John Ramazani Salumu
Sr. Business Development Executive
Dubai
Summary
Dynamic and Multilingual Business Development Executive with 5 years of success in FinTech, Saas, and B2B sales across diverse markets including The Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, France, Belgium and the UK. IT-educated, bilingual in English and French, with a foundation in Information Technology, delivering strategic growth through exceptional communication skills.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Business Development Executive
TalentInTheCloud International
Cape Town
09.2021 - Current
- Conducted market research to identify industry trends, competitor activities, and potential areas for business expansion, contributing to informed decision-making
- Achieved a 45% year-over-year revenue growth across the South African, European, and Middle Eastern markets through effective business development strategies.
- Spread the footprints of the company across the Payments sector in South Africa, in the UK as well as in the UAE and in North Africa
- Led initiatives to penetrate the UK market, resulting in a 25% increase in market share and a strengthened presence in the competitive FinTech executive search sector.
- Drove business development efforts in the UAE, securing executive search projects with leading financial technology firms and contributing to a 35% revenue growth in the region.
- Positioned TalentInTheCloud as a thought leader in FinTech space through participation in industry events, hosting The "Talking Success" podcast series where my guests were CEOs of FinTechs across EMEA, speaking engagements, and the publication of insightful articles, leading to increased brand recognition.
- Spread the footprints of the company in the FinTech industry across the Francophone market: namely Francophone Africa, France, and Belgium achieving a 40% growth in client acquisition within the first year.
- Cultivated and maintained strong relationships with key stakeholders, including C-level executives and decision-makers, fostering long-term partnerships with CEOs of the various FinTechs in South Africa, in France, in Belgium, in the UK, in the UAE, and in Egypt
- Achieved quarterly KPIs with deals that brought unto the company over AED 367,282 in a quarter
- Worked on officially launching the FINASA: The FinTech Association of South Africa which doubled the revenue of the company within the 3 months that followed the official launch of July 2022
- Utilized Zoho and Hubspot CRM systems to track and manage sales activities, pipeline, and customer interactions for enhanced productivity and efficiency
- Led contract negotiations, pricing discussions, and closed deals, demonstrating effective communication and negotiation skills to secure mutually beneficial agreements
- Developed and delivered persuasive presentations and pitches, articulating the value proposition of services to potential clients
- Collaborated cross-functionally with marketing and product delivery teams to tailor solutions and proposals to meet client needs, ensuring alignment with business goals.
Sales Executive
Hoodz
Cape Town
02.2020 - 08.2021
- Consistently exceeded monthly and quarterly sales targets by 20%, demonstrating a strong ability to meet and surpass revenue goals
- Successfully closed key accounts with high lifetime value, contributing to a 25% expansion in the client base and overall revenue
- Executed outbound calling and successfully launched and managed personalized email campaigns resulting in a 25% higher response rate compared to the industry average email campaigns using Reply and SalesHandy to engage potential clients, effectively communicating the value proposition of the SaaS product
- Implemented retention initiatives that reduced customer churn by 20%, emphasizing a focus on customer satisfaction and ongoing value delivery.
- Successfully penetrated new markets, leading to a 25% increase in market share and positioning the company as a leader in the industry
- Pioneered the integration of cutting-edge sales technologies, resulting in a 15% improvement in sales automation and a more data-driven approach to decision-making
Sales and Marketing Manager
L'Aube
Lubumashi
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Orchestrated comprehensive sales and marketing strategies, driving revenue growth and market presence for a book-selling and event organization company
- Conducted market research and trend analysis, enabling the company to stay ahead of literary trends and align product offerings with customer preferences.
- Developed and executed an integrated marketing campaign for a literary event, resulting in a 30% increase in event attendance and a 25% growth in book sales during the event period
- Established strategic partnerships with local book clubs and literary influencers, leading to a 20% boost in book sales through collaborative promotions and events.
- Implemented targeted digital marketing strategies that contributed to a 40% increase in online book sales within the first six months of tenure.
- Secured key sponsorships for literature events, resulting in a 25% increase in event budget and elevated brand visibility within the literary community.
- Led a high-performing sales team, setting clear goals and providing guidance to achieve and exceed sales targets for both book sales and event attendance
- Implemented a robust system to measure the return on investment (ROI) for literature events, providing actionable insights for future event planning and resource allocation
- Evaluated the effectiveness of marketing and sales initiatives through analytics and KPIs, implementing data-driven adjustments to maximize ROI and drive continuous improvement.
Intern WordPress Developer
Iziko Museum
Cape Town
06.2018 - 12.2018
- Contributed to WordPress development projects as part of a work-integrated learning experience at the IZIKO Museum in Cape Town
- Gained hands-on experience in troubleshooting and resolving WordPress-related issues, ensuring the smooth operation of the museum's online platform
- Worked closely with senior developers to learn and apply best practices in WordPress development, staying abreast of industry trends and technologies
- Provided prompt and effective support to resolve website issues, resulting in a 25% decrease in reported incidents and improved overall user satisfaction.
- Developed and updated website content using the WordPress content management system, aligning with the museum's goals and objectives
- Ensured a seamless user experience across devices by implementing responsive design principles, resulting in a 15% increase in mobile traffic.
- Acquired practical knowledge of web development tools, version control systems, and coding standards relevant to WordPress development.
Intern Web Designer
Hashtagweb
Cape Town
04.2018 - 06.2018
- Implemented responsive design principles to enhance user experience across various devices
- Created and maintained design documentation, ensuring consistency in design standards and brand guidelines
- Improved the UI of key website pages, resulting in a 25% decrease in bounce rates and an extended average session duration of 30%
- Developed innovative design solutions that received positive feedback from clients, contributing to a 15% increase in client satisfaction scores
Tv Presenter
La Colombe Studios
Lubumbashi
11.2014 - 12.2015
- Engaged in in-depth interviews with a diverse range of guests, including youth activists, artists, and experts, to discuss pressing issues relevant to the youth audience
- Boosted show ratings by 20% within the first quarter through engaging content, captivating discussions, and active social media promotion
- Demonstrated ability to conduct insightful and thought-provoking interviews, bringing out the best in each guest and facilitating engaging conversations
- Launched interactive social media campaigns related to show topics, increasing online engagement by 30% and fostering a vibrant online community.
- Represented the show at public events and youth forums, delivering speeches and participating in panel discussions on issues affecting young people.
Education
Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology -
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Cape Town, South Africa 01.2017 - 12.2020
Skills
Effective communicationProblem solvingGood at negotiatingMultitaskingEntrepreneurTime ManagementTech savvyReplySalesQLLinkedin Sales NavigatorZoho CRMMicrosoft OfficeJava with the Spring FrameworkAndroid DevelopmentWordPress, PHP, HTML, and CSSJavascript using the Viewjs frameworkIDE and Code Editor: Netbeans, IntelliJ, Visual studio, Visual studio code, Notepad
Hubspot
Salesforce
Certification
Online LinkedIn Certificate "Marketing Communications", LinkedIn Learning Online, 03/2019, Learned the core principles of effective marketing communications strategies and how to chart your own marketing roadmap.
Timeline
Business Development Executive
TalentInTheCloud International
09.2021 - Current
Sales Executive
Hoodz
02.2020 - 08.2021
Sales and Marketing Manager
L'Aube
01.2019 - 01.2020
Intern WordPress Developer
Iziko Museum
06.2018 - 12.2018
Intern Web Designer
Hashtagweb
04.2018 - 06.2018
Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology -
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
01.2017 - 12.2020
Tv Presenter
La Colombe Studios
11.2014 - 12.2015