Zandile Mgutshini

Brand Building (Consulting)

Ja'Dijo Restaurant, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

At Ja'Dijo Restaurant, I played a crucial role in establishing and promoting the brand by developing and executing comprehensive branding and marketing strategies. Ja'Dijo is in the planning phase of establishing a second location in Harare after a successful launch in Bulawayo.

• Spearheaded the branding and marketing initiatives for Ja'Dijo, a start-up restaurant, transforming the client's vision into a tangible, customer-facing reality with a focus on cost-effective solutions.
• Designed and developed comprehensive menus, promotional launch posters, and engaging social media content, significantly contributing to the restaurant's identity and customer engagement strategy.
• Employed basic online tools to create high-impact visuals and marketing materials, ensuring a successful launch within a stringent budget.
• Currently manage ongoing promotional campaigns and content creation, including the conceptualisation of special events such as a Mother's Day celebration.

Independent Contractor/Project Manager

Private Client, Cape Town, South Africa

In my role as an independent contractor, I managed a comprehensive residential house renovation project for a UK-based client. I oversaw all project phases, from initiation and planning through execution, monitoring, and closure, ensuring alignment with the client's objectives and constraints. My responsibilities included conducting feasibility analyses, developing detailed project plans, sourcing materials, managing contractors, and maintaining stakeholder relationships. This role demonstrated my capability to effectively manage complex projects, adhere to budgets, and deliver high-quality outcomes within specified timelines.

• Conducted a thorough project feasibility analysis to ensure project alignment with client objectives and constraints.
• Established project goals, objectives, and scope in consultation with the client.
• Developed a comprehensive project plan, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Oversaw the selection and management of contractors, ensuring quality work and adherence to project timelines.
• Managed relationships between stakeholders, including the client, house tenant, rental agency, and construction workers.
• Coordinated on-site activities and provided direction to ensure project execution in compliance with project specifications.

Head of Social Media (Volunteer)

Social Justice Organisation, Cape Town, South Africa

My expertise in SEO, content creation, and analytics allowed me to optimise our social media platforms effectively, enhancing user interaction and campaign performance. This position honed my abilities in strategic planning, team leadership, and digital marketing, making a measurable impact on our online presence.

• Introduced a dynamic social media strategy that amplified the campaign's visibility and engagement across global platforms, achieving a 1,278% increase in reach and connecting with over 400,000 individuals on Instagram.
• Led the #JusticeVsGenocide campaign, which involved coordinating international crowd- sourced messages of support for the South African legal team at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This campaign became a focal point for global outreach, drawing participation from across South Africa, Europe, North America, and Oceania.
• Managed comprehensive content creation for Instagram and Facebook, leveraging exclusive media content from key contacts in Ramallah and Nablus to enhance authenticity and impact.
• Directed a cross-functional team in executing high-stakes communication strategies that often positioned our content as the top search result during critical news events, significantly boosting the campaign's authority on issues related to Palestine.
• Utilised expertise in SEO, digital marketing, and user experience to refine campaign messaging and outreach tactics, which greatly increased transparency and reinforced the campaign's identity as a leading voice on Palestinian issues.
• Collaborated closely with professionals from various disciplines including journalism, marketing, event planning, art, and law, enhancing team cohesion and operational efficiency.

Project Management Course Tutor

University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

As a Project Management Course Tutor at the University of Cape Town, I managed online tutorials, graded assignments and exams, and provided personalised feedback to enhance student learning outcomes. This role highlighted my skills in educational delivery, student engagement, and the application of practical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

• Developed and implemented lesson plans to help students build a strong academic foundation.
• Managed online tutorials, including grading assignments and exams, and providing feedback to students.
• Mentored and advised 12 final year students on their academic and professional development, resulting in a 100% pass rate.
• Provided technical advice and guidance to student teams to ensure successful and timely execution of projects.
• Utilised conflict resolution strategies to successfully resolve student disputes and issues during capstone project execution.

Sales Associate

Missibaba by Chloe, Cape Town, South Africa

In my role as a Retail Sales Associate at Missibaba, working across all three locations—the Watershed, the Bree Street store, and the Biscuit Mill—I was instrumental in enhancing store operations and customer service. I efficiently handled daily store responsibilities, including opening and closing procedures, and actively engaged with customers to ensure a positive shopping experience. My duties also involved analysing store performance trends, managing inventory, and implementing store layouts and designs that maximised space utilisation and visual appeal. This position strengthened my skills in retail management, customer interaction, and operational efficiency.

• Created and maintained paper and electronic filing systems, resulting in improved organisational efficiency.
• Analysed website and social media analytics to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Performed daily store opening and closing duties, ensuring that all store policies were followed.

Head of Internal Affairs & Executive Board Member

Youth Voices Conference, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

As a founding board member of the Youth Voices Conference initiated in 2014, I played a critical role in creating a platform for young South Africans to engage in meaningful discussions about social, political, and economic issues. Our organisation, driven entirely by youth under the age of 23, challenged conventional expectations by demonstrating that young individuals could spearhead significant educational initiatives. During our inaugural conference in Nottingham Road, we not only managed logistics such as renting an auditorium and arranging accommodation but also curated a diverse lineup of speakers from various fields. This exposed attendees to advanced concepts, like biomimicry, broadening their intellectual horizons beyond traditional classroom learning.

• Organised a large-scale multi-day conferences with over 80 student attendees, resulting in successful events.
• Collaborated with external stakeholders to expand the reach of the NGO's services.
• Developed KPIs to measure operational performance and ensure compliance with organisational goals.
• Maintained and updated the organisation's operational processes to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Conducted semi-annual peer reviews to enhance internal performance.

Full Stack Web Development & Software Engineering Certificate

HyperionDev, Cape Town, South Africa

The bootcamp emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, which has allowed me to build a solid foundation in both front-end and back-end development techniques. My capstone project involves deploying a fully functional web application that incorporates user authentication, database interactions, and responsive design.

• Web development: Proficient in HTML, CSS, SCSS, and JavaScript for building web pages and enhancing user interfaces.
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Mastered OOP principles, including inheritance and creating modular, reusable code.
• Database Management: Acquired knowledge of SQL, database design, and interaction with SQL Server databases.
• Version Control: Learned Git and GitHub for efficient version control and collaboration with development teams.
• Full Stack Development: Explored full-stack web development with the MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) stack, enabling the creation of dynamic web applications.
• Web Application Frameworks: Utilised Laravel for PHP web development and Next.js for creating server-rendered React applications.
• Responsive Web Design: Gained experience in CSS, SCSS, and customising WordPress themes to ensure web applications are responsive and user-friendly.
• API Integration: Learned to fetch data from remote sources using React and implemented various APIs to enhance web application functionality.
• Error Handling and Testing: Practised effective error handling and wrote tests for React applications using popular testing frameworks.
• Authentication: Implemented authentication using JSON Web Tokens (JWT) to enhance web application security.
• Server Deployment: Deployed web applications to platforms like Heroku for public access.
• Databases and Database Management: Created and managed MongoDB databases and utilised Mongoose for CRUD operations.
• Software Documentation: Explored various forms of software documentation to improve code quality and maintainability.

Bachelor of Commerce specialising in Management Studies

University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Throughout my studies, I focused on acquiring skills in financial accounting, business finance, and financial reporting, alongside developing a robust analytical framework through courses in statistics and data analysis.

The curriculum also covered extensive ground in marketing and people management, enabling me to understand consumer behavior and market dynamics effectively. Courses in Information Systems and Applied Statistics further enhanced my ability to integrate technology and quantitative analysis in business decision-making. My education not only provided me with theoretical knowledge but also stressed practical applications and problem-solving skills essential for managing and leading in diverse organizational settings.

• Statistical Proficiency: Acquired advanced skills in Applied Statistics, including Multivariate Analysis, enabling data-driven decision-making.
• Market Research Expertise: Developed a deep understanding of the consumer market and honed research skills in Marketing Research, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Science Background: Enhanced critical thinking through courses in Chemistry and Biology.
• Financial Expertise: Gained in-depth knowledge in Financial Accounting, Business Finance, and Financial Reporting.
• Economic Insights: Developed a comprehensive understanding of both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.
• Data Analysis: Analytical skills in Statistics, including modelling and forecasting.
• Marketing Expertise: Gained insights into Marketing principles and strategies.
• Management Skills: Developed proficiency in People Management including conflict resolution resource management and organisational theory.
• Problem-Solving: Acquired the ability to approach real-world challenges with evidence-based solutions.
• Information Systems: Built a solid foundation in Information Systems gaining the ability to effectively manage and integrate technology solutions within business environments to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making.

National Senior Certificate (IEB)

St Anne's Diocesan College, Hilton, South Africa

I completed my matriculation at St. Anne's Diocesan College, where I was honored as the Head Girl in 2015. I was selected to participate in a foreign exchange program at Charlotte Latin School in North Carolina, USA, in 2013. My academic pursuits included English Home Language, French Second Additional Language, Life Orientation, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and isiZulu First Additional Language. This diverse curriculum not only fortified my linguistic and scientific skills but also equipped me with a well-rounded education, preparing me for diverse challenges and global experiences.

• Head Girl for 2015
• Selected for foreign exchange programme to Charlottle Latin School in North Carolina USA in 2013.