STRATEGY & OPERATIONS
Awamaki
Director of Operations & Programmes
Peru, 2012-2014
Synopsis
Awamaki is a non-profit social enterprise based in Ollantaytambo, located about two hours drive from Cusco, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. Working with women's cooperatives in traditional backstrap loom weaving and knitting, they provide skills-based training and access to market.
I joined Awamaki at a pivotal point, re-focussing the organisation and its goals in order to take it from a project-based non-profit to a social enterprise with income-generating programmes. I led a team of 12 international staff, and put in place systems and processes for recruiting, hiring, on-boarding. I managed the financial forecasting and weekly / monthly audit, and established methodologies for impact measurement. I led the annual strategic planning and review.
I was the Director of Operations and Programs for nearly three years between 2012 and 2014, and I am currently serving as the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.
“I worked directly under Laura at Awamaki. Not only does Laura have the administrative abilities to keep the NGO organized but her interpersonal skills also kept morale exceptionally high. Laura was always the first (and most appropriate) person that I would come to with problems. She is an excellent listener, a firm leader, and the ideal addition to any management team I might build in the future.”
“Laura’s ability to manage multiple tasks and people at the same time is impeccable. She is very motivated and extremely task-oriented. Throughout our time at Awamaki together, Laura has dramatically improved many of the organization’s internal systems. As my manager, she has provided me with superior guidance, and has given me thoughtful and extremely timely support throughout all of my projects.
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