Retha Blignaut

• Reporting to the Associate Director of the Office of Global Engagement, I assist in managing and coordinating leads within the team and various departments and schools.
• Advising students on course selection, progress toward admission and enrollment.
• Main areas include Oceania, India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
• Improve student experience through nurture and by advising on programme selection, progress plans and career decisions.
• Strategized and implemented methods for streamlining processes, reducing bottleneck and modernizing operations while collaborating with Associate Director of Global Engagement for the purpose of streamlining and processes and procedures and effortless, well-executed onboarding best practise.
• Assisting in overall best practice processes to facilitate onboarding procedures enabling work efficiency and effectiveness.
• Boosted applications by 70% by improving prospect nurture, outreach and engagement strategies.
• Prepared students for later educational experiences by encouraging to explore learning opportunities and persevere with challenging tasks.
• Referred students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes or educational assessments.

• Conducted strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analyses to develop strategic plans for corporate level and business units.
• Worked with client to assess needs and develop improvement plans together with an exit strategy as part of three horizons strategy.
• Involved with and executed proposal development plan, market research and documentation to achieve optimal results.
• Leveraged strengths to drive long-lasting improvements in business growth, client relations and profits.
• Conducted a situational analysis with team to determine where organization is and the developmental goals of the director looking toward an exit strategy as part of horizon 3
• Market analysis completed of electrical sector exploring various aspects relating to products and services
• Competitor analysis to develop effective marketing and business strategies for the company
• Recommendations made according to findings delivering a complete business development plan including people, process and technology, customer connection strategies via brand awareness campaigns and markets to aggressively pursue as part of horizon 1 call to actions.

• Worked on two projects for international organizations with the focus on disruptive innovation via blue oceans strategy
• Presented proposals to SLT and board members of HSBC (Hong Kong) and Roland (Japan)
• Contributed to cross-functional teams in design and development of new products.
• Activities included information gathering and contemporary strategy sessions before compiling ideas for new product development.
• Identified systematic problems and root causes to resolve issues developing new products and services
• Analyzed market and delivery systems to determine present and future material availability.

• Conducted market research analysis to identify search query trends, real-time search and news media activity.
• Evaluated new emerging media or technologies and made recommendations for application within internet marketing or search marketing campaigns.
• Identified appropriate key performance indicators, reporting on key metrics from digital campaigns.
• Proposed online or multiple-sales-channel campaigns to marketing executives.
• Identified methods for interfacing web application technologies with enterprise resource planning or other system software.
• Driving the operational efficiency towards strategic positioning and the creation of distinctive value for its clients and students
• Apply strategic analysis and planning techniques in response to a contemporary business challenge of the Primary Sector in New Zealand

• Delivering exceptional customer service with an eye for detail.
• Identifying new opportunities as well as developing solid relationships in core segments such as dental surgeries, dental laboratories and DHBs
• Training received to facilitate sales for implantology in clinical and lab setting
• Excellent communication and problem-solving ability
• MS Office skills and experience in CRM
• Excellent team and cross-team collaboration resulting in better customer service and subsequent results leading to record sales account growth
• Chosen to represent the customer services team in an exclusive round table event with the chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein Dental, Mr Stanley Bergman addressing the need for accessibility to more affordable primary dental care for all Kiwi households
• Showing commitment to our customers that meet their needs and exceeds expectations by treating them with respect and importance together with a sense of urgency that drive results
• Exhibiting and living our core values of “we” not “me”
• Assisting in the community by joining to create ‘new’ planter boxes at a low decile school as part of a Henry Schein Cares initiative
• Promoted high customer satisfaction by resolving problems with knowledgeable and friendly service.
• Answered incoming calls and emails, providing frontline customer support or assistance with product and service transactions.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills in resolving product and consumer complaints.
• Provided outstanding service to new and long-standing customers by attending closely to concerns and developing solutions.

• Exceeding set sales targets by 91% within the first month for Elizabeth Arden and considered a record for particular store
• Excellent sales ability, link selling and building rapport
• Achieving 52.5% of overall business in comparison to 34.3% of the rest of the team
• Generating 60% of total sales from 2 departments, including cosmetics and health & beauty
• Planning and assisting with various in-store company events such as Red Door Minute (major yearly event at top stores only)
• Strategically identified clients utilizing the Pareto principle and specific target market analysis resulting in a 150 per cent increase from the previous year
• Management of customer database and customer profitability
• Target marketing and tracking of buying patterns
• Displayed merchandise to present visually appealing arrangements that drive sales.
• Capitalized on upselling opportunities for additional products and services to increase sales numbers.
• Built and deepened productive and positive customer relationships with high-quality service and focus on gaining loyalty.
• Finalized purchases and processed payments.
• Trained staff on strategies for regularly surpassing sales goals.
• Researched trends to learn about new products and techniques by using YouTube, beauty blogs and magazines.
• Provided makeup services for weddings, and other special events.
• Assisted customers in feeling relaxed and comfortable with the process.
• Handled appointment booking, canceling and rescheduling.
• Kept notes listing preferences and services provided to clients for quick reference.

• Specializing in the supply of medical and dental consumables, various custom produced first aid kits, and infection control
• My main focus as a Dental product specialist focusing on halitosis and dry mouth syndrome promoting niche product line
• Involved in custom first-aid kits and related recovery equipment for clients’ specific needs
• Managed product demonstrations, testimonials and benchmarks for performance evaluation.
• Developed marketing programs for several new product offerings to bring in additional revenue.
• Worked closely with customers to determine appropriate marketing offerings and strategies for business needs.
• Cultivated business partnerships to build lasting relationships with internal and external parties.
• Developed marketing strategies based on corporate objectives and market trends.
• Delivered marketing strategy updates to upper-level management.
• Planned advertising campaigns for online, print and other mediums.

Reason for leaving: Family

• Responsible for the start-up of dental consumable line plus small equipment
• Sales and marketing of consumables and small equipment
• Responding to existing customers purchasing requests, identifying needs, and sourcing stock to ensure we delivered the best products at the best price
• Responsible for growing revenue and market share by active selling and account management
• Solving customer queries and customer service and excellent communication and influencing ability
• Maintained professional network of potential clients and business opportunities.
• Developed and implemented new sales strategies to update product lines.
• Researched and capitalized on emerging opportunities to build business and expand customer base.
• Established new accounts and serviced existing accounts maintaining professional relationships.
• Developed comprehensive business development plan to achieve sustainability and annual budget goals.
• Resolved customer complaints regarding sales and service.
• Determined price schedules and discount rates.
• Led sales planning, development and account management to grow existing accounts and establish new sales accounts.

Reason for leaving: Company closed down and was made redundant

• Responsible for retaining and gaining new business margins by providing a product mix tailored to individual customer needs via marketing campaigns, product offers, and competitive pricing
• Managing and growing territories by applying the Pareto principle, conducting a SWOT analysis and doing extensive sales research, as well as identifying buying patterns
• Presenting a business plan and forecast for particular territories
• Troubleshooting activities and knowledge of dental materials and equipment assisting clinicians with workflow
• At least 10 per cent of customers won over with increased sales of between 120-320% respectively
• Won the best territory growth nationally & best product growth for Ultradent (Exclusive Brand), 2004 achieving sales target upto 130%
• Worked closely with existing accounts to grow market share.
• Stayed current on competitor sales, prices and products.
• Developed solid connections with customers to promote products.
• Devised territory sales plans to exceed revenue and market penetration goals.
• Analyzed territory to identify and negotiate contracts with new retail customer opportunities.
• Conducted cold calls to offer services to potential customers.
• Developed sales plans designed to achieve revenue targets and business objectives.
• Created sales opportunities through cold-calling and other promotional activities.
• Consulted with customers to gain feedback and improve experience.
• Coordinated group training classes in alignment with company sales objectives.
• Resolved customer complaints regarding product sales and service.
• Led sales planning, development and account management to grow existing accounts and establish new sales accounts.
• Gained market share in new sales performance through aggressive team training.

Reason for leaving: Headhunted: Hospital Assist Africa: Dental consumable manager and small equipment.