Joanine Ayoti Kirkwood
Mesa,AZ
Summary
I am a dynamic leader with extensive experience in for-profit and non-profit settings, excelling in program coordination and stakeholder engagement. I have a proven track record in securing funding and managing budgets, impacting over 1,000 youth and women. I am adept at building collaborative partnerships and driving SDG-aligned initiatives, ensuring financial accountability and operational integrity.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director & Program Lead
Wake na Vijana Initiatives
Nairobi, Kenya
08.2023 - Current
- Strategic Partnership Development: Cultivated and managed partnerships with global organizations, including NGOs, governmental bodies, and academic institutions, to advance youth and gender empowerment, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- High-Value Project Coordination: Led impactful, multidisciplinary initiatives focusing on gender equality, economic empowerment, and youth leadership, collaborating with stakeholders such as the EU, local governments, and development partners.
- Event Planning and Management: Organized and facilitated events, workshops, and capacity-building sessions, ensuring seamless coordination with speakers, partners, and logistics teams.
- Administrative and Operational Oversight: Managed complex scheduling, travel arrangements, and financial reconciliation for organizational programs and leadership activities.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Developed and maintained relationships with international and local partners, fostering collaboration through newsletters and strategic meetings.
- Community Promotion & Storytelling: Amplified the stories of women and youth through digital content, media outreach, and advocacy campaigns, enhancing visibility and support for grassroots initiatives.
- Budget & Grants Management: Oversaw project budgets, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, and the financial sustainability of key initiatives.
- Digital & Social Media Engagement: Spearheaded website updates, social media campaigns, and content development to promote programs, initiatives, and stakeholder engagement.
Business Operations Manager
Eagle Innovations Inc./Savannah Data Solutions LTD
Dallas, USA
08.2020 - Current
- High-Value Project Management: Led large-scale data and software development projects, ensuring seamless execution, quality control, and timely delivery, while collaborating with international teams across the US, Thailand, and Kenya.
- Administrative & Operational Oversight: Managed complex scheduling, financial processes, and compliance with international data privacy and security regulations, optimizing efficiency and risk mitigation.
- Event Planning & Coordination: Organized professional training sessions, stakeholder meetings, and corporate events, ensuring effective participation and alignment with strategic priorities.
- Team Leadership & Performance Management: Supervised and supported a diverse team of employees, independent contractors, and interns, fostering a positive work environment, and achieving operational goals.
- Corporate Communications & Branding: Developed and executed communication strategies, including marketing initiatives, client engagement, and brand positioning, leading to increased visibility and business growth.
International Marketing & Communications Manager
Eden Reforestation Projects
, Global
06.2022 - 04.2023
- High-Value Project Coordination: Led multi-country marketing and communications programs across 10 countries, ensuring alignment with global sustainability, and impact-driven initiatives.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development: Managed and supported seven marketing coordinators across Africa, Asia, and South America, while also overseeing communication efforts in three additional countries without dedicated marketing personnel.
- Strategic Storytelling & Brand Management: Designed and implemented streamlined storytelling systems, effectively amplifying local community voices, while maintaining organizational branding and messaging consistency.
- Cross-Cultural & Global Coordination: Worked across diverse global teams to ensure branding, messaging, and marketing strategies were consistently executed, enhancing engagement with stakeholders, donors, and the public.
- Event and Content Planning: Developed and managed country-specific project deliverables, including community impact stories, donor updates, and environmental awareness campaigns.
- Training and Capacity Building: Designed and delivered training programs for marketing teams, enhancing their expertise in communications strategy, storytelling, and digital marketing to support long-term project success.
- Communication Asset Management: Established and maintained a comprehensive library of communication tools, ensuring efficiency, consistency, and accessibility for teams across all regions.
Content & Social Media Manager
HotelOnline
09.2019 - 04.2020
- Managed digital content and online presence for hospitality clients
First Year Composition Instructor
Northern Illinois University
09.2016 - 04.2018
- Taught research writing and academic communication skills to undergraduate students
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant
University of Wisconsin–Madison
08.2015 - 04.2016
- Designed Swahili language and culture curriculum for university students
Education
Certificate in Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation -
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ12-2024
Certificate in Corporate Communication -
Cornell University
01.2023
Master of Arts (M.A.) - English
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL05-2018
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - English & Literature
Kenyatta University
Nairobi, Kenya12-2011
Skills
- Administrative Support & Budget Management
- Program Coordination & Global Partnerships
- Project Management & Event Planning
- Financial Oversight & Budgeting
- Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Administrative Operations & Scheduling
- SDG Alignment
- Collaborative Partnership Building
- QuickBooks
- Slack
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Event Planning
Certifications And Skills
- Fulbright Scholar – U.S. Department of State, 2015–2016
- Japan Foundation Scholarship – Intensive Japanese language and cultural studies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Asana, Trello, QuickBooks, Slack, Canva
- Grant Compliance & Budget Management, Research Coordination, Stakeholder Engagement, Event Planning
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Executive Director & Program Lead
Wake na Vijana Initiatives
08.2023 - Current
International Marketing & Communications Manager
Eden Reforestation Projects
06.2022 - 04.2023
Business Operations Manager
Eagle Innovations Inc./Savannah Data Solutions LTD
08.2020 - Current
Content & Social Media Manager
HotelOnline
09.2019 - 04.2020
First Year Composition Instructor
Northern Illinois University
09.2016 - 04.2018
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant
University of Wisconsin–Madison
08.2015 - 04.2016
Certificate in Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation -
Arizona State University
Certificate in Corporate Communication -
Cornell University
Master of Arts (M.A.) - English
Northern Illinois University
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - English & Literature
Kenyatta University
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