Martin James
Research And Data Analytics Associate
Nairobi,Nairobi
Summary
An energized research and data professional energized by building collaborative client and cross-functional team relationships, learning and growing with the rapid discoveries and advancements of management practice research, and contributing to developing organizational culture of continuous learning and success. Recognized for driving strong growth results and consistently exceeding objectives in complex business environments.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
6
6
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Manager
The Kenya Institute of Management
, Kenya
09.2019 - Current
- Led the technical team in conducting the Board Diversity and Inclusion Research 2021. Under my leadership, the Kenya Institute of Management collaborated with Kenya Private Alliance, Nairobi Securities Exchange, and New Faces New Voices to study the diversity and inclusivity of boards in Kenya. The study findings are expected to provide insights on best practices and policies to drive gender parity in Kenya and assist in realizing UN's Sustainable Development Goal 5 - "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls." In addition, the Institute has benefited in the form of publicity from the study's findings amounting to Kenya Shillings 2.5 million.
- Held fort for the Company Secretary(CS) for four months after she proceeded on maternity leave, from December 2020 to April 2021. Despite having no prior legal experience, I oversaw weekly executive meetings, issued notices, scheduled board meetings, and maintained statutory registers on top of my usual research roles. I also helped the Institute to terminate three long-term pending employees' ligation cases.
- Appointed an ISO ( International Organization for Standardization ) champion in 2020. I have been able to work collaboratively with the other champions to spearhead the review of the Institute's ISO framework that has helped improve the documentation activities and ensuring quality management systems and streamlining and efficiencies of processes. The Institute is anticipated to be ISO certificated by early December this year, 2021.
- Appointed in 2020 as a post-Covid-19 pandemic Business Continuity and Sustainability Committee member to evaluate the Institute's business risks and mitigation measures during and after Covid-19. Through collaboration with the other team members, the Institute has continued to record a positive recovery trajectory this year (2021), registering a half-year profit of Kenya Shillings 9.6 million year-to-date (YTD) September compared to Kenya Shillings 181.8 million same periods 2019.
- Appointed as a member of the new programmes inception committee in 2019 to support the development of the new Institute's products. I worked closely with others and offered technical advice through consing marketing research and feasibility research services. The Institute has consequently and successfully introduced three new data analytics courses; Research Methodology and SPSS, R-programming, and advanced Excel and Powerpoint training with a certificate in May 2021, earning Kenya Shillings 3 million to date since June. In 2019, the Institute introduced three other new products: certificate courses in International Computer Driving License (ICDL) and diploma courses in Law and Tours and Travel, which jointly have seen the Institute register over 1800 in 2021students, two since the inception of the programmes.
- Executed market-based research projects for external clients managing to turn Strategy and Development Department from a mere support unit to a revenue generator, which resulted in 103% achievement over the annual budget and net profit growth of 200% in 2019.
- Evaluated the value proposition of the membership benefits and activities aimed at driving membership recruitment and renewal activities. The exercise saw a growth of membership database by 8% in 2019 to 6,000 registered and subscribed individual members and 1000 corporate members from 4,800 registered and subscribed individual members and 801 corporate members in 2018.
Senior Officer, Strategy and Development
The Kenya Institute of Management
10.2018 - 09.2019
- Successfully introduced data mining of rivals' pricing strategies, customer experiences strategies, and adopted marketing mix strategies for the daily generation of business intelligence and market environment reports aimed at helping the Institute in strategic decision making by implementing well-orchestrated and effective marketing mix strategies to execute its vision. The development has subsequently catapulted the growth of the Institute's market share to 22% in 2021 from 8 % in 2016.
- Effectively championed and successfully delivered the implementation of the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities World Bank Project timely and within budget as a national coordinator, which in turn projected the Institute's brand as a center of excellence for ensuring training effectiveness, 97% student class attendance and students completion of the training course and 60% absorption of the trained students by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) for more training and support in job placement in different companies.
- Facilitated the development of a strategic partnership between the Kenya Institute of Management and Asia Pacific Excellence Standard Academy (APBEST) to facilitate 'The 22nd International Conference of ISO and TQM in Zhuhai (China). The collaboration eventually resulted in 15 Kenyan delegates attending the event that had gathered over 100 global representatives and saw 34 research papers presented. The Institute realized a venue of Kenya Shillings after that.
Business Intelligence and Research Officer
The Kenya Institute of Management
10.2016 - 03.2018
- Initiated a brand audit survey and a ten-year trend cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the viability of different Branches and their ability to implement effective cost-cutting measures and meet and sustain budgetary revenue targets in 2017. My recommendation report initiated the closure of five out of the 19 Branches between 2017 and 2019. The remaining branches have grown exponentially due to the effective allocation of resources. In 2019, for instance, six Branches performed above annual budgetary targets. Overall, the Institute returned a 20% growth in its surplus. In 2021, ten branches met their half-one budgets.
- After the Institute underwent a job evaluation exercise in 2017 that resulted in significant changes, I was appointed a change champion in the organization. I was among the early adopters of the introduced changes. I played a crucial role in ingraining the newly introduced culture and actualizing the change management activities that the Institute introduced. Today, the cultural management process is 97% implemented.
- Led the planning and initiation of research study protocols, data collection and analysis, and regulatory compliance for Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition, Logistics Links and Eldowas Water Company, realizing $1.5 million revenue for KIM.
- Introduced quarterly net promoters score (NPS) surveys to improve students learning experiences by tracking and monitoring introduced improvements in concerns. As a result, the progression rate of the students increased to 38% in 2021 from 14% in 2017. The high NPS score of 39% in 2021 compared to 6% in 2017 triggered a tremendous ripple effect in the market, skyrocketing students' enrolment rate.
- Governed and monitored and introduced the itemized implementation plan reporting style to monitor and track individual departmental and overall Institute's performance. The plan was later adopted institute-wide to enhance the implementation of the Institute's five-year company strategic plan, 2017-2021, resulting in 91% implementation in areas including Financial Sustainability, Customer Focus, and Human Resource Development. In 2019, the Institute registered a positive surplus, the first in seven years since 2013.
Business Intelligence and Research Assistant
The Kenya Institute of Management
04.2015 - 10.2016
- Collected and analyzed data sets to identify critical insights, patterns and trends, and to improve sales and customer experience for marketing, alumni, special projects, and business solution departments which increased the total annual sales by 30% in 2016.
- Led Organizational Performance Index (OPI) Technical Analysis Kenya as a lead data analyst. The analysis of companies culminated in a fete/gala dinner in 2015 and 2016 - a prestigious corporate event that recognizes companies and SMEs that have embraced the Organizational Performance Index (OPI) Business Excellence framework. The whole process helps to develop such enterprises to become more giant corporates as they contribute to the national economic development.
- Supported a one week market activation campaign that was being run by the marketing team targeting to increasing students intake in 2015 at the Kenya Instute of Management, Nairobi Branch.
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Intern
Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited
06.2014 - 09.2014
- Supported in developing the Company's strategic plan (2014-2018) and its implementation by developing the necessary monitoring and evaluation (M&E) matrix and generating or quarterly M&E reports.
- Supported analysis works of the Company's macro and micro factors through conducting Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal (PESTEL) and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The exercise was crucial in producing strategic reports that guided the management about devising successful business growth strategies and effective implementation of the best marketing mix strategies.
- Helped in National budget analysis after the release by the Cabinet Secretary of National Treasury that was pivotal in assisting the Company in understanding the Government allocation of funds aimed at supporting water and sanitation services by the Company, thus informing the plan for the subsequent Company's years budgets and work plan.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Economics and Statistics
Kenyatta University
Nairobi 08.2010 - 12.2014
Master of Science - Marketing
The University of Nairobi
Nairobi 10.2021 - Current
Skills
Data Analytics
Websites
Certification
ISO 9001:2015
Hobbies
- My love for playing chess saw me captain the Kenya University school team for two years, from 2010-2012, which helped dramatically sharpen my analytical skills.
- My excellent writing skills helped me develop a research paper that was ranked the best during the 23rd ISO and Total Quality Conference in China. In addition, I have authored several publications, including the 2017 and 2021 KIM Board Diversity and Inclusion Research Reports, and published some reviewed journal articles with renowned journal publishing companies like Emeralds.
- Through socializing, traveling, and participating in corporate social responsibility (CSR), I have expanded my professional networks, which have been great gateways for business leads, jobs, mentorship, personal improvement, and career advancement opportunities.
Accomplishments
- The introduction of the itemized Implementation plan of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the strategic objectives in the Institute's strategic plan led to the executive committee creating a segment for the Strategy and Development Department for a weekly presentation of reports of variables that affect the achievement of strategic objectives.
- Promoted several times to work closely with senior leaders and scientists to provide business intelligence, analytics strategic support, and evidence-based decision-making for special studies and projects and deliver excellent service to the Institute's corporate and non-corporate clients.
- Great data analytic, visualization skills, and presentation skills led to my appointment by the Institute's Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer to make his internal (performance review meetings, board meetings, and monthly staff meetings) and external presentations.
- Acknowledged as a top technical and lead data analyst, Organizational Performance Index, Kenya Institute of Management Company of the Year Awards in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
- Best Paper, Best Practice, and Benchmarking, 22nd International Conference on ISO and TQM, Zhuhai, China, 2019. "Board Diversity Influence on Financial Performance among OBOR-Kenyan Listed Companies in Kenya."
Additional Information
Ms. Margaret Muhoro
Senior Programs Manager
Equity Group Foundation
P O Box 24461 - 00502
Karen - Nairobi.
Tel: +254722233789
Email: muhoromargaret@gmail.com
Relationship type: Former Colleague and Mentor
Mr. Samuel N. Njihia
Head of Market Intelligence
BURN Manufacturing USA LLC
P.O. Box: 1921-00232-RUIRU
Tel: +254720684443
Email: samuel.njihia@burnmfg.com/njihia.samuel2003@gmail.com
Relationship type: Former Colleague and Direct Line Manager/Supervisor
Mr. Justin Macharia
General Manager
Roundtable Training Africa Ltd.
Tel: +254723947444
P.O. Box 16650-00100
Email. justin.macharia@yahoo.com
Relationship type: Former Colleague
Timeline
Master of Science - Marketing
The University of Nairobi
10.2021 - Current
Certified Monitoring and Evaluation
10-2019
ISO 9001:2015
09-2019
Sustainable Development Planning
09-2019
Manager
The Kenya Institute of Management
09.2019 - Current
Effective Customer Care
04-2019
Senior Officer, Strategy and Development
The Kenya Institute of Management
10.2018 - 09.2019
Business Intelligence and Research Officer
The Kenya Institute of Management
10.2016 - 03.2018
Business Intelligence and Research Assistant
The Kenya Institute of Management
04.2015 - 10.2016
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Intern
Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited
06.2014 - 09.2014
Lean-Six-Sigma- Yellow Belt
04-2014
Certified Public Accountants (CPA)-KASNEB- Section 2
06-2013
Bachelor of Science - Economics and Statistics
Kenyatta University
08.2010 - 12.2014
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