Mattheus Wessels

• Develop and execute the company's international HR and talent strategy in line with the overall business plan. Participate in executive team meetings, offering insights and making decisions that drive the company's growth and culture.
• First non-Korean to be promoted to an executive position in the company's history.
• Oversee international talent acquisition, retention, and succession planning. Hire and train International Team Managers at branches to oversee their teams. Ensure that the organization has a top-notch recruitment strategy to attract the best talent. Implement career development and progression paths for employees.
• Train Korean branch Directors across 7 campuses in managing International Staff.
• Supervise Employee Mobility for international hires coming to South Korea. Delegate the relocation and settlement of international hires to branch managers where the new hires are allocated.
• Spearhead training and development initiatives to upskill international employees and support their career growth. Establish leadership development programs. Implement performance review processes that are productive and goal- oriented. Develop strategies to ensure employees meet current and future performance standards.
• Develop and manage internal communication strategies to ensure transparent and effective communication across all levels of the organization. Collaborate with other departments, such as Finance and IT, to streamline operations related to payroll, benefits administration, and HR tech tools.
• Cultivate an inclusive work environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. Manage and mediate any workplace conflicts or disputes, ensuring they are resolved promptly and fairly.
• Collaborated with the IT team to develop proprietary educational management software.

• OrangeCat Global serves as an Educational Media & Entertainment company, specializing in content creation for Early Childhood Education
• Collaborate with senior leadership on global outsourcing, staffing, talent acquisition, and retention strategies
• Recruit worldwide animators for 2D and 3D projects, while establishing international outsourcing partnerships
• Lead diverse art and animation team spanning seven countries; secured talent and evaluate new additions
• Manage outsourcing budgets and monthly expense reports, including advertising and recruitment
• Proficient in Wix for website creation; managed social media; and ensured effective stakeholder communication
• Achieved project deadlines by coordinating with contractors to manage performance.
• Spearheading brand internationalization by researching cultural trends in target countries and refining English content for the OrangeCat & Friends YouTube Channel
• Developed and initiated projects, managed costs, and monitored performance.

• Steered diverse responsibilities pivotal to organizational growth. Offered key insights to executive leadership through analysis of International staffing needs across seven campuses. Influenced CEO and COO decisions by advising on team- related matters.
• Trained managers in international talent acquisition and compliance with Korean labor & immigration law. Crafted department-specific training modules for staff upskilling.
• Collaborated with the flipped learning team to pioneer innovative teaching methods. Designed programs to advance international employee growth and align team goals with the organization's mission.
• Led full-cycle recruitment of International Employees (Native English Teachers) to ensure smooth cultural integration. Streamlined onboarding processes for optimized staff experiences.
• Refined HR policies for International Teams, while upholding ethical standards. Championed holistic talent management with a focus on strategy, efficiency, and dedication. Managed compensation structures ensuring fairness and compliance, rooted in ethical principles.
• Oversaw performance appraisal systems and provided guidance to managers on performance evaluations and professional growth discussions.
• Facilitated effective communication and conflict resolution in multi-cultural settings to cultivate a cooperative work environment. Oversaw four Campus Team Managers, emphasizing operational excellence.
• Directed change management strategies and processes, facilitated communication and training during transitions, and addressed employee feedback and concerns.
• Led the initiative to enhance the company's online English presence through the creation of an English website and establishing social media accounts across multiple platforms to boost recruitment and company news dissemination

Son's English Academy (part of Son's Edu) is one of the biggest Language Institutes in Daegu, South Korea, with 7000 students attending the academy across 7 branches in Daegu. www.sonsamenglish.com

• Supervised International Staff (31 Native English Teachers) across seven campuses, liaising with branch managers for effective issue resolution.
• Managed recruitment and training of Native English Teachers, and all HR related issues related to the International Teams.
  Devised lessons and resources for TOEFL & ESL courses spanning multiple communication skills.
• Collaborated with educators and administrators to formulate educational programs, refined them based on feedback and evolving needs, and integrated innovative educational tools and methodologies.
• Delivered advanced instruction to elementary and middle school students, enhancing their critical thinking and interactive communication abilities.
• Designed and implemented emergency online academic programs during COVID-19, which continue to be utilized for specialized online classes and periodic courses.
• Coordinated outreach events or open houses alongside Korean Management to attract new enrollments.
• Established and implemented feedback mechanisms for program improvement, analyzed responses to identify success areas and areas for refinement, and executed changes based on assessments.

Sangin SonSam is a Son's English Academy branch (500 students), which is part of the Son's Edu Group.

• Supervised SCC (Sangin, Chimsan, and Chilgok) Campuses' 13 Native English Teachers; Communicated issues to branch
  managers to ensure positive outcomes for all teachers and managers.
• Planned lessons and developed materials for TOELF & ESL reading, writing, listening, and speaking classes.
• Taught Intermediate Level Communication, and Advanced level Integrated Communication classes to Elementary and Middle School level students.
• Managed and produced monthly and quarterly tests and exams to evaluate student performance and success of curriculum used; wrote monthly evaluation reports of the students’ performance in class and academic development.
• Played a vital role in increasing the student numbers from 200 to 500 by changing curriculum and program structures.

• Managed communications between NSL and key organizations including US Congressmen, Just Vision, AlJazeera, and World Bank.
• Facilitated leadership and team-building activities for Palestinian and Israeli students.
• Organized events in collaboration with NGOs, inter-faith groups, and international corporations in the DC area.
• Coordinated embassy-related events in Washington-DC.
• Leveraged task management and leadership skills to effectively execute responsibilities.

• Taught students ages 6-12: Interactive Communication
• Taught special classes for adults (local teachers and doctors) and advanced High School students.
• Assisted with English cultural events in the town (including an English Play endorsed by the former president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakasvhvili) and the development of the town's Cultural and Academic Center.

Selected from thousands of applicants as one of 13 South Africans to do an internship in the USA, whilst also partaking in leadership development courses

• Contributed to the council's mission by promoting global awareness and understanding.
• Conducted research and developed materials on International Relations for workshops targeting US Educators.
• Organized Embassy Events in D.C. in collaboration with permanent staff members.
• Conducted in-depth research on BRICS, focusing on economic growth and sustainability for the regions.
• Worked within a nonpartisan, nonprofit forum aimed at public discussions on global issues with leading foreign policy experts.

• Collaborated with Department of Education (Curriculum Studies) and Department of History.
• Developed curriculum materials, tests, and exams
  Led lectures for 300+ undergraduate students.
• Assisted Dr. Chet Fransch in research endeavors related to Gender Identity in South African History.
• Translated and edited course materials in English and Afrikaans for senior lecturers.

• Managed the Institute's academic and exchange programs.
• Handled liaison events with foreign visitors from Europe and China partner institutions.
• Planned and organized campus events
  Enhanced task management skills through successful coordination of multiple programs and events.