Desiree Lourens
Kruisfontein, Kruisfontein Farm Road, Redelinghuys 8105 South Africa
Mobile: 277*-***-****
Email: ****@**************.***
Professional Profile
A dynamic, innovative, versatile and creative tri-lingual professional with an extensive background that covers a wide cross-section of industries from working as an analyst and assayer in the chemical laboratory of a uranium mine to exhibiting original art in Seattle and New York. Ms. Lourens’ career reflects the life journey of an individual who has taken the unconventional road towards her end-objective. Core competencies – analytical and critical thinker, deconstruct jargon into easy-to-understand information
Education
Certificate 2016
The Bilingual Brain – University of Houston (Online)
Certificate 2015
High Impact Business Writing – University of San Diego (Online)
Certificate 2015
Introduction to Financial Trading – Financial Trading Academy (Online)
Certificate 2015
International Organisations Management – Geneva University & UN (online)
Certificate 2015
Masters TEFL/TESOL, Global Language Training www.globaltefl.uk.com
BA 1986 - 1992
Communications 1&2, English 1&2 Psychology 1&2 UNISA South Africa
Continuing Professional Development
PHP and MySQL – DATA BOOT CAMP & You Tube Tutorials : 2017 – present ( Online)
Full Stack Web Development – Shaw Academy – 2016 (Online)
Web Development – University of Michigan 2016 (Online)
HTML5 and CSS – The New Boston 2016 (Online)
International Marketing – Yonsei University 2016 (Online)
Writing in the Sciences – Stanford University 2015 (Online)
Cybersecurity – Open University 2015 (online)
Writing Screenplays – Open University 2015 (online)
Writing Fiction – Open University 2015 (Online)
Introduction to Storytelling – Open University 2015 (Online)
Data Visualisation – Queensland University of Technology 2015 (Online)
What is a Mind – University of Cape Town 2015 (online)
Learning how to Learn – University of San Diego 2015(Online)
Teaching for Learning - Match Residency Boston 2014 (0nline)
HTML Web Design – University of Washington 1997 (on campus )
Key Achievements and Awards Desiree Lourens CV cont…
Author – People Of The Sand, Vol 1: 2010 – Approved by Dept. of Education Free State as a recommended library resource for all schools of the Free State Province
People of the Sand – copy in The Royal Philatelic Society Research Library
Awarded Top Author of the Goldfields – Enthooz Lifestyle Magazine, 2010
Areas of Expertise
Business Documentation and Writing
Professional Development Planning
Researching and developing ideas
Writer – Ghost writing, Fiction and Non-fiction
Marketing and Strategy
Career Pathing
Fine Artist – Painting, Drawing, Photography
English, Italian and Afrikaans
Career Summary
Sep 2016 - present
Professional Microtargetting Services (desireelourens.com)
Chief Operating Officer and Owner, South Africa
Responsibilities
Developing products that help professionals reach their career objectives
Marketing the company and growing the client base through all internet channels and platforms
Designing the various products to fit the individual needs of clients
2006 – Apr 2016
A Book and Art
COO and Owner, South Africa
Responsibilities
Provided professional ghost writing services to various online businesses to be used on their blogs including Surewise.com and Tepilo.com
Provided professional writing services incl. personal statements, business profiles, CVs, marketing strategies consultation, proofreading, editing and other writing services
Provided Public Relations services to Cartential – online eco-friendly automotive supplies company
Researched the Goldfields area of South Africa for the book People of The Sand
Photographed, proofread, edited and authored the book People of the Sand Vol 1
Gave workshops to previously disadvantaged individuals who wanted to learn to write
Public Speaking – delivered speeches and mentored primary and high school children in the townships of the Goldfields who were still economically disadvantaged at the time
Public Speaking – various charity organisations, churches and collectives who had expressed interest in knowing about a very colourful life travelling the world and working across a variety of professions
Wrote long form articles, proofread and edited for Enthooz Lifestyle magazine
Provided input for layout and design of magazine pages
Career Summary Desiree Lourens CV cont…
1995 – Apr 2006
Zygote Zulu – Online Art Gallery, Seattle USA
Artist and Web Administrator
Responsibilities
Established the online art gallery
Designed and developed marketing strategies to raise awareness of the art and writing
Prepared monthly exhibits of work at various locations in Seattle
Completed a collective exhibition at Agora Gallery in SoHo New York 2005 – 2006
Career Summary 1982 - 1994
1994
WTN – associate producer working for Vincent Francis on the South African election
1990 –
1993
English Teacher – Rome and Milano Private and with Inlingua Language School
English as a Second Language, as a Business Language and as a Foreign Language
1989 –
1986
Studied Bachelor of Arts through Correspondence University – UNISA
Degree is as yet unfinished due to time and other constraints.
1985 –
1984
Electroplating Technician at Barry Colne Chemicals – Johannesburg South Africa
1983 –
1982
Underwent training for Chemical Analyst and Assayer – Beisa Mine, Welkom Free State South Africa
Additional Skills
Works well without supervision
Excellent organisational and time management
Autodidactic
Strong visual and communications skills
Curious, Can-do, Growth mindset
Attentive to detail
Teaching, Mentoring
Priorities-setting, problem-solving, team-player
Great design capacity
Leadership and management skills
Good Will and Volunteering Activities
Provide guidance to underprivileged children – teach English and life skills
Teach formerly disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals key life skills such as the benefits of giving up alcohol and drug related habits, micro-farming methods that yield high quality vegetables for personal consumption – eg pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes
Teach vulnerable women how to cook with nutritional needs in mind, how to sew and how to cultivate and adopt mannerisms and personae that enable a business-like approach to the world
Teach disadvantaged persons about the internet and computers