Leena Fakhri
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Professional leader with proven track record in guiding teams to achieve organizational goals and drive continuous improvement. Recognized for fostering inclusive and collaborative environment while maintaining steadfast focus on results. Known for strategic thinking and adaptability in dynamic settings.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Chair: Southern California Board
UNICEF USA
11.2022 - Current
- Lead strategic initiatives to create local connections supporting the Major Giving Program. Spearhead fundraising initiatives - exceeded financial goal of $1 Million by 25% and secured 15% new supporters in 2024
- Strengthen UNICEF's presence in Southern California and provide strategic input and feedback to UNICEF staff. Collaborate with other UNICEF Boards and UNICEF USA twice a month to drive mission-aligned efforts.
- Organized successful high-impact events in Los Angeles to raise awareness and funds
- Plan and oversee meetings in accordance with governing documents. Maintain impartiality and objectivity during meetings and decision-making. Foster culture of inclusivity and open dialogue through regular team-building activities.
Special Events and Experiences Task Force Member
UNICEF USA
04.2022 - 09.2022
- Selected by Southern California office, one of 15 national members to participate in task force to re-brand UNICEF's special events
- Tasks included: Changing mission statement to represent new vision and goals for fundraising through events, looking at past successes, challenges and identifying new areas of change, finding ways to scale fundraising events with efficiency, diversifying audiences/vendors to match UNICEF's DNA, securing investments for future events with estimated goal set at $4.75 MIL in spring 2023, represent Los Angeles to regional board on progress, and designing new marquee fundraising and awareness event to launch in spring 2023 and scaled in 2024, 2025, and 2026
Committee Chair: Speaker Series Committee
UNICEF USA
01.2019 - 12.2022
- Led committee of 16 volunteers to engage speakers and plan up to 3 events per year with over 65 attendees at each event to generate awareness and engage potential long term donors
- Kept consistent donor retention rate of 60% with active effort to bring in 40% new donors at each event
- Built trusting relationships with donors and volunteers and secured commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors for over $150,000 every year
- Engaged in community outreach to aid program mission centered on community support and enrichment and assisted with special events and programs
Co-Founder
Homewood Residents Group
01.2016 - Current
- Spearheaded initiative to gather 80 homes on street to start homeowners alliance focused on security, facilitating resources, engaging legislators, law enforcement agencies and building community
- Walked door to door to gather support and gain momentum to execute plan
- Created networking system of communication between 80 households and the sole administrator of messaging system. Responsibility includes maintaining street database, facilitating monthly newsletter, managing all chat groups and maintaining harmony among neighbors
- Organized and carried out annual town hall meetings which included raising over $30,000 annually to implement and fund street requirements
- Liaised with council members, police and fire department to support community regarding crime, street closures and maintenance, local school traffic going through street, health initiatives during COVID and emergency preparedness
- Facilitated implementation of camera systems and private guards to boost neighborhood security
- Organized and planned community building events on street gathering over 300 people, such as private Halloween trick or treating, ice cream trucks. Responsible for coordinating payments for food trucks and orders between all homes
Board Member
Brentwood Homeowners Association
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Served as advocate and ambassador for Los Angeles county's largest homeowners association serving 1500 members
- Responsibilities included: engaging, identifying and securing resources and partnerships to advance mission of homeowners including traffic control, crime, street management and homelessness
- Advanced membership of association by 23 members by engaging younger homeowners
- Organized annual homeowners meeting with 450 members in attendance
- Established positive and productive working relationships with public officials and law enforcement officers to advise and raise awareness of member grievances
Board Member
The MAJOR Fund
01.2015 - Current
- Building bridges between Muslim and Jewish communities in Los Angeles by breaking bread together, discussion and collaborative charity work
- Gathered over $60,000 through personal connections for various charity initiatives in Afghanistan, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria and Uganda
- Funded and carried out all initiatives taken on by board through cultivating strong partnerships and relationships among local organizations carrying out projects on ground
Associate Business Manager
Mandviwalla Motors
12.2006 - 12.2007
- Led company to successful product launch of Suzuki Liana and developed initial product roadmap and go-to-market strategy which facilitated in a sales increase of 20% in one year.
- Revamped marketing materials and showroom layout to enhance sales and consumer brand awareness
- Assisted in preparation of corporate reports and presentations for general meeting of shareholders and investors
- Developed PowerPoint presentations for weekly meetings
- Conducted market research and performed business analysis of automobile market to identify and forecast sales trends
Management Trainee
ABN AMRO Bank
12.2005 - 12.2006
- One of 10 Management Trainee's selected through testing from 2500 applicants for management trainee program. Only woman to be selected
- Improved management skills by participating in rigorous training programs and workshops.
- Assisted supervisors in setting clear goals, establishing priorities, and monitoring progress to ensure successful completion of tasks.
- Made detailed report of findings from each department in bank including: Identifying and communicating customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams, Evaluating employee performance and conveying constructive feedback to improve skills, Establishing performance goals for employees and providing feedback on methods for reaching those milestones and researching new products and compliance techniques to enhance and fine tune consumer product offering by bank.
Junior Marketing Executive
ABN AMRO Bank
07.2005 - 12.2005
- Devised new promotional approaches to boost customer numbers and market penetration while enhancing engagement and driving growth
- Assisted in creating strategic growth plan for new branch rollout, which was presented to Country head of Consumer banking
- Created marketing plans and budgets in wealth management to help improve consumer awareness for bank
Account Executive
Vault.com
07.2003 - 04.2005
- Monitored and developed Vault's online library to top 500 university career services departments across U.S
- Developed marketing plan to help increase penetration and create long-lasting, stable relationships with Universities
- Recorded and maintained sales prospect and sales data within customer relationship management system
- Prospected new clientele through networking, cold calling, canvassing and referrals
Education
Certification - Recording Engineer
Los Angeles Recording School
Los Angeles06-2009
Bachelor of Arts - Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE)
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA05-2003
University of Cambridge, Advanced Level -
Karachi Grammar School
Karachi, Pakistan05-1999
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Communication and Negotiation
- Market Research & Analysis
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Operations Management
- Organizational & Strategic Leadership
- Effective Time Management
- Sales techniques
- Relationship building and management
- Raising funds
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Powerpoint
Languages
Hindi
Native or Bilingual
Urdu
Native or Bilingual
Gujarati
Full Professional
Arabic
Elementary
Timeline
Chair: Southern California Board
UNICEF USA
11.2022 - Current
Special Events and Experiences Task Force Member
UNICEF USA
04.2022 - 09.2022
Committee Chair: Speaker Series Committee
UNICEF USA
01.2019 - 12.2022
Co-Founder
Homewood Residents Group
01.2016 - Current
Board Member
Brentwood Homeowners Association
01.2016 - 01.2017
Board Member
The MAJOR Fund
01.2015 - Current
Associate Business Manager
Mandviwalla Motors
12.2006 - 12.2007
Management Trainee
ABN AMRO Bank
12.2005 - 12.2006
Junior Marketing Executive
ABN AMRO Bank
07.2005 - 12.2005
Account Executive
Vault.com
07.2003 - 04.2005
Certification - Recording Engineer
Los Angeles Recording School
Bachelor of Arts - Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE)
University of Pennsylvania
University of Cambridge, Advanced Level -
Karachi Grammar School
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