Patience Manyau

Senior Executive Assistant and Operations professional with 12+ years of experience providing high-level support to C-suite and senior leadership across fast-paced, international organisations. PMP and PRINCE2 certified. Known for anticipating needs before they arise, taking full ownership of complex calendars, travel logistics, vendor coordination, and administrative operations without requiring direction.

Proven track record managing confidential information with discretion, streamlining workflows that reduced administrative overhead by 20%, and building strong cross-functional relationships that keep leadership focused and organisations running efficiently. Equally comfortable supporting a single executive or managing operations across a multi-stakeholder environment.

Independent Contractor – Executive Operations (Office of the CEO & CTO) - mDoc Healthcare - South Africa (Remote)

(2025-12 - 2026-05)

• Coordinated executive-level project update meetings, consolidating cross-functional team progress reports and ensuring clear visibility of milestones, risks, and action items for the Co-Founder.
• Tracked follow-ups and key deliverables across departments, improving accountability and alignment between leadership and operational teams.
• Partnered closely with HR and Finance to support end-to-end recruitment coordination, interview scheduling, stakeholder communication, onboarding logistics, and expense tracking, ensuring timely hiring processes and accurate budget monitoring in line with internal controls.
• Acted as a liaison between leadership and cross-functional teams, streamlining communication and providing high-level executive support to optimise priorities, enable efficient execution of strategic initiatives, and drive organisational growth and operational performance.
• Facilitated cross-departmental collaboration to improve governance processes, resulting in enhanced stakeholder satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Associate Project Manager - Institute for Healthcare Improvement - Cambridge, MA, USA (Remote)

(2019-05 - 2025-12)

• Managed faculty contracts and invoices to ensure budget adherence for Project Aisha (Nigeria – Maternal & Child Health); developed and maintained an Excel-based performance dashboard to track Quality Improvement capability deliverables across Lagos and Kaduna facilities, monitored program budget in NetSuite, coordinated logistics via Concur, and co-developed Training of Trainers (ToT) materials to support scale-up during the Implementation Phase.
• Managed end-to-end faculty and staff logistics for the 5Rs to Rescue multi-country initiative, coordinating with vendors and travel agents to ensure deliverables were delivered on time and within budget; supported the Senior Project Manager in implementing a Smartsheet-based project management framework, and maintained workplan tracking to improve timeline visibility and reduce delivery delays across country teams.
• Supported business development and partnership initiatives by managing pipelines, tracking data and budgets in NetSuite and Adaptive Insights, and coordinating follow-ups, contributing to a 25% growth in funding and collaboration opportunities.
• Optimised procurement, expense, and travel workflows using Concur, reducing purchasing cycle times by 30%.
• Developed and executed a strategic communication plan, improving stakeholder engagement and project alignment, resulting in a 25% reduction in project delays within three months.
• Monitored project progress and mitigated risks, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with goals by leveraging Smartsheet and Salesforce within 6 months.
• Facilitated quality management improvements by designing and deploying new templates, enhancing project alignment and reducing documentation errors within six months.
• Co-developed and launched a monthly IHI Europe Alliance newsletter via Canva, increasing webinar attendance by 25%; managed in-person meeting logistics and negotiated with vendors to reduce venue costs.

Executive Assistant & Project Coordinator - Institute for Healthcare Improvement - Cambridge, MA, USA (Remote)

(2017-06 - 2019-05)

• Ensured on-time, within-budget delivery of training sessions for the Gates Foundation-funded South Africa TB Initiative by coordinating venue and catering procurement with vendors and the National Department of Health; oversaw preparation and printing of training materials and produced participant certificates and post-session reports following Learning Sessions and Quality Improvement Capability training.
• Led end-to-end procurement for 15 recurring IHI Quality Leadership Method and Learning & Facilitating QI Workshops across South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, and Ethiopia; sourced and negotiated with venue and service vendors across all four countries to secure compliant, cost-effective facilities for 500+ cumulative participants, managing the full procurement cycle from vendor identification and bid evaluation through contracting and post-event reconciliation.
• Delivered senior-level executive and operational support to the Executive Director (Africa Region) and faculty members, optimising complex calendar management, streamlining meeting prioritisation, and coordinating cross-border engagements.
• Supported leadership with accurate preparation of reports, correspondence, presentations, and business documentation, ensuring quality, consistency, and adherence to professional standards.
• Processed travel expenses and reimbursements for the executive team, achieving a 25% reduction in processing time by leveraging Concur and collaborating with accounts payable.
• Led the planning and execution of 10+ conferences and monthly cross-functional meetings annually, overseeing logistics, vendor coordination, communications, and virtual tech support for capability-building training.
• Developed a centralised documentation system using Dropbox, improving access to project files and enhancing team collaboration within 3 months.

Executive Assistant - Institute for Healthcare Improvement - Boston, MA, USA (Hybrid)

(2013-05 - 2017-06)

• Coordinated travel arrangements for executives, achieving a 20% reduction in travel costs by negotiating with vendors and optimising itineraries.
• Streamlined the meeting scheduling process, achieving a 25% reduction in conflicts within 3 months through effective communication strategies and attention to detail.
• Maintained confidentiality while managing sensitive information, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and building stakeholder trust.
• Coordinated events for staff members, promoting team-building activities and boosting morale within the workplace.

Personal Assistant to CEO - National Power - Meyerton, South Africa

(2010-01 - 2012-11)

• Optimised executive scheduling and travel logistics, reducing conflicts by 30% within 3 months through strategic calendar management and vendor negotiations.
• Created and organised executive reports and presentations, improving clarity and impact of communication for the CEO.
• Implemented a systematic process for managing incoming and outgoing correspondence, improving communication flow and cross-department collaboration.

Diploma - Office Administration - Mutare Polytechnic College (2007-03)

Diploma - Project Management - Academy of York (2017-03)

Bachelor of Law (LLB) - Law - University of Pretoria (2008-12)