Looking for a job

Matt Rikus Wessels

@mattrikuswessels

Message

HR and recruitment specialist skilled in talent acquisition, team management, and global hiring.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

Seeking a strategic role in global talent acquisition, leveraging expertise in digital innovation and cross-cultural leadership to drive organizational growth and engagement.

I’m a globally experienced Talent and Learning professional with a background in international recruitment, education management, organisational development, and content strategy. Over the past 12 years, I’ve led hiring and onboarding across education, media, animation, and life science sectors, with a particular focus on growing teams across South Africa, South Korea, and beyond.

In my most recent role, I worked as a Recruitment Consultant in the life sciences sector, helping companies in the CDMO space hire talent in areas like tech transfer, automation, and commercial operations. Before that, I was Head of People & Organisation, HR and Talent Strategy at a Korean education company, where I led hiring for over 250 roles, launched new campuses, rebranded schools, and managed distributed global teams of content creators, designers, and editors. I also served as Managing Editor for a global e-learning platform, working closely with prompt engineers and AI-supported language learning tools.

My interests sit at the intersection of people, learning, and innovation. I’m passionate about inclusive hiring, emotionally intelligent leadership, and building systems where people can grow and thrive. I’ve spoken before the US Congress as a youth leader, built academic programmes during COVID lockdowns, and helped launch two international education centres from the ground up.

I’m now looking to contribute to a mission-driven team in either Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, or People Operations; anywhere I can combine creativity, empathy, and strategy to help teams do meaningful work.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Writer & Researcher

Current

GoodViral

Nov 2024 - Present (9 months)

• Write longform articles inspired by the GoodViral podcast, translating interviews into compelling, research-backed features on global innovation, environmental justice, social entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership.
• Conduct deep-dive research to add context, credibility, and clarity to each story, aligning content with GoodViral’s mission of uplifting people and organisations.

Writing Research Blog

Head of People & Org Devevelopment

Son’s Edu

Jan 2022 - Oct 2024 (2 years 9 months)

Served as a key strategic advisor to the CEO, driving global expansion and talent management. Led talent acquisition, corporate communications, and education management for multiple organizations in South Korea, successfully placing over 250 educators and enhancing global reputation through effective branding strategies.

Organizational Development Talent Acquisition Corporate Communications Workforce Planning Social Media Management Website Design SEO Optimization Employer Branding Leadership Development

Talent Acquisition & Corporate Communications Manager

OrangeCat Global

Jan 2020 - Apr 2024 (4 years 3 months)

Managed global recruitment and corporate communications for an international outsourcing firm. Successfully placed professionals across various sectors while enhancing employer branding and engagement through strategic digital initiatives.

Employer Branding Social Media Strategy Website Optimization Stakeholder Engagement Process Optimization Communications Strategy

Team Manager

Son’s Edu: Son’s English Academy

Jan 2016 - Jan 2022 (6 years)

Team Manager – Teacher Development, Recruitment & Communications

Managed talent acquisition and digital communication strategies for education centers. Hired and trained over 100 educators, implemented online learning platforms, and enhanced digital engagement through effective website and social media management.

Recruitment Social Media Management Intercultural Communication Crisis Management Leadership Training Development Student Engagement

Head Teacher

Son's Edu

Nov 2013 - Nov 2016 (3 years)

Designed and led training programs for 13+ educators, improving teaching effectiveness by 25%. Managed and coached a 13-member team, enhancing instructional quality and boosting student satisfaction by 30%. Developed and refined curricula, increasing student test scores by 20%. Revamped lesson plans with interactive techniques, driving a 40% rise in engagement and 15% higher retention.

Project Management Teaching ESL

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Rome Business School, Universidad Internacional de Valencia

Master's, International Human Resources Management

2020 - 2021

Completed a Master's in International Human Resources Management with a capstone project focused on attracting and retaining young talent in a post-COVID era.