Explore African Culture

Erika Amoako-Agyei

________________________________________________________________________

 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MARKETING PROFILE

International Sales Achievement / International Account Management

Extensive Experience in African Markets / Cross-Cultural Management Consulting   

Over ten years of international business development experience with expertise in African business and management practices/issues. Dynamic, results-driven, international sales and marketing professional with a solid track record securing key clients globally, driving multi-million dollar revenue growth, and increasing product distribution to grow market share in highly competitive international markets. Demonstrated strengths in cross-cultural management, consensus building, and teaming. Adept at building new business, forging US/Africa strategic partnerships, securing customer loyalty, and forming strong, sustainable relationships with key executive decision makers. Well-versed in international business practices and protocol. Business book author.

KEY STRENGTHS AND COMPETENCIES:

·         New Market Development        ● Cross-Cultural Team Building   

·         US/Africa Business & Trade        ●  Public Speaking/Presentations 

·         Procurement                                           ●  Inventory Management

·         Sales and Marketing                         ●  Key/Large Account Retention

·         International Business Protocol  ●  Client Relationship Management               

·         Market Expansion                               ●  Writing and Research

·         Africa Business Markets                 ●  Intercultural Communication

EXPERIENCE:

Entrepreneur, Design Technology International, Phoenix, AZ, 2003 – Present

• Own and operate this international computer hardware and software consultancy
• Provide consulting, sales, and export services to Africa-based corporate and individual clients.
• Manage key corporate accounts in the mining and IT industries in Africa.
• Provide special, large account management services to one of the world’s largest mining companies in Africa.

Director of Corporate Relations, Thunderbird Graduate School of Global Management, ranked No. 1 worldwide for international business education, Glendale, AZ, 2000 – 2002

• Developed national and multi-national corporate partners.
• Marketed Thunderbird to potential students.
• Marketed students to Thunderbird Corporate Partners.
• Worked with corporations to set up student scholarships and internship positions.
• Worked specifically on increasing representation of African/African-American and other underrepresented minority groups on campus.
• Created the “Backyard Plan”, a highly effective marketing campaign that increased the availability of student scholarships and internships from locally-based corporate partners.
• Managed key alumni corporate relationships at the senior executive level.
• Participated in corporate fundraising.

Entrepreneur, Gold Coast Imports, Phoenix, AZ, 1999 – 2004

• Owned and operated this African arts retail store which featured authentic, high-end African décor imported directly from 24 different African countries.
• Awarded “Best of Phoenix” two years in a row by the Phoenix New Times.
• Broad scope of responsibility included site selection, merchandising, purchasing, inventory management, accounts management, marketing, trade shows, and corporate clients.
• Featured several times in national publications, such as MONEY magazine, the Business Journal, ABE (Arizona’s Black Executives) magazine, Phoenix Home and Garden, The New Times, the Arizona Informant and The Arizona Republic newspaper.

Regional Sales Manager, West Africa, 1996 – 1999; IBM Africa Operations, Ghana (West Africa)

• Managed all IBM business operations in the West African countries of: Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Served as the sole liaison between IBM Africa headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa and business partners in West Africa.

• Provided leadership for IBM’s re-entry and market expansion into the West African region.
• Implemented a systematic and culturally-based approach to sales and business development.
• Appointed local African companies as IBM resellers and managed joint projects with business partners.
• Delivered first year’s gross profit 15% above plan; second year’s 45% above plan.
• Organized and hosted IBM road shows for West Africa to raise end-user interests.
• Coordinated executive education and other marketing strategies targeted to senior level executives and key politicians.
• Created new product campaigns for IBM’s AS/400 and RS6K product lines.
• Appointed by the IBM Africa General Manager to open and operate an IBM administrative office in Accra, Ghana.
• Maintained accountability for IBM operations budget.
• Grew sales from start-up to $4 million within 18 months.
• Developed marketing strategies specifically targeted to women-owned businesses.
• Served as a panel speaker and key corporate sponsor of the IFWE (International Federation of Women Entrepreneurs) Conference in Accra, Ghana.

Client Representative, IBM U.S.A., 1994 – 1996

• Covered corporate client accounts in Southern California in the distribution industry.
• Covered IBM installed banking and insurance client accounts in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Certified as an IBM CRM (Client Relationship Management) instructor. Became part of the global team responsible for instructing reengineering processes to IBM employees.
• Worked with corporate clients in the AS/400 Product Marketing Division.
• Covered government clients in Seattle, WA.

Marketing Support Analyst (INROADS Intern), IBM U.S.A., Phoenix, AZ, 1990 – 1994

• Became the first INROADS intern with the IBM Corporation in Arizona.
• Generated marketing and sales proposals.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor of Science, Business Administration (BSBA) in Marketing, Arizona State University

BOOKS:

• Authored Business and Social Etiquette In Africa: A Guide to Understanding Culture and Business Practices, (forthcoming Nov. 2008)
• Authored Sankofa: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Living

PUBLIC SPEAKING: CORPORATE / ACADEMIC / TELEVISION

• Doing Business “Cross-Culturally” in Africa, Thunderbird School of Global Management, (AZ) 2008
•  Women and Diversity with Shoe Women’s Network, Safeway Corporate Center, (AZ) 2007
• Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Stories, Aired on Public Television, Sponsored by City of Phoenix: Faces of Diversity, one-hour presentation with three other authors, (AZ), 2005
• Using Diversity to Facilitate Globalization , IBM Corporation, Phoenix (AZ), 2004
• Cultural Diversity in Global Business, IBM Corporation, Gardenia (CA), 2004
• Patterns of Life In African Art: featured on Window On Africa, Aired on Public Television (ran six months), Sponsored by City of Phoenix: Faces of Diversity, one-hour presentation (AZ), 2004
• She-roic Deeds, Society of Female Scholars (AZ), 2001, Sponsored by Mountain Ridge High School
• Become Someone YOU Can Admire, Society of Female Scholars (AZ) 1998, Sponsored by Mountain Ridge High School
• Life’s Turning Points, Society of Female Scholars (AZ), 1994, Sponsored by Mountain Ridge High School

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

ARIZONA AUTHORS ASSOCIATION – 2008 - Present

INROADS – A program that trains and develops high achieving minority students for careers in business and industry. Intern, 1990 – 1994; Alumna, 1994 – to present,

• Recruit, mentor, and have assisted with professional skills development of incoming interns
• Selected as Alumni of the Year and provided keynote address at annual banquet – 1998
• Selected as Intern of the Year – 1994
• Served on INROADS/Phoenix Board of Directors, 1993 – 1994

AZ LOST BOYS CENTER – Dedicated to the service and support of all refugees from the Sudan.

• Founding board member, 2003 – 2005
• Chaired Faces of Hope, a photo exhibit fundraiser for the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, 2004