MILDRED ZYAMBO
Lusaka
Summary
Diligent, creative, efficient, result-oriented, and organized communications specialist with experience in Design Thinking, Social Behavior Change, WASH, Agriculture, Nutrition, Health, and Climate Change. Passionate about innovative communication, social impact projects, while offering excellent interpersonal, project management and organizational skills to coordinate multiple and concurrent innovative projects. Articulate writer with talent for creating and designing engaging content.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Global HCD (Human Centered Design) Designer
IDE Global
Lusaka, Zambia
10.2023 - Current
- Developed and implemented innovative design solutions to complex user interface problems.
- Created detailed wireframes, storyboards, user flows and process flows to effectively communicate interaction and design ideas.
- Worked with the development team to ensure a smooth transition from concept to production-ready assets.
- Developed user stories, personas, journey maps and other artifacts to inform product strategy.
- Built interactive prototypes used in A and B testing of various UX concepts with end users.
- Designed experiments for rapid prototyping of concepts and testing with users.
- Participated in brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas for product features or improvements.
- Conducted usability tests on existing products and prototypes to identify areas for improvement in user experience or design.
- Successfully conducted user research, developed prototypes, and final solution for the Caterpillar project in Zambia - Providing clean and safe water for rural Copperbelt.
- Successfully developed innovative, feasible, sustainable, and desirable toilet prototypes for testing and reiteration on the World Vision Project in Zambia.
- Lead stakeholder interviews to uncover insights about customer behavior and preferences.
- Project and client management, collaborating with peers throughout the process.
- Building a project plan, meeting deadlines, and delegating tasks
- Created wireframes, mockups, prototypes and visualizations to communicate product designs.
- Conducting ethnographic research in diverse contexts
- Analyzed data from usability studies to identify areas of improvement in customer experience.
- Coming up with actionable ideas and strategies that are easy to operationalize for the client.
- Running fun and engaging co-creation/brainstorming workshops in the field and in the office.
- Fundraising and grant writing to obtain funding for initiatives.
Communications Officer
WWF Zambia
Lusaka
03.2021 - 09.2023
- Developed and implemented communication strategies to ensure effective internal and external communications.
- Partnered with creative teams to produce design concepts for campaigns that effectively communicated key messages.
- Planned and implemented conservation campaigns, including network-specific campaigns such as Earth Hour.
- Provided training, webinars and coaching to staff, offices and practice communities for internal innovation sprints.
- Coordinated logistics for large-scale events including venue selection, catering arrangements, audio and visual requirements.
- Researched, wrote, edited and distributed press releases, media advisories, newsletters, speeches and other content for various audiences.
- Maintained relationships with media contacts to promote visibility in print, broadcast and online outlets.
- Posted and updated content on company's website and social media outlets.
- Managed the development of marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, posters and digital content.
- Developed public relations strategies to influence public opinion or promote ideas, products or services.
- Arranged public appearances, contests or exhibits for clients to increase product or service awareness or promote goodwill.
- Event Management: Guest List curation and management, Invitation card designs, venue set up, event moderator or master of ceremony, budgeting, vendor procurement, and event report.
- Worked closely with senior executives to create presentations for internal stakeholders as well as external partners.
- Developed key communications assets for fundraising purposes: marketing videos, show reels, brochures, flyers, fact sheet, merchandise (wristbands, caps, shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, flasks, swag bags, pens).
- Organized and coordinated press conferences, events and interviews.
- Developed strategic plans to manage crisis situations while protecting the reputation of the organization.
- Assisted in developing corporate social responsibility initiatives that aligned with brand messaging.
Research Associate - Human Centered Design
Media 365
Lusaka
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Proactively coordinating, planning, implementing and managing research projects; Conducting desk review, drafting inception reports, work plan, Gantt Chart, budgets, donor update reports, data collection tools, transcribing and drafting final research report
- Leading HCD Research and Design Thinking: Immersion, Definition, Ideation, Prototyping, Testing and Product /Service/Solution design
- UX Design Strategy and Application: creating Customer Journey Map, Profiling and Personas, Design Sprint, User Experience Mapping, Building prototypes, Creating wireframes, Business Model Design, Customer Value Map, etc
- Efficient project and client management; documentation, filling, reporting, budgeting and successfully finishing projects on time and budget
- Successful Research Lead on the World Food Programme (WFP) funded national nutrition project - Eat Well Campaign
- Successful Research Lead on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded Anti-Tobacco campaign - SKYGirlsZed: Desk review, pilot research, main research, product ideation and prototype (Project brand guidelines, Tag line, etc.) and year 1 final donor report
- Successful Research Associate on Water Security and Environmental Projects LUWSI and also Wellfields Eco Recreation Parks funded by GiZ.
Communications and Project Assistant
Media 365
Lusaka
03.2018 - 01.2019
- Developing campaign communication plans, communication strategies, communication work plans, roll out implementation plans, budgets and evaluation plans
- Content creation; drafting radio scripts, social media content, social media calendars, marketing strategies
- Actively coordinate project contracts to ensure projects are delivered on time
- Project file preparation, documentation and task management; Work plan, Racci, Gantt Chart, Asana, budgets, reports, budget retirements, compilation of reports and filing them both in soft copy and hard copy
- Responsible for coordination and execution of events of different nature including press conferences, media break fasts/lunch, cocktails, and major annual festivals
- Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork
- Business development support
- Identifying new business opportunities and Proposal writing
- Research and Project Assistant on successful projects such as Lusaka Sanitation Project (LSP) by Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC), LuWSI and Wellfields Wellness Protection Project by Giz and (LWSC), USAID Project dubbed ZAMBIA ENDING AIDS
- Project Assistant on successful projects such as ADAZ Aquaculture Forum and the 2019 Impact Investing Roadshows by Prospero.
Strategic Communications Intern
Media 365
Lusaka
10.2017 - 03.2018
- Content development for clients; Developing editorial calendars, Drafting strategy documents, Articles and press releases, Content creation for brochures, training guides, videos, digital media and any other relevant content development
- Drafting Communication strategy, Strategic plans and Implementation plans
- Participate in field missions to gather information, videos and still photo footage
- Create photo library with captions
- Prepare communication materials including media briefs, speeches, newsletters, articles to publish on different clients' websites and other media platforms
- Assist in the design of communication and visibility materials
- Plan and manage meetings, workshops and media events
- Media management for events; drafting press invites, releases, accreditation forms and media monitoring reports
- Successfully developed Cavmont bank social media calendar and content
- Conducting in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and field observation
- Developing exceptional data collection instruments and tools such as questionnaires, interview guides and observation checklists, which were pivotal in the research engagements.
Intern - Advertising Coordinator and Copy Writer
Moto Media (Ignite Africa)
Lusaka
01.2017 - 09.2017
- Coordinated sales and advertising of Ignite magazine
- Copy edited magazine articles
- Managed Magazine layout and design
- Actively listened to customers, handled concerns quickly and escalated major issues to supervisor
- Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule
- Improved operations through consistent hard work and dedication.
Communications Intern
National Agriculture and Information Services (NAIS)
Lusaka
05.2016 - 12.2016
- Produced 4 Radio and 2 TV Programs
- Script writer and Documentary Editor
- Field Reporter
- Video and Audio Transcriber and Translator
- Engaged in professional networking to maintain strong relationships with communications and media professionals to drive partnerships and effective dissemination of mass communications
- Prepared for public relations presentations and plans by gathering information on business objectives, vision, brand strategy, competition and industry trends.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communication
The University of Zambia
LusakaO'Level GCE Certificate -
Matero Girls Secondary School
LusakaSkills
- Strategic Communication
- Content Creation
- Brand Management
- Social Behavior Change Communication
- Events and Campaign planning, development and Implementation
- Digital Communications and Content Design
- Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement
- Project Management and Coordination
- Design Thinking
- Funding Proposals and Campaigns
- Operational Efficiency
- Critical Thinking
- Community Relations Management
- Research
References
Tubalemye Mutwale
Communications Manager
East and Southern Africa at WWF International
myubalemye@gmail.com
Cell: +260 762 441 401
Nachilala Nkombo
Former - WWF Zambia Country Director
WWF Zambia
nachilalan@gmail.com
Cell: +260 968 328 816
Dr. Natasha Phiri
Research Director and Co-Founder
Media 365
natasha@media365.co.zm
WhatsApp: +44 7747 230926
Cell: +260 966 865 151
Edmore Mangisi
Programme Associate - Nutrition
World Food Programme (WFP)
Edmore.mangisi@wfp.org
Cell: +260 979 917 238
Timeline
Global HCD (Human Centered Design) Designer
IDE Global
10.2023 - Current
Communications Officer
WWF Zambia
03.2021 - 09.2023
Research Associate - Human Centered Design
Media 365
01.2019 - 01.2021
Communications and Project Assistant
Media 365
03.2018 - 01.2019
Strategic Communications Intern
Media 365
10.2017 - 03.2018
Intern - Advertising Coordinator and Copy Writer
Moto Media (Ignite Africa)
01.2017 - 09.2017
Communications Intern
National Agriculture and Information Services (NAIS)
05.2016 - 12.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communication
The University of Zambia
O'Level GCE Certificate -
Matero Girls Secondary School
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