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Rafik Manaa

@rafikmanaa

International business development & marketing manager building growth, partnerships, and market launches.

Portugal
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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a growth-focused role where I can own go-to-market and B2B pipeline development, build partnerships, and lead teams—turning market insights into launch-ready strategies across multiple regions.

I’m an International Business Development & Marketing Manager with 11+ years of cross-functional experience across Europe, the GCC, and APAC. I build and scale commercial operations from the ground up—translating market intelligence into actionable go-to-market strategies.

Most recently, I led full product launch execution at Guide In City, bringing a B2C tourism app from concept to market with launch-night traction through a press and influencer-led strategy. I built and managed a 9-person cross-functional team, owned full-cycle recruitment, and negotiated premium media partnerships and sponsored content deals. I also drove influencer partnership strategy and managed end-to-end operations, from legal compliance and vendor management to quality assurance and marketing budget oversight.

Earlier roles strengthened my B2B pipeline and consultative selling skills, including full sales-cycle ownership at Uber for Business and performance optimization expertise with Google Ads. I’ve also delivered go-to-market consulting for SMEs and startups—covering SEO/SEA setup, brand storytelling, and event production—while consistently focusing on revenue growth, brand positioning, and high-impact execution.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

GG

Head of Operations & BD

Guide In City (GIC)

Nov 2023 - Oct 2024 (11 months)

Led a full product launch from zero, bringing a B2C tourism app to market and reaching 3,000 downloads on launch night via a 150-guest press, influencer, and B2B event produced at zero cash cost. Built and led a 9-person cross-functional team, negotiated premium media partnerships, contracted influencers with 7.5M+ combined followers, and managed end-to-end operations including AED 10,000 marketin

OA

Business Development Partner

ON11ZE Agency

Feb 2023 - Feb 2024 (1 year)

Co-led commercial strategy for a creative marketing agency, responsible for new business acquisition, pitch development, and client onboarding across three international markets. Initiated and executed multi-market expansion into France, Arab, and Brazil through media partnerships and targeted outreach campaigns.

UB

Business Development Representative

Uber

May 2019 - Jan 2020 (8 months)

Managed a portfolio of ~200 corporate accounts on Uber for Business, owning the B2B sales cycle from prospecting and SaaS solution pitching to lead qualification and handoff for contract closure. Generated 3+ qualified discovery meetings per week through cold outreach and consultative selling, and coordinated corporate onboarding to support retention and reduce churn.

ST

Sales Engineer

StrongLed

Jan 2017 - Nov 2017 (10 months)

Led business development across MEA, India, and ANZ by building and maintaining a regional client portfolio through market research, trade show participation, and distributor outreach. Delivered technical sales presentations for LED infrastructure solutions and coordinated logistics and contract execution for large-scale projects.

EC

Market Development Associate

Euro-USA Chamber of Commerce

Jan 2017 - Nov 2017 (10 months)

Facilitated B2B matchmaking and trade negotiations between European and Chinese companies to support cross-border market entry. Developed marketing strategies for cross-border trade events and delegations while building a network across government bodies, chambers, and private-sector partners.

SW

Marketing Project Manager

Swisstank

Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 (11 months)

Managed multi-channel marketing plans supporting international client business expansion from strategic planning through full execution. Coordinated international teams and ensured culturally aligned messaging across APAC and European markets.

MA

Sales & Business Development Assistant

Mercure Les Deux Alpes

Oct 2012 - Jul 2014 (1 year 9 months)

Developed new revenue streams by acquiring corporate clients and tour operators to diversify the hotel's B2B portfolio. Supported occupancy campaigns and coordinated hospitality events to drive performance during low seasons.

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Burgundy logoUB

University of Burgundy

Bachelor's degree, International Marketing Techniques

2014 - 2015

Completed a bachelor's program in International Marketing Techniques at the University of Burgundy (France), including study at South China Normal University (China), from 2014 to 2015.

TI

Tourism & Hospitality Institution

Bachelor's degree, Business Units Management

2012 - 2014

Earned a bachelor's degree in Business Units Management at a Tourism & Hospitality Institution in France from 2012 to 2014.

Tech stack

Software and tools used professionally

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