and coordinate approvals. • Conduct quality assurance for layout and design. Apr 2011 – Jan 2014 EDUCATION • Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Studies — University of Nairobi (2019 – 2021) • Bachelor of Science in Information Science — Moi University (2006 – 2010) CERTIFICATIONS • Global Workplace Integration Certification (GWIC®) – 2025 • BSAFE Certification – 2025 • Certified Impact Rater – 2022 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & PORTFOLIO • MuckRack Portfolio – Articles & Features • Contributor to corporate and editorial publications across East Africa REFEREES Available upon request.