Hello, I'm Despo P.
I am an accomplished Entrepreneur, seasoned C-Suite Executive and published Author with over two decades of leadership experience across the retail, hospitality, real estate, and FMCG sectors. Known for my dynamic, people-centered management style, I have built and led multiple award-winning businesses in South Africa and Cyprus, consistently driving revenue growth, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. My expertise spans strategic planning, team leadership, logistics, HR, and governance, with a proven ability to transform underperforming operations into thriving enterprises. I have received multiple People's Choice Awards for my real estate and hospitality ventures and have been recognized for my ability to coach and mentor high-performing teams. I am fluent in English, Greek, and Afrikaans, and have basic conversational skills in Zulu and Italian, enabling me to lead in multicultural environments. As a published author, I bring creativity and clarity to communication, blending entrepreneurial vision with a strong commitment to service excellence.
Details
- Location
- Years of Relevant Experience20+ years
- Seniority LevelC-Suite
- Highest Level of EducationDiploma
Current / Most Recent Job Title
Operations Manager/Author
Current / Most Recent Employment
Retail franchise
Industry
- Education
- Retail
Specific Jurisdictions That I'm Qualified In or Can Cover
Skills
Core Skills & Expertise Operations Management Strategic Planning & Execution Revenue Growth & Budgeting Leadership & Team Development Governance & Compliance Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Customer Service Excellence Business Acumen & Forecasting Negotiation & Liaison SWOT Analysis & Business Practices Diplomacy & Stakeholder Engagement Strong Communication & Writing Skills Technical/Industry Knowledge in: Real Estate (Sales, Management, Compliance) Hospitality (Guest House & Tourism Grading Standards) FMCG Operations Retail (KPI Management, Sales Conversion) Education Sector (Fundraising & Business Management) English (Fluent) Greek (Fluent) Afrikaans (Fluent) Zulu (Basic) Italian (Basic)
Areas of Professional Interest
Writing, Publishing & Creative Expression Public Speaking & Motivational Leadership Innovation in Business Practices Coaching & Mentorship International Business Development Women in Leadership & Entrepreneurship