Open to opportunities

Melissa Bestel

@melissabestel

HeySunbird provides fractional strategy, marketing, project delivery and online learning expertise for growing organisations.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking for remote, fractional, contract or part-time senior roles across strategy, marketing, business development, partnerships, account management, client success, project delivery and online learning. I’m strongest in roles that combine strategic thinking, commercial growth, stakeholder management and hands-on delivery.

I am a senior strategy, marketing and delivery professional with more than 15 years of experience across higher education, online learning, EdTech, SaaS, partnerships and client growth.

My career has centred on turning complex ideas into structured, commercially viable programmes and services. I have led global client portfolios, managed strategic partnerships, supported more than 100 digital programme launches and product iterations, and worked with organisations including London Business School, Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education, Oxford Saïd Business School, the London School of Economics, Coursera and FutureLearn.

My experience spans go-to-market strategy, business development, marketing leadership, account management, client success, programme and project delivery, commercial scoping, partnership management and online learning operations. I have managed portfolios valued at up to R48 million annually and maintained strong client renewal rates through a combination of strategic oversight, relationship management and consistent delivery.

I am also the founder of HeySunbird, where I provide fractional senior support to organisations that need experienced strategic and delivery capability without adding permanent headcount. My work includes strategy and go-to-market planning, marketing leadership, project delivery, partnership and account management, content development, Moodle and LMS implementation, learning design, platform optimisation and operational support.

I am particularly interested in remote and international opportunities where I can work across strategy and execution. I am well suited to fractional, consulting, contract, part-time and senior permanent roles in strategy, marketing, business development, partnerships, customer success, programme delivery, EdTech and online learning.

I do my best work in environments where there are multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and a clear commercial or delivery outcome to achieve. I am comfortable moving between strategic thinking and hands-on execution, whether that means developing a market-entry plan, improving a client portfolio, coordinating a launch, building a partnership, shaping a proposal or getting a complex programme back on track.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Founder | Marketing, Strategy, Content & Online Learning Consultant

Current

HeySunbird

May 2026 - Present (4 months)

As a fractional partner and consultant, I work across strategy, marketing, partnerships and delivery, helping organisations work out what needs to happen, bring the right people together and move good ideas into practical, well-managed work.

After more than 15 years across international partnerships, higher education, online learning, marketing and client leadership, I started HeySunbird to offer

Marketing Strategy Go To Market Planning Project Management Partnership Management Online Learning Learning Design Content Development

Associate Vice President, International Partnerships

Noodle

May 2020 - May 2026 (6 years)

I lead customer success and product-focused partnerships across a global portfolio of higher education and technology organisations, connecting customer priorities with the teams and programmes that bring them to life.

My work spans the full product lifecycle, from discovery and scoping through launch, adoption and ongoing improvement. I translate customer needs into clear requirements and delive

Customer Success Partnership Management Cross functional Coordination Product Demonstrations

Senior Account Project Manager

Strika Communications

Feb 2018 - Apr 2020 (2 years 2 months)

Managed a portfolio of international clients across Industrial, Education, and Corporate sectors, with responsibility for both account growth and new business development. Built and maintained long-term client relationships, identifying opportunities to expand scope and deliver sustained value across markets.

Led the development and delivery of senior-level communications strategies across a rang

Account Management Business Development Communications Strategy Stakeholder Management Project Management

Key Account Manager | International Markets

Cape Herb & Spice

Sep 2016 - Jan 2018 (1 year 4 months)

Managed a portfolio of international clients across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the South East African Islands within the herb and spice manufacturing and distribution sector.

Led both account management and new business development, building long-term client relationships while identifying and securing new commercial opportunities across diverse markets.

Oversaw end-to-end commercial d

Account Management Business Development Pricing Strategy Quality Assurance Logistics Planning Trade Shows

Key Account Manager & Sales | Retail Advertising and Branding

Way Up Front

Jul 2015 - Jul 2016 (1 year)

Managed end-to-end client and agency relationships across retail and FMCG accounts, acting as the central point of coordination between creative, production, and client stakeholders.

Led account and project management for the design and rollout of point-of-sale (POS) materials, ensuring accurate execution from brief through to in-store implementation.

Maintained strict compliance with FMCG and r

Account Management Project Management Point of Sale FMCG Client Relations