LAWRENCE OBAR
Kisumu
Summary
Dynamic Sales and operations Manager with a proven track record in strategic planning and lead generation, resulting in substantial sales revenue growth through innovative approaches. Expertise in customer relationship management and analytical problem-solving has led to consistent achievement and exceeding of KPIs, driving profitability and market expansion. A strong commitment to optimizing procedures and leveraging employee talent which in turn enhances overall performance.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sales and Operations Manager
Cowdi Tech Ltd.
Kisumu, Kenya
11.2024 - Current
- Conducted comprehensive research and data analysis to support strategic planning and informed decision-making. Since this is a start-up Fintech company that relies majorly on market feedback to bridge the existing deficit in providing capital to the MSMEs.
- Approached customers and engaged in conversation through the use of effective interpersonal and people skills.
- Recruited 10 loan officers within 3 months, trained and onboarded them within the western Kenya region, creating an aggressive, dependable team.
- Planned and coordinated regular market visits to gain market intelligence and promote the new product.
- Managed NPLs effectively under my leadership. For the three months of operations, we had registered zero NPLs, with over 500 clients onboarded (over Ksh. 2M loan disbursed).
- Set targets and track them on a weekly basis to ensure all bottlenecks are addressed for smooth achievement.
- Recommended loan approvals and denials based on customer loan application reviews.
- Obtained and compiled copies of loan applicants' credit histories, corporate financial statements and other financial information to update credit and loan files.
- Stayed abreast of lending regulations, industry trends and market rates.
- Educated customers on variety of loan products and available credit options to promote valuable decision-making.
- Developed loan contracts and explained contract terms to clients.
- Located and suggested loan packages that met client needs and priorities.
Sales Manager
Victory Farms Limited
Kisumu
01.2021 - 10.2024
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers, ensuring the best pricing and terms for company profitability
- Assisted in recruiting top talent for the sales team, contributing to a high-performing work environment
- Implemented CRM systems for better tracking of leads, improving follow-up processes and communication within the team
- Built long-lasting client relationships through excellent customer service and consistent follow-ups
- Managed key accounts with strategic planning and relationship building, resulting in increased customer loyalty and repeat business
- Organized regular sales meetings to review progress, share best practices, and set achievable targets for continued success
- Led a successful sales team by providing motivational coaching and performance-based incentives
- Collaborated with marketing teams to create targeted promotional campaigns, driving customer engagement and sales growth
- Analyzed market trends to identify new business opportunities, leading to expansion into profitable territories(growth from 3 branches to current 38 branches across the region)
- Provided ongoing training and mentorship for junior sales staff, fostering professional development and career growth
- Maintained an ethical and positive working environment to reduce turnover and promote high retention rates
- Handled customer relations issues, enabling quick resolution, and client satisfaction
- Utilized metrics to modify low-performing sales and marketing programs and plans to increase effectiveness
- Increased sales volume and expanded product line to new retailers, warehouse clubs, and natural food chains
- Directed sales support staff in administrative tasks to help the sales team with the daily utilities
- Organized promotional events and interacted with the community to increase sales volume
- Held one-on-one meetings with sales team members to identify selling hurdles and offered insight into the best remedy
- Maintained financial controls, planned business operations, and control expenses while identifying and pursuing opportunities to grow business operations and boost profits
- Managed revenue models, process flows, operations support, and customer engagement strategies
- Achieved established KPI for company, regional team and individual performance through teamwork and focus on customers
- Liaised with sales, marketing, and management teams to develop solutions and accomplish shared objectives
- Resolved problems with high-profile customers to maintain relationships and increase return customer base
Sales Supervisor
Victory Farms Limited
Nairobi
08.2019 - 12.2020
- Boosted sales by implementing effective training programs for new and existing employees
- Utilized data analysis techniques to identify patterns in consumer behavior that informed marketing strategies moving forward
- Played an integral role in recruitment processes by interviewing candidates and guiding them through onboarding procedures upon hire completion successfully
- Collaborated with other departments to ensure seamless communication and smooth workflow across teams
- Increased customer satisfaction by addressing and resolving client concerns efficiently
- Maintained comprehensive knowledge of industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging technologies to inform strategic decision making
- Conducted regular performance evaluations, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary action plans
- Organized weekly team meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and opportunities for growth
- Mentored junior staff members, fostering professional development and career progression within the organization
- Assisted in forecasting sales trends, allowing for proactive strategy adjustments based on market conditions
- Established rapport with potential clients by conducting targeted outreach initiatives such as cold calling or email campaigns
- Achieved sales targets consistently through regular monitoring of team performance and adjusting strategies accordingly
- Handled escalated customer issues promptly, ensuring timely resolution and high levels of client satisfaction
- Strengthened merchandising and promotional strategies to drive customer engagement and boost sales
Education
Diploma - Sales And Marketing
East Africa Institute of Certified Studies
Kisumu, Kenya04.2023
Certified Public Accountant - Accounting
Kisumu Polytechnic
Kisumu05.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Commerce ( Accounting)
Kenyatta University
Nairobi05.2019
Skills
- Lead Generation
- Client Relationship Management
- Sales team training
- Account Management
- KPI Tracking
- Profitability Optimization
- Revenue Forecasting
- Strategic planning and Reporting
- Staff Management
- Sales process engineering
- Market Intelligence
- Empowers high-performing sales teams
- Analytical problem solver
- Prospecting skills
- Sales strategy development
- Customer Trend Analysis
- Competitor Analysis
- Sales Records Management
- Price Structuring
- Relationship management
- CRM implementation
- Risk assessment
- Data analysis
- Market research
- Territory management
- Collaborative mindset
- Multitasking capacity
- Client base retention
- Brand marketing
Certification
- Licensed Fire Safety and First Aid, Pestavic
- AMI Training, 1 Year
- Leadership Certificate(YALI- KU program)
Accomplishments
- Created a company-wide, comprehensive training program for all sales team members.
- From scratches I created a 10 team of aggressive field loan officers onboarding over 500 merchants within 3 months,with no NPLs and over 2M loan disbursed.
- Managed the Squirel Ninja award winning sales team at Victory Farms LTD.
- Named 'Leader of the Year' in 2023.
- Named Salesperson of the year 2022 Victory Farms LTD.
- Salesperson of the year runner's up 2021 Victory Farms LTD.
- Ambassador of the year 2020 Victory farms LTD for great marketing skills that propelled expansion into the new region- kisumu.
- Promoted to Regional Sales Manager after 2 successful years in the sales department.
- Documented and resolved operational glitches which led to the optimization of revenues.
Affiliations
- a basketball player
- reading and analyzing articles to keep abreast with the technological adversments
Languages
Kiswahili
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Sales and Operations Manager
Cowdi Tech Ltd.
11.2024 - Current
Sales Manager
Victory Farms Limited
01.2021 - 10.2024
Sales Supervisor
Victory Farms Limited
08.2019 - 12.2020
Diploma - Sales And Marketing
East Africa Institute of Certified Studies
Certified Public Accountant - Accounting
Kisumu Polytechnic
Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Commerce ( Accounting)
Kenyatta University
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