1. 1
CURRICULUM VITAE
Mrs Karen van Zyl
APPLICATION DETAILS:
Position Wanted:
Early Childhood Development Consultant/Corporate Social
Investment Consultant/Social Worker
Years’ Experience: 22
Career Level: Managerial
Transport: Own
Notice Period: 1 Months’ Notice
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE RELEVANT TO POSITION APPLYING FOR:
- Consults to a variety of publications. Operating a private practice since 2005.
- Infant massage
- Dunstan Baby Language
- Love Languages for Children
- Little steps level 1 workshop on low-tech, high-impact care and preterm baby feeding
– April 2008
- QuickBooks – comprehensive training course – February 2010
- Individual play therapy
- Family therapy & dynamics profiles
- Baby centric routines, feeding & sleeping
- Behaviour & discipline assessments
- Age appropriate sexual education for children & parents
- Foetal development & pre-birth stimulation & bonding
- Pregnancy & birth
- Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT)/filial therapy
- Infant feeding
- Reflux
- Colic
- Infant & childhood sleeping problems
- Sensory load in the womb
- Baby’s sensory environment and the theory of the 4th trimester
- Early childhood development & stimulation
- Learning through play
- Whole brain development & integration in infants and children
- Training in touch and massage of the premature- and full term infant.
- Presentation of various lectures, talks, workshops and seminars on above subjects to
corporate companies like Netcare, Pfizer, Paediatric Management Group, groups and
organizations.
- Writes scientific- and popular articles on various topics.
- Various TV & Radio appearances
- Resident Play Therapist and Consultant for St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, Pre-
School since 2012, as well as St Dunstan's College Pre-School.
- Presentations on behalf of Pfizer Nutrition during the Allegra Academy Road show
(February 2012) in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.
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- Keynote Speaker at Paediatric Management Group Annual Conference, March 2012.
Clarens. Sponsored by Pfizer Nutrition.
- Expert consultant to Pfizer Nutrition from April 2012 – May 2013.
- Presented a Round Table Series on Infants and Feeding Problems for Pfizer Nutrition
during May 2013
- Regular speaker at various forums on babies and sleeping.
- Guess Speaker and Consultant at Kloof MediClinic Postnatal Clinic since 2010.
- Speaker at Netcare Paediatric Forum, 14 November 2013. Infants and Feeding
Problems.
- Consultant & Guest Speaker for Me, Mom & Dad – Greenstone since October 2013.
- Mama Magic Your Baby Show - May 2012 - Expert Consultant on Pfizer Nutrition
stand
- Chairperson of the Early Childhood Development & Research Committee at Cotlands
– 2008-2010
Member of the Cotlands Board 2008-2010
- Member of the South African Neonate, Infant & Toddler Support Association
(SANITSA) 2009
- Childbirth Educators Professional Forum 2009 – currently
- Advisory Board Member on the Pfizer S26 Board for 2012.
- Professional Consultant for Pfizer Nutrition 2012.
- Professional Consultant for Cotlands 2012, 2013,2014
- CSI strategy development
- CSI strategy implementation
- CSI project selection
- CSI programme & project measurement & evaluation
- CSI reporting
- BBBEE Business Optimization for NPO sector
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CAREER OBJECTIVES:
I am ready for a new challenge!
I am committed, creative, and professional. I am passionate about making a lasting difference
and leaving a legacy. I am comfortable working in a challenging environment.
I am looking for an opportunity with an established and reputable organisation that would
offer me an opportunity not only to utilize my current knowledge, skills and experience, but
also afford me an opportunity to gain more experience and be awarded for achievements
and grow within the organisation.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES / ACHIEVEMENTS:
- My peers regard me as a renowned early childhood development expert. I regularly
appeared on E-TV’s great expectations show as an expert guest.
- I also consult to a variety of publications, have appeared on Top Billing in 2010 and
was nominated as a finalist in Talk Radio 702’s small business of the year in 2010.
- I have been operating my private practice since 2005; the Pikanini Brand has become
a recognized and trusted brand that promises expert, professional advice and services
in the pre-conception and early childhood development field.
- I believe in a multi-professional & holistic approach and combines years of experience
and knowledge gained in the fields of social work, play therapy, early childhood
development and neonatal- and infant care.
I have contributed to many well-known and popular magazines and papers and is regularly
featured in:
- Living & Loving
- Baba & Kleuter
- Mamas & Papas
- Your Baby
- Family Survival Guide
- Huisgenoot/You
Some of the articles are the following:
- The Healing Power of Infant Massage. Living & Loving. November 2010.
- Baby Massage. Mamas & Papas. August 2010.
- Interpreting your baby’s cries. Mamas & Papas. May 2010.
- Do babies need alone time? Living & Loving. December 2011.
- Ma, ek is mal oor myself! Baba & Kleuter. Julie 2012.
- Playtime takes away the pain. You. 2 August 2012.
- Speel-Speel word die eina beter. Huisgenoot. 2 Augustus 2012.
- Baba se taal – Baba & Kleuter, Februarie 2013, Bl. 50.
- Wyeth “Why Kids” Journal (Volume 1, no 4, November 2008) with the title: Child
Abuse and Bonding
- Pikanini Baby Massage DVD – launched in 2011
- Appears on various TV shows as an expert in the field of early childhood
development.
- e TV- Great Expectations (Various programmes from 2008- currently)
- SABC 2 – Top Billing with Riaan & Michelle Garforth-Venter. (2010)
- KykNet – Ontbytsake (2010)
- Popular Baby & Toddler Shows
- Living & Loving Show 2010– Expert Workshops throughout the duration of the show
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- Your Baby Show – November 2011 – Expert on Infant Massage doing presentations in
the Woodwards Lounge.
- Mama Magic Your Baby Show – May 2012 – Expert Workshops on Picky Eating
Behaviour in the Woodwards Lounge.
- Mama Magic Your Baby Show – August 2012 – Expert Workshops on Picky Eating
Behaviour in the Expert Lounge.
- Mama Magic Your Baby Show – November 2012 – Expert Workshops on Picky Eating
Behaviour in the Expert Lounge and Expert Consultant on Pfizer Nutrition stand.
- Mama Magic Your Baby Show - May 2012 - Expert Consultant on Pfizer Nutrition
stand.
Awards
- Finalist in Talk Radio 702’s Small Business of the Year 2010
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EDUCATION, TRAINING & COMPUTER LITERACY:
Secondary
Qualification:
Matric
School: Hoërskool Birchleigh
City/Town: Kempton Park
Year: 1988
Tertiary
Qualification1:
BA Social Work
Institution: University of Pretoria
City/Town: Pretoria
Year: 1992
Tertiary
Qualification2:
MA Social Work (Play Therapy)
Institution: University of Pretoria
City/Town: Pretoria
Year: 1997
Computer Literacy:
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- MS Power Point
- Quick Books Accounting Package
Courses attended:
- NRF Leadership Development Programme – Gordon Institute of Business Science
- Infant Massage
- Dunstan Baby Language
- Sign Language for hearing babies
- BabyGym
- Love Languages for Children
- Little Steps Level 1 Workshop on Low-Tech, High-Impact Care and Preterm Baby
Feeding
- QuickBooks
- Solutions for infant regurgitation
- Early Protein, growth patterns and impact on long-term health
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EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Employer1: Cotlands (Consultant)
City/Town: Johannesburg
Date: August 2014 - present
Position: Business Development Manager & CSI consultant
Monthly Salary: R25 000
Duties:
- Build and manage lead development pipeline
- Conduct baseline research within targeted accounts to identify key contacts and critical
account information prior to prospecting call
- Develop superior customer service relationships with prospects
- Proactively communicate Cotlands ’product and industry knowledge to prospects and
investors
- Determine where Cotlands should be investing energies to develop more professional
contacts and potential investors.
- Expand into new demographics
- Attend conferences and trade shows to reach potential donors
- Work with leads to determine the match, what they need, the value and how they can be
accommodated
- Build relationships through marketing activities – events, campaigns, direct mail, email etc.
- Effectively and persuasively target the value proposition of Cotlands products and services
to prospective investors
- Communicate Cotlands services in a clear and compelling way that drives interest and
results
- End to end consulting process with stakeholders and partners around CSI strategy,
implementation, project selection as well as programme measurement and evaluation.
- CSI reporting.
- BBBEE Business Optimization
- Responsible for the day-to-day operations of portfolio in partnership with, and in support
of, the CEO and Sales & Marketing Manager.
- Serve as a strategic thought partner, business manager and trusted advisor to CEO and Sales
& Marketing Manager in: (i) developing and executing the Business Development strategy
and business plan and ensuring ongoing alignment with Cotlands’ strategy, business plan and
budget, (ii) refining and implementing Business Development policies, practices and
protocols, (iii) structuring and writing key proposals for national and international
opportunities and (iv) generally, serving as an ambassador for Cotlands’ Business
Development activities.
- Direct business development operations and administration, including oversight of the
Business Development inquiry and campaign pipeline. .
- Prepare written concept notes and proposals for Business Development campaigns with
clients and prospects and ensure they move through to completion.
- Initiate and manage communications, coordination and integration with sales team as they
explore new business opportunities and move them through the Business Development
process.
- Develop and implement innovative strategies and action plans in collaboration with other
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business units.
- Manage client and prospect relationships, with a select number of direct relationship
management responsibilities.
- Represent Cotlands on expert panels and at national and international conferences.
- Prepare and deliver presentations, workshops and webinars.
- Write blogs, articles and topical white papers.
- Perform other duties as needed.
Employer 2: Reliable Transformers (Part Time Consultant)
City/Town: Benoni
Date: May 2014 – July 2014
Position: Marketing & Communications Liaison
Monthly Salary: R10 000
Duties:
- Confer with production or support personnel to produce or coordinate production of
advertisements or promotions
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to
provide advice on business decisions
- Plan or direct development or communication of informational programmes to
maintain favourable public or stockholder perceptions of the company’s
accomplishments or agenda
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community,
consumer, employee, or public interest groups
- Consult with advertising agencies or staff to arrange promotional campaigns in all
types of media.
- Study the objectives, promotional policies, or needs of the company to develop public
relations strategies that will influence public opinion or promote ideas, products, or
services
- Prepare and edit company publications for internal and external audiences, including
employee newsletters and stockholders' reports
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate
spokesperson or information source
- Coach staff in effective communication with the public or with employees
- Arrange public appearances, lectures, or exhibits to increase product or service
awareness or to promote goodwill
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Employer 3: Self-employed - Pikanini Early Childhood Development
City/Town: Kempton Park
Date: July 2005 to February 2014
Position: Owner/Consultant
Monthly Salary: R30000
Duties:
- Individual play therapy
- Family therapy & dynamics profiles
- Consulting on baby centric routines, feeding & sleeping
- Developing and teaching childbirth education course
- Developing and presenting play & learn child stimulation workshops
- Developing and presenting infant massage workshops
- Developing and presenting nanny training workshops
- Training of instructors to present developed workshops
- Develop and produce a baby massage DVD
- Behaviour & discipline assessments
- Age appropriate sexual education for children & parents
- Consulting on foetal development & pre-birth stimulation & bonding
- Consulting and teaching on pregnancy & birth
- Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT)/filial therapy
- Consulting & teaching on infant feeding
- Consulting & teaching on reflux in infancy
- Consulting & teaching on colic
- Consulting & teaching on infant & childhood sleeping problems
- Consulting & teaching on sensory load in the womb
- Consulting & teaching on baby’s sensory environment and the theory of the 4th
trimester
- Consulting & teaching on early childhood development & stimulation
- Consulting & teaching on learning through play
- Consulting & teaching on whole brain development & integration in infants and
children
- Presentation of various lectures, talks, workshops and seminars on above subjects to
corporate companies like Netcare, Pfizer, groups and organizations.
- Writing of scientific- and popular articles on various topics.
- Various TV appearances
- Resident play therapist and consultant for St Dominic’s Catholic School for girls, pre-
school as well as St Dunstan's College since 2012
- Cash flows
- Invoicing
- Budgets and forecasts
- Manage online shop
Reason for leaving: Selling the business
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Employer 4: Cotlands
City/Town: Johannesburg
Date: January 2003 to September 2005
Position: Child Therapist & Volunteer Coordinator
Monthly Salary: R7000
Duties:
- Design & implementation of treatment programmes for each child
- Play therapy
- Research into alternative therapy programme
- Research & implementation of a stimulation programme for each age group
- Manage and develop the national volunteer programme
- Design and implementation of the international volunteer programme
- Consultation on fundraising project for Ozcots in Australia
Reason for leaving: Pregnancy
Employer 5: National Research Foundation
City/Town: Pretoria
Date: September 1998 to October 2002
Position: Manager Thuthuka Programme
Monthly Salary: R15000
Duties:
- Development & implementation of the Thuthuka programme to support and promote
research and human capital development through funding , the provision of national
research facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader
communities in all fields of science and technology, including natural science,
engineering, social sciences and humanities
- Strategic planning: conceptualising, enabling best practises
- Operational planning: conceptualising, enabling best practises
- Human capacity development: ensure best practises for training on competency
based models
- Compliance: full compliance, better BBBEE rating
- Management: responsible for corporate Thuthuka office and indirectly responsible for
all Thuthuka grant functions and grant holder projects
- Quality assurance: envision and apply best practise standards
- Enterprise-wide support on complex matters: support at all levels where appropriate
Reason for leaving: Relocated to east rand
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Employer 6: Louis Botha Children’s Home
City/Town: Pretoria
Date: March 1997 to July 1998
Position: Child Therapist
Monthly Salary: R6000
Duties:
- Play therapy
- Alternative therapy implementation
- Design and implementation of therapy programmes
- General social work duties
Reason for leaving: Career growth
Employer 7: Christian Social Services
City/Town: Germiston
Date: April 1993 to January 1997
Position: Social Worker
Monthly Salary: R3000
Duties:
- Counsel or aid families
- Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse,
medication, or available community resources
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other
professionals to evaluate families
- Collaborate with counsellors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment,
drawing on social work experience and patient needs
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals
- Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance
abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse
- Children's court proceedings
- Writing of children's court reports
Reason for leaving: Relocated
PERSONAL DETAILS:
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Christian Names: Karen
Surname: van Zyl
Birth Date: 18-10-1970
Age: 44
Gender: Female
Nationality: South African
Employment equity: White
Marital Status: Married
Number of
Dependants:
1
Health: Excellent
Smoking: No
Disabled: No
Residential City/Town: Kempton Park
Email Address: karen@pikanini.co.za
Cell Phone: 0827019767
Languages: Afrikaans
English
CONTACTABLE REFERENCES:
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Name: Dr Prins Nevhutalu
Company: Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Position: Vice Chancellor
Tel: 0214603353
Email: nevhutalup@cput.ac.za
Name: Adri van der Walt
Company: Adrinalin Concept
Position: Owner
Tel: 0829294105
Email: adri@adrinalinconcept.co.za
Name: Jackie Schoeman
Company: Cotlands
Position: Executive Director
Tel: 0116837200
Email: jackie@cotlands.org
Name: Una van Staden
Company: Urban Baby
Position: Owner
Tel: 0824568566
Email: info@tummy-tub.co.za
Name:
Company:
Position:
Tel:
Email:
Neil Bekker
Reliable Transformers
Chief Operations Officer
0114212333
neil@reltrans.co.za
Name:
Position:
Company:
Tel:
Email
Dr Hannie Schoeman
Director
Centre for Play Therapy and Training. Previously at University of
Pretoria
0283880348
playtherapy@worldonline.co.za
Name:
Position:
Company:
Tel:
Email
Ms Gerna van Rooyen
Manager: Sales & Marketing
Cotlands
081 067 9675
gerna@cotlands.org
