Liseli Sumbwanyambe

Experience

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  CAISTOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL

  Sept 2011 - Jun 2012

  Ball Committee Chairwoman

  During my final year at Sixth Form I was the Chairman for the Ball Committee. I led a team of twelve to fundraise over £7,000 over the year to subsidise ticket costs for the Sixth Form Ball.

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  London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

  Jul 2014 - Aug 2014

  PHD Research Assistant

  Working in the department of Disease Control under the supervision of Dr James Logan. I collected data for the research paper 'An investigation into the role of skin odorant and microflora in the attraction of malaria-infected and uninfected mosquitoes to humans'.

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  Leeds Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences

  Jul 2014 - Jul 2014

  Summer Placement Student

  Shadowed scientists in the department of Molecular Gastroenterology. I gained practical experience in the following techniques:- Cell Passaging- Cell Fixing- Immunohistochemistry- Immunofluoresence on cultured cells- Microscopy - Fluorescent Microscopy

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  Glasgow University Union

  Mar 2015 - Mar 2017

  Assistant Honorary Secretary My election made me the first black female to be elected to an Executive position in the history of the Glasgow University Union, one of the largest and oldest student unions in the UK. This role made me an Executive Board Member, a Charity Trustee and a Personal License Holder.- Led day-to-day management of eighteen board members. This included creating development plans, organising up-skilling sessions and leading appraisals. - Led the operational committee responsible for the launch of a new £7 million night club facility. In the execution phase this involved leading a team of bar managers, stewards and staff during club events with over 1,500 attendees. - Acted as the main point of contact for over 100 affiliated clubs and societies.- Co-organisated large-scale events including Fresher’s Week and the Christmas Ball, Daft Friday, voted UK Student Event of the Year 2014.I completed this full time role voluntarily alongside my third year studies. Show less

  • Executive Board Member & Charity Trustee

    Mar 2016 - Mar 2017

  • Present Student Member

    Mar 2015 - Mar 2016
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  Virgo Health

  Jul 2015 - Aug 2015

  Communications Intern

  Completed a summer internship working across the Medical Communications and ConsumerHealth and Wellbeing teams. - Worked on Janssen, Novartis and Reckitt Benckiser accounts. - Located photographers and studios across Europe for Novartis' “Here and Now” campaign.- Wrote press releases and created media boards for Scholl’s Kirsty Gallacher campaign.- Created media backgrounders for upcoming drug launches- Attended a 'Media Boot Camp' with Jo Willey, Former Daily Express Health Editor on how to handle press calls and liaise with journalists.- Maintained media list databases, using Factiva and Gorkana. Show less

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  Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

  Aug 2015 - Sept 2016

  Street Team Member

  Managed Street Performances on The Royal Mile and The Mound during the Fringe Festival. - Managed stages/pitches – ensuring pre-scheduled performances ran to timeand empty slots were filled.- Worked with performers, police, security, business owners and the public inmaintaining a safe and dynamic performance and trading area.- Dealt with enquiries/complaints from the public in order to enhance people’sexperience of the festival.

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  Boohoo.com

  Nov 2015 - Dec 2015

  Student Brand Manager

  I was selected to lead the on campus Boohoo.com campaign at the University of Glasgow. - Maintained the '@boohooglasgowuni' Instagram account, gaining 100 new followers within the first week.- Scouted and presented upcoming fashion bloggers to Boohoo, in order to form partnerships.- Increased Boohoo.com presence across campus by regularly giving out trend trackers containing unique codes for online shopping- In my third week I successfully sold £490 (weekly target £185) putting me in the top 10 SBM's in the country. Show less

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  Northern Services.

  Jun 2016 - Jun 2017

  President

  Elected as President of a purchasing consortium representing Student Unions across Scotland and Northern Ireland. - Chaired all General Meetings, Executive Meetings and the Annual General Meeting of the organisation- Worked with Molson Coors and Coca-Cola to finalise tenders to supply the represented Student Unions. - Implemented compulsory Equality and Diversity training and Sexual Violence Prevention training for all Freshers’ Week students volunteers at all Universities within the buying group. Show less

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  Unilever

  Jun 2017 - Sept 2017

  Shopper Marketing Executive

  Completed a summer placement within Baking, Cooking and Spreads, split between Shopper Marketing and Category Management.- Analysed 2017 campaigns performances. Developed and communicated recommendations for 2018 strategy. - Completed category analysis using eye trackers on new innovations, presented recommendations to European Vice President. - Created and presented a spreads shopper marketing plan to Tesco.- Trained in merchandising, delivered recommendations to Sainsbury’s regarding upcomingrange reviews. - Maintained relationships with both clients and agencies.- Ran the @UnileverGradsUK Instagram. Show less

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  Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

  Aug 2018 - Aug 2018

  IZettle Supervisor

  I was approached by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society to assist in the implementation of iZettle payments during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This technology allowed artists to be tipped using contacts payment. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018 was the first festival in the world to use contactless technology in this way. In this role I: - Acted as the main point of contact for iZettle within the Street Events team, reporting directly to the Technology Director, Finance Director and Street Events Manager.- Liaised with stakeholders to establish iZettle Ways of Working, which were then implemented throughout the Festival.- Co-ordinated and led iZettle training sessions for all Street Event Stewards working during the festival period. Show less

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  McCurrach

  Sept 2018 - Oct 2018

  Territory Manager

  Completed a 6-week field sales placement managing 20 high street stores across Central and West London.

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  Unilever

  Oct 2018 - Jul 2022

  Youngest member of BPC Leadership Team, following double promotion, leading a x-functional team of 12 to deliver total NPD pipeline and develop NPD strategy:- Led large NPD projects from concept to launch including responsibility for financial targets, packing designs and product propositions- Developed 3 year plan across categories- Managed cross functional team across R&D, marketing and procurement. Role reported directly into Vice President of Beauty and Personal Care- Supported UK Vice President with strategy creation, oversaw leadership meeting governance and managed total product catalogue- Led delivery across business unit of new intiative to increase innovation efficiency- Developed sustainability roadmap to meet plastic reduction targets Show less

  • UK&I Innovation Lead (Beauty and Personal Care)

    Jul 2021 - Jul 2022

  • Co-Founder & Chair - Empower Network (Unilever UK&I Race Equity Network)

    May 2019 - Jul 2022

  • Lifebuoy Brand Manager

    Oct 2019 - Sept 2020

  • Customer Account Manager (New Business, Wholesale and Distributors)

    Oct 2018 - Oct 2019
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  University of Cambridge

  Sept 2020 - Feb 2021

  Provided recommendations to Cambridge client to develop digital health app for use in clinical setting. Consulting project providing recommendations for medical device start up client on emerging market entry strategy.

  • Student Strategy Consultant

    Dec 2020 - Feb 2021

  • iTeams Business Development Consultant

    Sept 2020 - Dec 2020
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  Start Codon

  Sept 2020 - Feb 2021

  Venture Promoter Analyst

  Conducted due diligence on early stage healthcare companies applying to Start Codon Accelerator.

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  ALSA Ventures

  Mar 2021 - Jun 2021

  Venture Capital Analyst

  Researched the role of corporate venture capital in the success of biotechnology start-ups alongside assisting across all phases of the investment lifecycle.

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  Hummingbird Ventures

  Mar 2021 - Jul 2021

  Venture Capital Fellowship

  Investment thesis on future opportunities in personalised skincare and supplements using multi-omics and machine learning.

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  University of Cambridge

  Nov 2021 - now

  External advisor for hybrid course across biotechnology and business with a syllabus focused on the skills associated with bringing scientific opportunities to market. Deliver sales and marketing lecture to MPhil Bioscience Enterprise (Biotechnology and business) course.

  • External Advisory Board (MPhil Bioscience Enterprise)

    Nov 2023 - now

  • Guest Lecturer

    Nov 2021 - now
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  McKinsey & Company

  Oct 2022 - Jan 2025

  Management Consultant

  Focus on consumer goods, life sciences and technology, media and telco (TMT) across a range of value creation and operational topicsCompleted fellowship at the World Economic Forum, leading development of “Thriving Workforces” report in collaboration with McKinsey Health Institute. This focused on holistic health and employee wellbeing focus within the workplaceAwards: - We are the City Rising Stars in Professional Services Winner - INvole Empower Future 100 Role Models List- Black British Business Awards, Rising Star in Professional Services FinalistElected Mckinsey Black Network UK&I Partnerships Lead, overseeing pro bono and volunteering with affiliated charities Show less

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  The ladder club

  Oct 2023 - now

  Founder

  Building the most impactful community for Black women navigating the journey to senior leadership through fostering connectionsNetwork currently consists of over 250 Black women, spanning all work levels, across 30+ industriesAll events have sold out in hours with double digit waitlists

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  L'Oréal

  Jan 2025 - now

  Brand Business Leader, Garnier Hair UKI