Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Barbara Gakwaya

Houston,TX

Summary

Bilingual Customer Service and Technical Support Specialist with over 4 years of experience in consumer-facing roles. Proficient in English and French, skilled in managing high-volume calls, troubleshooting customer issues, and meticulously documenting interactions within CRM systems. Possesses a strong background in customer communication, data entry, and technical support, consistently delivering effective solutions in fast-paced, team-oriented environments. Committed to enhancing customer satisfaction through exceptional service and problem-solving abilities.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Salesforce Administrator (Apprenticeship Program)

Talent Stacker | Remote
03.2023 - Current

Member of the Talent Stacker Professional Development Program
Team of Individuals learning best practices around Salesforce and the broader Salesforce ecosystem
Participate in Live Workshops surrounding key Salesforce Professional Topics to become a high-quality Salesforce
Professional and Employee
Salesforce Study Programs for Certification and Certification Prep
Professional Development Topics such as Business Requirement Gathering, Solutioning, and Best Practices for
Implementations

RESEARCH ASSISTANT/TRANSLATOR

University of Connecticut
03.2024 - 09.2024
  • Delivered bilingual support by translating and interpreting technical content in French and English.
  • Facilitated cross-cultural communication and ensured accuracy in consumer-facing documentation.

Customer Service Administrator

Hologic
03.2022 - 11.2022


  • Managed customer registrations and resolved technical/product inquiries via phone and email.
  • Generated and maintained accurate service reports in Salesforce and Oracle CRM.
  • Coordinated service calls and provided troubleshooting support, ensuring effective resolutions.
  • Enhanced consumer satisfaction through clear communication and follow-up.

Sales Development Representative

LABSTER
09.2021 - 01.2022
  • Partner with the Inside Sales Executives to develop and execute territory plans
  • Prospect into assigned verticals via cold-calling, networking, e-mail/e-marketing, and utilizing Internet information sources
  • Making 100+ calls per day to build and manage lead development pipeline
  • Generate 35 qualified meetings per month in assigned territory
  • Provide baseline research within targeted accounts to identify key contacts and critical account information prior to prospecting call
  • Articulate and promote Labster’s value proposition to target contacts (Faculty, Dean, Provost, etc..) primarily in the Higher Educational Sector
  • Assist with the closing and sales process of smaller value opportunities
  • Qualify sales leads based upon specified lead qualification criteria definitions
  • Achieve or exceed goal qualified lead/meeting goals
  • Update lead, opportunity, and prospect interaction in Salesforce
  • Learn and execute proven processes to generate new sales opportunities

Interpreter

BaystateInterpreter
03.2019 - 12.2020
  • Facilitate effective communication between two parties that do not speak a similar language by converting one spoken or written language to another.
  • Use dictionaries and glossaries for reference.
  • Facilitate communication for people with limited English proficiency.
  • Translate languages at meetings such as attorney-client meetings, preliminary hearings, arraignments, depositions, and trials.

PCA Personal Care Assistant

Worcester Home Care
07.2019 - 03.2020
  • Providing immobile, recovering, or frail clients with support, company, and comfort.
  • Dispensing medications, administering treatments, and assisting with exercise routines as prescribed.
  • Reporting changes in the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of clients to relevant parties.
  • Assisting clients with household finances, bills, and payments, as well as running errands.
  • Accompanying clients on outings and arranging transportation to medical appointments.
  • Providing mobility support, including assistance with walking aids and wheelchairs.
  • Maintaining a hygienic, tidy, and safe environment.

PCA Personal Care Assistant

Visiting Angels
06.2018 - 07.2019
  • Providing immobile, recovering, or frail clients with support, company, and comfort.
  • Dispensing medications, administering treatments, and assisting with exercise routines as prescribed.
  • Reporting changes in the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of clients to relevant parties.
  • Assisting clients with household finances, bills, and payments, as well as running errands.
  • Accompanying clients on outings and arranging transportation to medical appointments.
  • Providing mobility support, including assistance with walking aids and wheelchairs.
  • Maintaining a hygienic, tidy, and safe environment.

Retail Merchandising

Macy's
10.2014 - 07.2015
  • Receiving new merchandise and stocking shelves on the sales floor.
  • Restocking and neatly repacking unsold items onto shelves.
  • Preparing merchandise for purchase by entering items into store inventory and applying sales tags.
  • Assembling product displays, dressing mannequins and arranging merchandise in store front windows.
  • Promoting products and store loyalty programs during customer interactions.
  • Providing outstanding customer experiences.
  • Maintaining an organized and clean sales floor.
  • Promoting a positive store culture.

Jr. System Support Engineer

Orinux Rwanda Ltd
04.2012 - 12.2013
  • Installing and configuring AIX operating systems and servers.
  • Maintaining and upgrading the AIX OS.
  • Installing and test AIX OS patches.
  • Maintain documentation of AIX hardware and software components and user and operator procedures.
  • Develop data backups and retrieval techniques in case of failure, redundancy, etc.
  • Detect and troubleshoot system operational and functional issues.
  • Perform performance maintenance routines to ensure continuous system availability.
  • Develop and implement disaster recovery procedures to ensure business continuity.

Network Engineer Intern

MTN Rwandacell
02.2012 - 03.2012
  • Configuring firewalls, routing and switching to maximise network efficiency and security
  • Maximising network performance through ongoing monitoring and troubleshooting
  • Arranging scheduled upgrades
  • Investigating faults in the network
  • Updating network equipment to the latest firmware releases
  • Reporting network status to key stakeholders

Staff Coordinator

EMRC International
06.2011 - 09.2011
  • Assist in preparation and execution of orientation and training plans
  • Develop work schedules by allocating employees in shifts and positions
  • Assume responsibility for timekeeping and time off requests

Lecturer Assistant

Tshwane University of Technology
01.2010 - 06.2011
  • Supervising the work of students, providing advice on study skills and help them with learning problems.
  • Supervising student projects under guidance and supervision.
  • Marking Students assignments and projects.

Administrative Assistant

Faculty of Engineering and the built Environment at Tshwane University of Technology
08.2009 - 07.2010
  • Answer and direct phone calls
  • Organize and schedule meetings and appointments
  • Maintain contact lists
  • Produce and distribute correspondence memos, letters, faxes and forms
  • Assist in the preparation of regularly scheduled reports
  • Develop and maintain a filing system
  • Order office supplies
  • Research and creates presentations
  • Generate reports

Education

Bachelor of Science - Information Technology

Tshwane University of Technology
Pretoria, Gauteng
07.2011

High school diploma - Mathematics and Physics

Groupe Scolaire De Butare
Rwanda
07.2003

Skills

Technical SupportSalesforceMultilingual Communication Interpersonal Skills
Customer Engagement Analytical Thinking Detail OrientationAdaptabilitySales Strategies Research SkillsData Analysis

Certification

Salesforce Administrator (In Progress)

Languages

French - Expert
English

Timeline

RESEARCH ASSISTANT/TRANSLATOR

University of Connecticut
03.2024 - 09.2024

Salesforce Administrator (Apprenticeship Program)

Talent Stacker | Remote
03.2023 - Current

Customer Service Administrator

Hologic
03.2022 - 11.2022

Sales Development Representative

LABSTER
09.2021 - 01.2022

PCA Personal Care Assistant

Worcester Home Care
07.2019 - 03.2020

Interpreter

BaystateInterpreter
03.2019 - 12.2020

PCA Personal Care Assistant

Visiting Angels
06.2018 - 07.2019

Retail Merchandising

Macy's
10.2014 - 07.2015

Jr. System Support Engineer

Orinux Rwanda Ltd
04.2012 - 12.2013

Network Engineer Intern

MTN Rwandacell
02.2012 - 03.2012

Staff Coordinator

EMRC International
06.2011 - 09.2011

Lecturer Assistant

Tshwane University of Technology
01.2010 - 06.2011

Administrative Assistant

Faculty of Engineering and the built Environment at Tshwane University of Technology
08.2009 - 07.2010

Bachelor of Science - Information Technology

Tshwane University of Technology

High school diploma - Mathematics and Physics

Groupe Scolaire De Butare