Amir Rezaei

Experience

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  Calibre Education

  Jun 2009 - Nov 2009

  Tutor

  • Tutored ten (10) Grade 10-12 students English in preparation for their preliminary and final examinations.• Tutored three (3) Grade 12 students Mathematical Literacy in preparation for their preliminary and final examinations.

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  St Peter's College

  Aug 2009 - Nov 2009

  Sports Coach

  • Worked in a two-person coaching team whom conducted weekly training and strategy sessions for a group of 30 under-16 football players – both the u16A and u16B teams went undefeated during the season.• Umpired the Second XI Cricket team’s matches.

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  Enactus

  Jan 2012 - Oct 2015

  • Assisted and supported the 2014 and 2015 Enactus UP teams in preparations for the 2014 and 2015 Enactus South Africa National Competitions- Enactus UP placed second out of 23 South African teams at both of these Enactus South Africa National Competitions.• Mentored Enactus UP's 2014 Vice President.• Adjudicated Enactus UP projects at internally-held competitions and provided strategic improvement advice on six social entrepreneurship/community development projects to Executive Committee and Project Management teams in both 2014 and 2015. Show less As the 2013 Vice President and an Internal Project Team Treasurer (2012):• Led Enactus UP's flagship project, Kickbax, which strongly contributed to the team winning the 2013 Enactus South Africa Nationals Competition - adjudicated as National Champions out of 23 competing university teams by judges from Unilever, Harmony Gold, KPMG, HSBC and MTN SA.• Managed a four-person task team which sourced venture capital to the value of 2 942 US Dollars for staff and product expansion.• Implemented project turnaround for project Kickbax through the coordination of cross-functional teams resulting in 5660 US Dollars profit and created nine job opportunities.• Oversaw 30-person Media team in preparation for the 2013 Enactus South Africa National Competition and the 2013 Enactus World Cup.• Conducted weekly meetings of ten-person Project Management team to brainstorm on solutions for projects and to keep up-to-date with project tasks and milestones.• Worked in a 10-person internal project team (Green-Aid) which sourced advertising banners from companies for a Mamelodi-based (Gauteng, South Africa) community centre to convert into cost-effective school and carry bags to generate additional revenue - project Green-Aid contributed to the team ranking third out of 23 competing university teams at the 2012 Enactus South African Nationals Competition as adjudicated by judges from Unilever, Harmony Gold, KPMG, HSBC and MTN SA. Show less

  • Project Management Consultant: Enactus University of Pretoria

    Jan 2014 - Oct 2015

  • National Champion Vice President: Enactus University of Pretoria

    Jan 2012 - Dec 2013
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  University of Pretoria

  Jan 2013 - Dec 2013

  Political Sciences Tutor

  • Prepared for and presented Politics 111 (PTO 111) and Politics 120 (PTO 120) tutorials three times a week to three classes of 15 students which provided skills training that were essential to ensure academic success in the PTO 111 and PTO 120 modules.• Served a weekly one-hour consultation session for the students to address out-of-tutorial queries relating to Politics 111 and Politics 120 content.• Assisted lecturers by invigilating PTO 111 and PTO 120 class and semester tests.

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  The Mandela Rhodes Foundation

  Jan 2014 - Dec 2014

  Scholarship Holder

  Awarded a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship which fully funded my Bachelor of Commerce (with Honours) degree in Applied Development Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand.

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  ED Platform

  Jan 2015 - Mar 2017

  ED Platform is a leading company in South Africa's Independent Power Producer (IPP) Economic Development (ED) Bid Advisory, ED Financial Close, and ED Compliance Monitoring and Reporting space, particularly with respect to Renewable Energy IPP's. ED Platform provides bidding advice to sponsors, EPC Contractors, O&M Contractors and Lenders in respect of the ED component of the IPP Programme.As an Economic Development Advisor:• Oversaw a multinational team of project managers, engineers and financial modelers on the Economic Development Financial Close process for a large-scale IPP coal project.• Managed the Economic Development Financial Close process on four (4) 140MW Onshore Wind IPP projects for a global renewable energy company.• Worked in a four-person team to complete due diligence work on six (6) Solar PV IPP projects for a large multinational investment firm and the world’s largest developer of Solar PV projects.• Executed the Economic Development component of a 5MW Solar PV IPP project bid submission. Show less • Worked in a two-person team to execute the Economic Development component of two large-scale Solar PV IPP projects for one of the world’s largest developers of Solar PV projects.• Completed monthly and quarterly Economic Development reporting on five REIPPPP Round Three Projects for one of the world's largest utilities and renewables companies.• Interpreted relevant annexures of Implementation Agreements relating to Economic Development.• Developed a Supplier Database for a large multinational EPC Contractor. Show less

  • Economic Development Advisor

    Mar 2016 - Mar 2017

  • Project Analyst

    Jan 2015 - Feb 2016
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  Enactus

  Jul 2016 - Aug 2023

  Enactus is the world’s largest experiential learning platform dedicated to creating a better world while developing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators. The Enactus network of global business, academic and student leaders are unified by the vision—to create a better, more sustainable world.The principal activities of Enactus University of Pretoria's Business Advisory Board are related to strategic guidance of project planning and implementation. Additionally, the board assists in leadership development and team strategy development in terms of the functioning of the Enactus UP Executive Committee as well as optional provision of assistance with acquiring sponsorships (in the form of monetary donations or the provision of equipment or training) to assist the maintenance and development of the team and/or its projects.As the Chairperson of the Business Advisory Board:• Spearhead and manage a five-person Business Advisory Board (August 2018-present);• Coached 10 Enactus UP members (Executive Committee and Project Management team members) over the course of their term of office;• Closely assisted and supported the 2019 Enactus UP team in preparations for the 2019 Enactus South Africa National Competition- Enactus UP placed second out of 23 South African university teams at the 2019 Enactus South Africa National Competition.• Coordinated, led and facilitated three project screening meetings to best advise Enactus UP students on strategies to maximize project impact for beneficiaries of seven projects which led to the team placing second out of 23 South African university teams at the 2019 Enactus South Africa National Competition.• Co-led and co-facilitated three training workshops on Enactus worldwide criteria and business canvas models for the 2018/19 Enactus UP's Executive Committee, Project Management and general team to develop their project management abilities. Show less • Coached 50 University of Pretoria students while serving as Alumni Chairperson.• For the duration of 2017, served as the Acting Business Advisory Board Chairperson in addition to serving as the Alumni Chairperson. • Served as the lead consultant for all matters pertaining to leadership development and team management.• Coordinated the correspondence between alumni members, Enactus UP executive committee and faculty advisor.• Recruited seven members to join the Business Advisory Board during term as the Alumni Chairperson.• Led and facilitated six project screening meetings to best advise Enactus UP students on strategies to maximize project impact for beneficiaries of seven projects which led to the team respectively placing second out of 23 South African university teams at the 2018 Enactus South Africa National Competition and fourth out of 23 South African university teams at the 2016 Enactus South Africa National Competition.• Spearheaded the establishment of an ad hoc Enactus UP Alumni Committee to encourage and effectively coordinate Alumni involvement in projects. • Closely supported and advised on Project Fruitful Living resulting in the team winning 5000 US Dollars from the 2017 Ford C3 Building Sustainable Project Partnership. Show less

  • Business Advisory Board Chairperson: Enactus University of Pretoria

    Aug 2018 - Aug 2023

  • Alumni Chairperson: Enactus University of Pretoria

    Oct 2015 - Nov 2018

  • President: Enactus Gauteng Alumni Association (South Africa)

    Jul 2016 - Aug 2018
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  Optimi Learning

  Apr 2017 - Feb 2018

  Business Development and Project Manager

  Optimi Learning provides innovative and accessible education solutions to schools, tutors, parents and learners. Optimi Learning is a complete education solution partner, offering a broad range of CAPS-aligned curriculum products and expert support to suit South Africa’s education needs.As a Business Analyst and Project Manager:• Worked closely with a software developer to develop an online learner application system for Arrow Academy – 80 of 135 new learner registrations for 2018 used this online application system.• Led the incorporation of blended learning and music into the Arrow Academy school curriculum using continuous improvement workshops.• Spearheaed the roll out of the CAMI-GDE Pilot Project which was launched in February 2018 – implemented Grade R-12 Mathematics software in three no-fee Gauteng township schools.• Monitored new initiatives including blended learning implementation across Grade R and Grade 1, towards the development of a blended learning white paper.• Closely supported Optimi Learning’s Head of Sales and Marketing to launch three Arrow Academy open day events which largely contributed to registered learner numbers tripling to 200+ in 2018.• Researched and analysed the South African R-12 African Languages market to determine the demand for African Languages from Impaq clients (home-school learners). Show less

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  HAWK Growth Solutions

  Apr 2018 - Jun 2018

  Project Manager

  Supported the founders of a boutique (start-up) growth consultancy working with medium to large companies to unlock growth. Sales driven and customer centric focus for leading South African brands.• Managed a full work stream and developed the Junior Analyst on the team.• Assisted client with business development which resulted in a notable amount of successes. • Closely supported and oversaw the Junior Analyst in developing a project plan and supporting documents for a pilot project to assist start-up food service operators – the pilot project was supported by a multinational food services company. Show less

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  Ilifa Labantwana

  Jul 2018 - Oct 2018

  Independent Consultant

  The Early Childhood Development Consortium Group is a collaboration between 13 local organisations which is bringing new hope and impetus in addressing some of the challenges facing South African early childhood development (ECD) services. • Coordinated and implemented the recruitment process for an Early Childhood Development (ECD) non-centre based Technical Advisor.• Managed relationships between key partners and stakeholders of the ECD Conditional Grant Consortium.• Analysed the financial costs of using online project management tools by 15-20 employees to create efficiency within the monitoring and coordination of work streams and projects within the ECD Conditional Grant Consortium.• Trained incoming Project Manager on recruiting, project planning, and stakeholder management. Show less

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  Letsema

  Aug 2019 - Jan 2020

  Customer Strategy Consultant

  • Drove new client acquisition strategy by compiling compelling proposals to highlight the firm’s value proposition to secure new business in the private and public sectors. • Assisted Partner of Customer Strategy practice in compiling and editing the final report to a South African Government Department on the best way to restructure the Department for the benefit of small businesses. • Mentored and developed Customer Strategy Practice Intern resulting in the Intern being promoted to Analyst within three months. Show less

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  The Anzisha Prize

  Feb 2020 - Dec 2020

  Entrepreneur Support Portfolio Manager

  Worked in a dynamic and small team that runs The Anzisha Prize — one of the African Leadership Academy’s special programs. The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between the African Leadership Academy (ALA) and the Mastercard Foundation that seeks to significantly increase the number of job-generating young African entrepreneurs.• Provided strategic business support to and coached 20 very young African entrepreneurs (15-22 years old on entry to the Anzisha Venture Building Program).• Co-led, facilitated, and organised four regional African virtual summits and one-on-one professional coaching sessions for Anglophone and Francophone Anzisha fellows to celebrate the organisation’s ten year anniversary. These sessions entailed a seasoned Anzisha fellow sharing their entrepreneurial journey and learnings with members of their respective Anzisha regional hub.• Closely supported Anzisha colleagues in preparing for and in executing the in-person 2020 Anzisha Southern Africa Regional Summit.• Assisted Anzisha colleagues to host the first-ever Anzisha Virtual Bootcamp for the 2020 Anzisha fellows: The Bootcamp was a two-week rich, intensive, and engaging programme that provided the 2020 Fellows with key and diverse entrepreneurial, coaching, and wellness sessions from stakeholders of the African Leadership Network.• Co-developed and delivered COVID-19 relief funding (within a four-person team and with the assistance of ALA’s Finance team) to struggling businesses operated by Anzisha fellows.• Collated and delivered weekly business development and educational/learning opportunities on Anzisha communication channels to 120+ fellows.• Gathered data on jobs created, revenue generated, and investment secured by a cohort of 20+ fellows comprehensively throughout all initiatives to be used in reports to the Mastercard Foundation and in Anzisha-led entrepreneurship publications. Show less

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  StartX

  Jan 2021 - Jun 2022

  Entrepreneur Support Manager

  The Success EcoSystem.An easy-to-use digital platform that is a world first in many ways with features such as business and legal services by advisors, loyalty options for aspiring entrepreneurs with fresh ideas, growing business owners or businesses in need of a restructure.Featuring an investment marketplace to load your ideas to attract investors with the assistance of our advisors to make it ”Finance Ready” to start up, scale an existing business, or to facilitate a business exit.Investment opportunities lined up perfectly with our existing investors or through one of our global partners, blended investment deals, or equity swaps to get you partnered for success.Boasting a business networking channel where you can mastermind your ideas with others, comment on topics of discussion, or message other users on a secure confidential platform.My role included:• Recruiting advisors to join and use the StartX app to help them generate income from conducting consultation sessions.• Advising and coaching early and mid-stage entrepreneurs from all industries.• Managing relationships with organisations that provide interns to StartX.• Managing the internship experience for five interns who worked closely with StartX executives in 2021. Show less

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  Wits School of Governance

  Oct 2021 - Jul 2022

  Research assistant to Professor Robert van Niekerk — the Wits School of Governance’s Chair in Public Governance and Social Policy.• Attended and engaged in online lectures for a postgraduate diploma module on Governance, Leadership and Public Value to prepare a report for the Wits School of Governance’s Chair in Public Governance on the online learning experience for students for the module. • Documented the process through which literature is sourced on decent work and gender inequality in preparation for a systematic literature review to be completed by a Wits School of Governance lecturer. Show less

  • Graduate Student

    Jul 2021 - Jul 2022

  • Research Assistant

    Oct 2021 - Mar 2022
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  Canon Collins Trust

  Jan 2022 - Dec 2022

  Scholarship Holder

  Awarded a Canon Collins Sol Plaatje Scholarship to partially fund my Master of Management in Public Policy degree at the Wits School of Governance.Writing a dissertation on "The key determinants of government cybersecurity capacity in developing countries".

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  Wits School of Governance

  Jun 2023 - Dec 2023

  Learning Assistant
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  IIE Varsity College

  Aug 2023 - now

  Lecturer

  Lecture Applied Statistics/Quantitative Techniques and Economics to undergraduate Accounting, Commerce, and Law students.