Irene Carlson
Spring Branch,TX
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven VP, Corporate and Workforce Partnerships with extensive experience in strategic leadership and operational excellence. Proven track record in driving growth, optimizing processes, and fostering team collaboration. Exceptional skills in strategic planning, financial management, and stakeholder engagement. Adaptable and reliable, consistently achieving high-impact results in dynamic environments.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Corporate & Workforce Partnerships
Core Education PBC
04.2023 - Current
- Spearheaded business development initiatives, achieving 110% revenue growth by building strategic client partnerships across multiple functional areas (Product Development, Marketing, and Finance).
- Identify and develop new B2B partnerships across industries such as healthcare, tech and advanced manufacturing.
- Collaborated with market research, delivering tailored solutions to prospective clients that drove partnership growth and long-term engagement, increasing client retention to 90%.
- Executed sales strategies, while managing a sales team of 6, strengthening product knowledge and optimizing work processes, resulting in a 110% improvement in team performance and efficiency.
- Partnership development with corporate leaders, directors and C-suite executives.
- Built relationships, established and maintained customer relationships at multiple organizational levels, facilitating comprehensive, cross-functional connectivity.
- Proficient with HubSpot, ZoomInfo and consultative selling.
Senior Business Development Manager
Pearson
06.2017 - 04.2023
- Spearheaded business development initiatives, consistently surpassing revenue targets by building strategic client partnerships across multiple functional areas (Product Development, Marketing, and Finance).
- Conducted in-depth market research, delivering tailored solutions to prospective clients that drove partnership growth and long-term engagement.
- Implemented strategic sales initiatives, resulting in a revenue growth within the public sector and education markets by collaborating with marketing, product development, and finance teams.
- Established and maintained customer relationships at multiple organizational levels, facilitating comprehensive, cross-functional connectivity.
- Identify and develop new B2B partnerships across industries such as healthcare, tech and degreed programs.
- Created and delivered a series of professional PowerPoint presentations for executive briefings, resulting in an increase in stakeholder engagement and approval of strategic initiatives and new partnerships.
Director of Admissions
College Healthcare Profession
03.2016 - 06.2017
- Led admissions strategies, achieving a $1.25M revenue increase and setting record-high referral acquisitions for seven consecutive months.
- Developed and executed marketing budgets and recruitment training, enhancing lead conversion rates and maintaining 100% accreditation compliance with no audit findings.
- Created and facilitated recruitment workshops for Admissions Representatives, promoting policy updates and product knowledge.
- Collaborated with Financial Aid, Academics, and Career Services departments, ensuring students received a first-class education aligned with compliance standards.
Director of Admissions
Southern Careers Institute
04.2015 - 01.2016
- Directed admissions and recruitment efforts, achieving a 10% student population increase and securing a $580K profit by year-end.
- Expanded and managed a high-performing recruitment team, growing from 6 to 15 members, through strategic training initiatives and regulatory compliance alignment.
- Conducted competitive market research, offering strategic insights and recommendations that informed program development and marketing efforts.
- Planned and managed campus events, including open houses, orientations, and student appreciation days, fostering a welcoming environment for prospective students.
Director of Admissions
Sanford Brown College
03.2013 - 03.2015
- Achieved 16% student population growth by implementing detailed performance tracking and training Admissions staff in proprietary recruitment methods.
- Managed an annual budget that exceeded projections by 18%, while maintaining student retention rates above 97% year-over-year.
- Worked closely with SEVIS to oversee international student visa applications and ensure full compliance during audits and official visits.
- Designed and implemented leadership training programs, promoting four team members to management positions within two years.
Director of Admissions
Kaplan College
02.2009 - 03.2013
- Oversaw a 20-28% annual campus growth rate as Director of Admissions, consistently achieving enrollment targets and setting new performance benchmarks.
- Built and managed a highly effective admissions team, focusing on training and development, which led to Kaplan’s #1 ranking in Texas for admissions performance (2010-2011).
- Partnered with Marketing to refine advertising strategies, significantly increasing inquiry quality and improving recruitment outcomes.
- Ensured compliance with SEVIS for international students, handling records, data, and certification processes to support seamless admissions.
Education
Doctorate in Business Administration - Management & Leadership
University of California
Master of Arts - English Education
University of Texas
San Antonio, TX12-2006
Master of Arts - Adult & Higher Education, Continuing Professional Education
University of Texas
San Antonio, TX12-2006
Bachelor of Arts - English/Business Tech Writing
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC12-1999
Skills
- Effective team leadership
- Strategic decision-making
- Analytical problem solving
- Coaching expertise
- Strategic issue resolution
- Client relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Strategic business development
- Results-driven
- Account management
- Customer service
- Documentation and reporting
- Process improvement
- Negotiation and persuasion
- Staff development
- Performance monitoring
- Contract negotiation
- Data analysis
- Corporate communications
- Sales leadership
- Industry best practices
- Price structuring
- Customer and employee rapport
- Performance metrics analysis
- Sales and marketing leadership
- Partnerships and affiliations
- Public speaking
- Forecasting
- Business storytelling
- Policy and procedure development
- OKRs and KPIs
- Lead generation
- Event networking
- CRM software
- Competitor trends
- Product demonstrations
- Customer prospecting
- Verbal and written communication
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Proposal development
- Revenue generation
- Expense reporting
- Business growth and marketing strategies
Accomplishments
- Top Revenue Sales (2018 – 2023) | Pearson
- #1 in Referral Acquisition | College of Healthcare Professions
- SCI Flame Award | Budget & Show Rate Management
- Retention Torch Award | Kaplan College
- Club Platinum Award | Kaplan College (Multiple Times)
- Admissions of the Year | Kaplan College
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
RemoteImportant To Me
Company CultureWork-life balanceHealthcare benefitsWork from home optionStock Options / Equity / Profit Sharing401k matchPersonal development programsCareer advancementPaid time offFlexible work hoursQuote
Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.
Auguste Rodin
Interests
Music
Golf
Reading
Travel
Timeline
Vice President, Corporate & Workforce Partnerships
Core Education PBC
04.2023 - Current
Senior Business Development Manager
Pearson
06.2017 - 04.2023
Director of Admissions
College Healthcare Profession
03.2016 - 06.2017
Director of Admissions
Southern Careers Institute
04.2015 - 01.2016
Director of Admissions
Sanford Brown College
03.2013 - 03.2015
Director of Admissions
Kaplan College
02.2009 - 03.2013
Doctorate in Business Administration - Management & Leadership
University of California
Master of Arts - English Education
University of Texas
Master of Arts - Adult & Higher Education, Continuing Professional Education
University of Texas
Bachelor of Arts - English/Business Tech Writing
Methodist University
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