JEAN MAKARA
@jeanmakara
I am an experienced program leader driving business development, partnerships, and capacity-building for tech and SMEs.
RwandaWhat I'm looking for
I currently serve as Senior Program Coordinator for the Andela Technical Leadership Program, which I co-designed and helped scale to recruit, train, and coach 129 software developers since July 2020.
I re-created the program's professional-skills component to increase flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, launched an entrepreneurship and career-development initiative that mobilized business leaders to coach aspiring tech-preneurs, and spearheaded a mentorship program that pairs senior developers with junior apprentices.
Earlier roles include country representation, due diligence, and partnership development for infrastructure financing, advising and training hundreds of entrepreneurs, and managing operations and strategic partnerships across commodities and SME sectors. I bring strengths in program design, stakeholder management, capacity building, compliance, and multi-lingual communication.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
AICo-designed and led the Andela Technical Leadership Program, a 9-month accelerator that recruited, trained, and coached 129 software developers since July 2020; redesigned professional-skills curriculum and launched entrepreneurship and mentorship initiatives. Conducted weekly capacity-building workshops and coordinated stakeholder engagement to improve program delivery during COVID-19.
Country Representative
Deutsche Infrastructure SA
May 2021 - Jul 2022 (1 year 2 months)
Established and negotiated partnerships with project initiators, led communications through to successful project financing, and executed due diligence and preparation of business plans and technical feasibility documents. Ensured compliance with local laws and coordinated stakeholder relations throughout project lifecycle.
Advisor, Business Development
Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development
Oct 2018 - Aug 2019 (10 months)
Mobilized expert teams and trained ~230 entrepreneurs on operations, operational finance, sales processes and strategy; led consulting engagements for 31 SMEs across sectors and facilitated market linkages and access to finance through due diligence support. Represented the organization at regional conferences and media engagements to grow networks.
Business Advisor & Trainer
Attitude Builders International
Dec 2015 - Apr 2018 (2 years 4 months)
Conducted training needs assessments and co-developed individualized training and development plans for corporate, nonprofit and faith-based clients; advised and coached senior and middle management on personnel issues and psychometric impacts on team performance. Delivered targeted training to employees and volunteers to improve organizational effectiveness.
Operations & Partnerships Manager
Makara Investments Ltd
May 2014 - Feb 2018 (3 years 9 months)
Sourced and managed supply contracts with regional commodity exchanges and oversaw partnerships and ventures involving significant local investor capital; standardized products and optimized supply utilization through collaboration with unions, cooperatives and product specialists. Managed operations to support export and trading activities.
Client Relations Associate
American Chamber of Commerce
Dec 2010 - Feb 2012 (1 year 2 months)
Identified and qualified new clients according to business model and guidelines, built relationships via outreach and presentations, and coordinated meetings between clients and senior leadership to support business expansion and project delivery. Maintained client databases and assisted in deal negotiations and contract development.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
ULUniversity of East London
Master of Business Administration, Business Administration
2023 -
Pursuing a Master of Business Administration at the University of East London since 2023.
Association of Business Executives
Bachelor of Science, Business Management
2006 - 2010
Bachelor of Science in Business Management awarded by the Association of Business Executives, completed 2006–2010.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
RwandaAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
Interested in hiring JEAN?
You can contact JEAN and 90k+ other talented remote workers on Himalayas.
Message JEANFind your dream job
Sign up now and join over 100,000 remote workers who receive personalized job alerts, curated job matches, and more for free!
