Sunny Rizvi

A brand strategist, senior writer, creative expert, events manager, digital content producer, and mentor/trainer with 25 years of international experience from South Asia, UAE, Africa, and North America. 

Sunny Rizvi

Director, Communications | Events | Writing | Mentoring

Tech-savvy, versatile, collaborative, and knowledgeable communications professional with a successful track record and the ability to lead people in the right direction. Experience well over 25 years across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa & Canada. Outstanding organizational and problem-solving skills. Highly collaborative with a knack for building productive relationships. Possesses verifiable leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills that help put across things with a crisp point. A remarkably successful mentor to peers and colleagues owing to exceptional people skills. A solid track record in achieving set goals at every step of the project journey to provide optimal results.

Skill Areas: Communications Strategy – Concept to Execution. Brand Management/Development. Monitoring Markets & Trends. Copywriting & Creative Direction. Events Management. Working with government institutions. Executive Coaching/Team Mentoring. Media Planning/Buying. Social Media Strategy. Corporate Communications. Internal Communications. Social Media Marketing/Analytics. Crisis Communications. Multi-Lingual. Public Relations. Monitoring KPIs. Public Speaking. MS Office, Google, Adobe. HubSpot (CRM). Zoom

Top clients serviced: Western Union (Dubai & Canada). Barclays Bank. Ria Financial Services. Unilever. Novotel Hotels. Bose Acoustics. BRAND Energy, USA. ALUMA Construction Services. LG.Electronics. Emirates Tourism

   Professional Experience

SPAN Communications Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (2006)

Director, Brand Communications, Business Development, Creative (Copy) & Content Production

A senior member of this Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations Consultancy based in Mississauga, Canada, with associate offices in Vancouver, BC. This is a full-service communications outfit designed specifically to communicate with the growing South Asian, Arab, African & Filipino markets in Canada. 

Key Accomplishments:

• Set down SOP/operational systems for the startup. 
• Recruited & mentored a team of 2 social media strategists, 2 web designers, an art director, a media & OOH manager, an event & P.R. manager, graphic designers, full-time writers (English + in-country), and translators. 
• Established in-house audio & video Content production facilities to build a separate revenue stream. First year’s turnover: $175K. 2nd year: $203K.
• White labeling Services: Created opportunities for revenue generation by providing strategic & creative services to established mainstream marketing agencies in service of their multicultural & mainstream clients.
• Won 2 major clients in the first year of the company's operation for a combined value of $1.6 Million.
• Added 3 additional clients in the 2nd year of the company’s operation to cross the $4.5 million mark.
• Pitched for US-based businesses wishing to market their products & services globally. Was appointed AOR for one of the top 2 U.S. construction service providers. 1st-year budget: USD 330K. The relationship has matured through the years, and the company more than quadrupled its communications budget with SCI between 2007 and 2019.
• 2006-7: My team was one of the first in Canada to use an emerging new concept – Facebook – as a viable media tool for a leading financial services company. This also happened to be the 1st integrated media campaign in the industry. This groundbreaking effort was replicated by the client in 3 other global markets. 
• Led an active debate (through newspapers, community groups, and blogs) on the weakness/insufficiency of ‘ethnic’ media in Canada. The objective was to motivate discussion and subsequently spearhead new ideas. 

Starford International Inc, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (2004 – 2006)

Manager, Marketing Communications, Creative, Sales & CRM

• Led the launch of a new multicultural version of 'Yellow Pages.' Defined strategy and developed, executed and managed an integrated advertising & promotions initiative to penetrate and grow within targeted markets. 
• Introduced this new concept to stakeholders within the Ontario Provincial Government - invited direct participation to gain traction within the public sector.
• Communicated with customers, management, internal departments, and vendors to coordinate overall marketing efforts; Planned and carried out informal quarterly market research and analysis.
• Led and directed a forward-thinking communications team; Built & sustained liaison with the media; Supervised the design and copy departments of the company. 
• Key Accomplishments:
• Set down systems within this new division; designed it to run as a separate profit center; took charge of all management and marketing budgets; set down monthly and quarterly KPIs, etc. 
• Wrote and designed an on-onboarding manual for new hires; Hired & trained a fifteen (15) strong Sales Team to establish a first-time product revenue of $ 328,000 within four months by launching an aggressive marketing campaign; crossed the $1.3 Mil mark at the end of the first 12 months. 
• Handled three (3) direct and one (1) indirect monthly reports. 
• Organized Launch Event; Coordinated total media coverage; Appeared 'live' on T.V. Channels to introduce the concept to the mainstream market.
• Brought dedicated federal & provincial governmental support, viz., Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, Office of the Ontario Premier, and other public service organizations like Settlement Dot Org (United Way), etc., on board; linked web platforms and organized three separate events in collaboration with PSOs for SMEs in the GTA region. 
• For the second (2nd) issue of the publication, designed add-ons to the product for enhanced acceptability within specific interest groups; Exceeded the business goal of 25% incremental revenue for the second issue by more than 15%. I was awarded a specially created 'Performance beyond Expectations' Citation by the Board of Directors.

Prior Employment Details

→ Multi Dimensions Advtg. & Marketing, UAE & East Africa                                                              

Academic Credentials

→ Master of Arts Degree, History | Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, INDIA.

→ B.A. (Hons.) Degree, Social Sciences | Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, INDIA. Awarded the President of India Gold Medal for topping the batch (Hons. Category) 

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Master's degree in History and a B.A. Hons. degree in English.