Rafael Garavito
International organization and business development
Sales
Business /organizational development
Consulting
Project management
Public Speaking / Communications / Employer Branding / HR
43 years old
Driving License
Oslo (0655) Norway
Professional Status
Freelancer
Available
About Me
Solution sales and business/organizational development skills within the HR Business Partner, Talent Acquisition, recruitment marketing, university development, employer branding and business development landscapes. Fluent in 3 languages and interested in international organization development. I advise organizations on how to strategically develop their value propositions, employer brand, and general portfolios. Country Manager for Spain managing relationships with all local stakeholders for an employer branding services vendor. I otherwise support organizations in Norway to develop their offering locally/abroad and hold introductory startup courses with special focus on newly arrived immigrants to Norway through my sole proprietorship. Every year, I look endlessly forward to the Oslo World festival, the best venue in Norway to help people understand and reflect through music on the advantages diversity brings to all aspects of life, professional or personal. Diversity brings innovation and true understanding. Cultural interaction brings good ideas and growth.
MSc combined double degree in International Management and Energy/Natural Resources studies (CEMS - NHH, Bergen [NO] and Bocconi [IT]), MSc course in Entrepreneurship (Gründerskolen University of Oslo and Fudan University of Shanghai), and BSc in Economics and Business Administration (Oslo University College). More than 11 years of professional experience, mostly at international companies within the startup, employer branding, and education development areas. Global, analytical, innovative and strategic thinking to analyze information in international contexts. Self-starter, entrepreneurial, good to establish networks, and very adaptable to multicultural environments. Good to manage relationships among different levels within an organization. Highly responsible and organized.
MSc combined double degree in International Management and Energy/Natural Resources studies (CEMS - NHH, Bergen [NO] and Bocconi [IT]), MSc course in Entrepreneurship (Gründerskolen University of Oslo and Fudan University of Shanghai), and BSc in Economics and Business Administration (Oslo University College). More than 11 years of professional experience, mostly at international companies within the startup, employer branding, and education development areas. Global, analytical, innovative and strategic thinking to analyze information in international contexts. Self-starter, entrepreneurial, good to establish networks, and very adaptable to multicultural environments. Good to manage relationships among different levels within an organization. Highly responsible and organized.
Experiences
Business Development - Sales
Universum
Since March 2011
Spain
- My overall responsibility is to develop Universum's activities in Spain. sales and customer management, business development management, PR & Communications, university relationships. creation and administration of local partnerships, social media marketing, press management, public speaking in connection with third-party conferences and otherwise keynotes at own events. I work otherwise as an independent consultant and senior adviser om employer branding topics for companies, universities and organizations.
Currently also as an independent consultant in Norway, I help make sure that clients get the necessary tools to excel in their employer/educator brand work and organizational goals. I help them develop their value propositions and/or sell their product/service portfolios. I hold workshops in HR / Communication / employer branding events, conferences, or in-house formats in Spain and Norway as guest speaker-facilitator.
Deliverables Universum: Manage portfolio of around 140 companies and drive company revenue in Spain. Deliveries: sales growth rates of 250% (period 2011 to 2012), 136% (2012 to 2013), 17% (2014-2015), 380% (2016-first year of full time engagement in Spain), 10% in 2017. Stable-stagnant growth 2018-2019. Manage otherwise university relationships with around 60 institutions in Spain - doubling the direct sample of participants in Universum's Talent survey as Data Collection Manager (2018 to 2019). Facilitated a considerable increase in press coverage of Universum findings at local and international media outlets. - Sales and business development
Organizational Development - Senior Consultant (Sales, Public Speaking, training)
PEL Services
Since January 2016
Norway
- As an independent consultant, I support HR, Communication and Management functions to improve their organizations' business performance, sales, employer brands and their talent attraction/retention strategies. I support organizations and businesses with portions of its offering, mainly in and from Norway, through agency representation agreements. Otherwise I deliver advice on research tools' goodness-of-fit for measuring employer brand ROI, develop Employer Value Propositions for clients, and deliver/support/recommend related communication efforts. I participate in HR and Communication forums as speaker to share knowledge on the topic through seminars and workshops, at formal events/conferences or through in-house deliveries. Otherwise I hold introductory start-up courses in Norway, in cooperation with agencies and institutions, focused especially on assisting newly arrived immigrants. Interest in management consulting practices, sales agency work, public speaking, development of strategies for attraction of multicultural talent, training, development, and international business development. I am less interested in accounting and reporting, despite managing this exercise myself in connection with my own company.
Key Account Manager - Sales
Universum
March 2011
to January 2016
Norway
- Sales of employer branding (mainly research) solutions to companies and organizations. Give advice to clients on how to develop their employer branding strategies (employer value proposition). Sell communication solutions; digital and paper-based company advertisement. Participate in seminars, events, meetings to discuss employer branding and educate/learn on/from the subject (public speaking). Manage portfolio of around 100 companies and drive company revenue. Deliveries: met sales target on first 9 months of employment. sales growth rates of 212% (period 2011 to 2012), and 8% (2012 to 2013), 3,5% in 2014. No sales growth in 2015.
Account Manager - Administration
Blogform Magazines
January 2007
to January 2008
Norway
- Account Management and Administration (combined with studies). Tasks included building the accounts payable/receivables and other economic/business frameworks for a start-up company (10 employees). General management tasks in cooperation with management. Running of daily activities together with the company’s staff. Tasks included key account management, writing business plans, internal/external reporting, banking, accounting, customer invoicing, quotes/offers, and practical customer relationship management.
Language teacher (Spanish, English, Norwegian)
Various companies in Colombia, Spain, Norway
August 2000
to June 2009
Sales Associate
Payless Shoe Source
August 2001
to March 2002
- Sales Assistant for a shoe retailer in Mountain View (California, USA). Driving sales, customer service, inventory control, reporting. Part-time combined with pilot-training studies.
Mandatory Military Service
Ejército de Colombia
July 1999
to July 2000
CEMS MIM Master in International Management combined with Energy, Natural Resource and Environment studies.
Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration
Skills
Business
Sales
Communication
Employer Branding
Human Resources, HR Consulting, HR sales, Strategic HR
Business Strategy, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Project Management
Consultative sales, Solution sales, Salesforce.com, Pardot.com
Research, Market Research
Leadership, Public Relations, Public Speaking, Networking
Interests
Literature
- I should read more than I do - normally what friends recommend.
Arts
- In connection with music, mostly.
Sports
- Soccer, bicycling, running - not an Olympian in any of them.
Film
- Educative and/or good films
Travel
- Responsible travel
Music
- Very active listener, instrumentally talent-less (for now) :)
