Zarlasht Jafar
Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work history
Project Manager, Transformation
Global University Systems
London, United Kingdom
05.2023 - Current
- Core member of the Transformation Office, driving delivery of the Efficiency Optimisation Programme, initially targeting £40 million in annual savings across the group’s largest institutions
- Appointed to lead the expansion of the programme into additional institutions, increasing the target to £100 million, and entrusted with direct 1:1 engagement with senior stakeholders including institutional CEOs and CFOs
- Strengthened stakeholder relationships through regular updates and clear communication.
- Developed comprehensive project plans for successful execution and delivery.
- Implemented quality control measures, ensured adherence to standards.
- McKinsey Wave superuser, responsible for creating custom dashboards, designing and refining metrics, and collaborating with McKinsey consultants to manage programme data and performance tracking
- Supported the development and rollout of the Common Operating Model (COM) across GUS institutions — contributing from design through to execution, including building operational manuals and visual frameworks to support adoption
- Responsible for fortnightly reporting, including preparing SteerCo packs viewed by the Group CEO, with a focus on data accuracy, programme tracking, and actionable insights
- Designed and launched a groupwide CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) survey, positioning the Transformation Office as the internal consultancy for cross-group improvement initiatives
- Frequently selected by the Group CEO to create and present slide decks for high-profile strategic initiatives recognised for clear communication and impactful visual storytelling
- Represented GUS in senior external stakeholder engagements, including partnership meetings with Idris Elba and his team in the UAE, collaborating with entities such as ADIO and twofour54 Studios
Head of Operations & Strategy
ZERO Makeup
Dubai, UAE
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Acted as second-in-command to CEO, overseeing operations, finance, and company-wide strategy
- Co-led fundraising efforts, pitching to VCs and family offices, leveraging financial expertise to craft investor materials
- Implemented Monday.com to improve project tracking and operational visibility
- Delivered performance reports and investor updates
- Led weekly leadership meetings to align teams across sales, operations, and customer experience
- Identified and addressed operational inefficiencies to enhance overall business performance
Head of Communications and Business Development
ZERO Makeup
Dubai, UAE
12.2020 - 06.2021
- Led marketing team and revamped brand’s social media presence to foster community and strengthen brand identity
- Created and scaled an Affiliate Programme driving 20% of total sales
- Analysed web and social data to optimise paid and organic ROI
- Managed vendor relationships to support growth and operational efficiency
Communications Associate
ZERO Makeup
Dubai, UAE
07.2020 - 12.2020
- Worked closely with existing team to communicate with existing customer base and external stakeholders
- Engaged with operations and product development teams to optimize media strategy
- Took complete ownership of social media marketing tools
Private Equity Summer Analyst
Gateway Partners
Dubai, UAE
07.2019 - 09.2019
- Conducted industry research to understand new markets
- Analysed firm investments leveraging tools including Bloomberg terminal
- Supported investment procedures from start to end of process, including; due diligence, reviewing contracts, pitch decks, and financial forecasting
Education
BSc - Management
School of Oriental And African Studies, SOAS, University of London
LondonPRINCE2 Certification
Masters - Entrepreneurship
University of Cambridge
Cambridge 04.2001 -
Skills
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Business development and correspondence
- Customer service
- Fundraising
- Project deadline management
Timeline
Project Manager, Transformation
Global University Systems
05.2023 - Current
Head of Operations & Strategy
ZERO Makeup
01.2021 - 01.2023
Head of Communications and Business Development
ZERO Makeup
12.2020 - 06.2021
Communications Associate
ZERO Makeup
07.2020 - 12.2020
Private Equity Summer Analyst
Gateway Partners
07.2019 - 09.2019
Masters - Entrepreneurship
University of Cambridge
04.2001 -
BSc - Management
School of Oriental And African Studies, SOAS, University of London
PRINCE2 Certification
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