Kaze Thierry Rwakigarama
Nashville,TN
Summary
Globally experienced and results-driven project professional with over a decade of success managing client relationships, operational processes, and account coordination across Africa and the United States. Bilingual in French and English, with a strong cross-cultural communication skillset and a history of supporting diverse customer bases and international stakeholders. Proven expertise in onboarding, order management, and internal process optimization. Adept at reducing inefficiencies, maintaining detailed trackers, and supporting scalable operational systems. Recognized for driving continuous improvement and enabling smooth cross-functional collaboration in fast-paced environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Youth Education Program Specialist
Nashville International Center for Empowerment
Nashville, TN
03.2023 - Current
- Coordinated onboarding and activation for clients from diverse international backgrounds, including francophone populations.
- Maintained internal trackers, documentation, and communication processes to support multilingual clients.
- Led process improvements that reduced manual effort and enhanced consistency in program delivery.
- Acted as a bilingual liaison for French-speaking families and staff.
- Collaborated cross-functionally to resolve operational issues and streamline customer experiences.
Regional Sales and Marketing Project Lead
The Heineken Company
Kigali, Rwanda
07.2019 - 09.2022
- Managed customer accounts and distributor relationships across Central and East Africa, in both French and English-speaking regions.
- Supported order fulfillment tracking, activation milestones, and CRM data management.
- Standardized workflows and improved process efficiency across regions.
- Developed executive reports and aligned multi-country teams under consistent operational protocols.
Sales & Distribution Strategy Manager
The Heineken Company
Kigali, Rwanda
05.2018 - 07.2019
- Optimized regional sales processes and implemented scalable strategies across bilingual territories.
- Created resource allocation models and coordinated with finance and operations teams to support customer lifecycle management.
- Improved reporting tools and data visibility through multilingual documentation and dashboards.
Operations Risk & Compliance, Project Manager
The Heineken Company
Kigali, Rwanda
08.2017 - 05.2018
- Led compliance and risk mitigation projects across African markets with multilingual teams.
- Developed and presented bilingual reporting protocols and standard operating procedures.
- Partnered with French-speaking stakeholders to manage regulatory documentation and reporting.
Sales & Distribution Strategy Manager
Diageo
Kigali, Rwanda
10.2012 - 05.2017
- Directed strategic sales operations for regional expansion initiatives.
- Managed multilingual teams and ensured project milestones were met across French and English-speaking markets.
- Delivered executive-level performance reports and enhanced customer lifecycle strategies.
- Implemented project tools to streamline workflow and improve reporting accuracy.
Sales & Marketing Manager
Millicom (Tigo)
Kigali, Rwanda
10.2010 - 10.2012
- Oversaw cross-functional marketing and sales teams to drive revenue in key regions.
- Built and maintained strong customer relationships, fostering loyalty in both English and French-speaking markets.
- Launched new marketing strategies that improved market share and client engagement.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Project Management
Oklahoma Christian University
Edmond, OKBachelor’s degree - business management
Kigali Independent University (ULK)
Kigali, RwandaSkills
- Global Operations & Market Coordination
- Bilingual: French & English
- Onboarding & Order Management
- CRM & Documentation Tools (Salesforce, Excel, Smartsheet)
- Customer Lifecycle & Account Support
- Tracker & Workflow Management
- Cross-Functional Communication (Sales, Finance, Ops)
- Operational Risk Analysis
- Continuous Process Improvement
- Cultural Intelligence & International Customer Service
- Strategic Planning
- Risk Management
- Effective Communication
- Attention to Detail & Task Ownership
- Internal Onboarding & Activation Coordination
- Global Operations Awareness
- Issue Tracking & Escalation
Languages
- English
- French (Fluent)
- Swahili (Fluent)
Languages
French
Native/ Bilingual
English
Native/ Bilingual
Swahili
Native/ Bilingual
Accomplishments
Regional Sales and Marketing Project Lead (2019-2022): Recipient of the Champion Sales and Customer Support Award in recognition of exemplary customer service excellence and outstanding business performance. Achieved $620K+ in revenue growth while driving a 17% increase in market share through strategic leadership of cross-functional teams that consistently surpassed sales objectives throughout this four-year tenure.
Timeline
Youth Education Program Specialist
Nashville International Center for Empowerment
03.2023 - Current
Regional Sales and Marketing Project Lead
The Heineken Company
07.2019 - 09.2022
Sales & Distribution Strategy Manager
The Heineken Company
05.2018 - 07.2019
Operations Risk & Compliance, Project Manager
The Heineken Company
08.2017 - 05.2018
Sales & Distribution Strategy Manager
Diageo
10.2012 - 05.2017
Sales & Marketing Manager
Millicom (Tigo)
10.2010 - 10.2012
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Project Management
Oklahoma Christian University
Bachelor’s degree - business management
Kigali Independent University (ULK)
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