Bev Witten Email & Phone Number

South Africa With Hubs In New York And Geneva

South Africa

Contracted to SANBI as a diversity and transformation specialist. Designed and facilitated transformation sessions at over 10 botanical gardens across SA. Facilitated leadership and transformation workshops for EXCO and MANCO members including a virtual series of leadership development workshops during COVID 19.

Regus, Century City, The Colosseum, Foyer 3, 1St Floor Century Way, Century City

Contracted to NTP, a subsidiary of NECSA as a transformation and leadership specialist. Working with the executive team to address challenges of change and transformation at NTP, talent management and retention, coaching and rethinking leadership styles and strategies. This includes design and facilitation of transformation, leadership and interactive team workshops.

South Africa

Facilitates transformation workshops on behalf of WiCDS using the WiCDS research, frameworks and critical diversity literacy materials. Facilitated workshops with the National Research Foundation, (NRF), Square Kilometer Array, (SKA), Wits School of Education and Volskwagen SA. Currently involved with leadership design and facilitation at Volkswagen SA in response to leading for change and the challenges facing leaders in their transformation efforts.

South Africa

Consulting in corporate and government institutions on strategy alignment, developing learning and capacity building interventions, coaching, change management in organisations facing challenges and opportunities in transformation efforts. With experience across a number of sectors in South Africa, equipped to customise and personalise opportunities that embrace change and a re-envisioned strategy.

Free State, South Africa

A feasibility study was conducted to examine the existing alumni relations function; its role; supporting functions in Institutional Advancement (IA); and related business processes and partnerships. A range of methodologies were employed to gather data. The final report details the findings, analyses and recommendations to improve and support alumni relations and Institutional Advancement (IA) more effectively. Its design ensured consistent and sustainable progress for alumni relations at UFS to deliver on alumni cultivation, early student engagement, communications and fundraising.

Strategic Management• Develops and implements strategy in line with institution’s strategic priorities• Manages local, national and international engagement and outreach strategies for over 140 000 alumni. • Works with the Rector on strategic initiatives with alumni to increase fundraising • Develops an integrated communication strategy that responds to the varied faculties/industry and interests of this group and re-designed alumni publications, website and online platforms• Implemented the alumni annual fund to stimulate lower level giving and build a model for sustained giving. In 2011 raised R238 000, 2012 – R578 000 and R2.7 million in 2013. • Executing stewardship initiatives to improve donor relations management;• Collates information and reports on alumni fundraising strategy and donations to Trustees and boards• Influence key stakeholders to ensure employee and business needs are managed effectivelyStakeholder engagement/partnerships• Works with Deans to collaborate on alumni faculty specific events, communication, research support and fundraising• Initiates and builds internal and external stakeholder relations• Works with Trustees of boards in SA, UK, USA.• Managing, briefing and advising the senior executive team on their roles at institutional events• Creates and builds a culture of philanthropy, launching the first student giving programme with student leaders in South Africa engaging over 3000 final year studentsHuman Resource Management: • Involved in implementing a restructure. Providing input into business planning process including draft organisation chart, headcount forecast and role descriptions. • Provides insight and analysis on people related measures to guide and develop key people focus areas for the new structurePerformance management; Recruitment, etc.

Strategic Management• Develops and implements strategy in line with institution’s strategic priorities• Manages local, national and international engagement and outreach strategies for over 140 000 alumni. • Works with the Rector on strategic initiatives with alumni to increase fundraising • Develops an integrated communication strategy that responds to the varied faculties/industry and interests of this group and re-designed alumni publications, website and online platforms• Implemented the alumni annual fund to stimulate lower level giving and build a model for sustained giving. In 2011 raised R238 000, 2012 – R578 000 and R2.7 million in 2013. • Executing stewardship initiatives to improve donor relations management;• Collates information and reports on alumni fundraising strategy and donations to Trustees and boards• Influence key stakeholders to ensure employee and business needs are managed effectivelyStakeholder engagement/partnerships• Works with Deans to collaborate on alumni faculty specific events, communication, research support and fundraising• Initiates and builds internal and external stakeholder relations• Works with Trustees of boards in SA, UK, USA.• Managing, briefing and advising the senior executive team on their roles at institutional events• Creates and builds a culture of philanthropy, launching the first student giving programme with student leaders in South Africa engaging over 3000 final year studentsHuman Resource Management: • Involved in implementing a restructure. Providing input into business planning process including draft organisation chart, headcount forecast and role descriptions. • Provides insight and analysis on people related measures to guide and develop key people focus areas for the new structurePerformance management; Recruitment, etc.

Greater Boston Area

At this world renowned institution, she managed the regional, national and international outreach and engagement strategies for over 25 000 alumni. She successfully increased the School’s alumni portfolio and visibility by reorganising its volunteer structures and programming strategies. These include hosting the first Harvard-wide Global Service Day which was marketed to its 300 000 alumni as a way to offer them an opportunity to contribute to community service—an initiative supported by President, Drew Gilpen Faust. Witten worked to build strong partnerships with the Harvard Alumni Association and other prestigious American Universities in order to leverage best practices nationally and internationally. Whilst there, she developed a new model and structure for the University’s alumni boards and implemented strategic initiatives that have influenced the University’s engagement with current students and built its national and international alumni networks.

At this world renowned institution, she managed the regional, national and international outreach and engagement strategies for over 25 000 alumni. She successfully increased the School’s alumni portfolio and visibility by reorganising its volunteer structures and programming strategies. These include hosting the first Harvard-wide Global Service Day which was marketed to its 300 000 alumni as a way to offer them an opportunity to contribute to community service—an initiative supported by President, Drew Gilpen Faust. Witten worked to build strong partnerships with the Harvard Alumni Association and other prestigious American Universities in order to leverage best practices nationally and internationally. Whilst there, she developed a new model and structure for the University’s alumni boards and implemented strategic initiatives that have influenced the University’s engagement with current students and built its national and international alumni networks.

Cape Town Area, South Africa

A small selection of services is highlighted below:• Designed and facilitated the first national workshops for senior judges and magistrates on change and transformation, race, gender, and culture within the Justice Ministry in South Africa after its first democratic elections in 1994, (for The Law, Race and Gender Unit at U.C.T.).• Designed and facilitated a mentoring national program for magistrates, (for The Law, Race and Gender Unit at U.C.T.), in a framework of organizational design and change management. This was the first change intervention in the Judicial ministry after 1994. • Evaluated parliamentary workshops with a focus on Human Resource Management: People focused strategy, HR planning, remuneration, employee relations and aligning systems and policies. Took place in four different African countries.• Researched, developed and authored the first training framework for the South African Development Community (SADC) parliaments in Africa. This included 13 African countries. Facilitated a ‘train the trainer’ workshop in Zambia to assist parliamentary staff in the use of the training framework. This book included chapters on Human Resource Management and Information Technology. • Designed and facilitated Human Resource Management workshops for the South African Management Institute (SAMDI), which included developing a HR Strategy, employment equity plans, talent management and retention, performance management, change management. • Evaluated organisational leadership styles and facilitated new forms of people management, talent management, performance management and organizational development for the Education Ministry in South Africa.• Facilitated strategic plans for national parliamentary departments in the South African parliament including HR strategy, performance management, equity plans, and organizational development.• Authored a series of HIV/AIDS workshops for over three thousand staff at a large corporate company in South Africa.

Cape Town Area, South Africa

Manages the training budget and all management development for this large financial services institution. Conducts in-depth analyses of business imperatives and priorities, assessing the skill levels, staff potential and management capability to meet the revised organizational vision and strategy. Engages and consults with managers and team leaders, researches, designs and develops workshops and interventions company-wide to address the gap analysis based on the service requirements for managers; monitors and evaluates for continuous improvement. Serves as a team leader for change and transformation, linking policies and practices to the new legal requirements in South Africa post the Apartheid era.

Cape Town Area, South Africa

Had a wide range of retail experience. These include Human Resource Management, Commercial Management, National Training Manager, and Merchandising.

Masters In Liberal Arts, Web Pedagogy And Online Learning Strategies

B.Soc Sc., Industrial Sociology