Victoria Watkins

I have over 20 years of experience in operations, project management, events, partnerships & people management across multiple regions.  I am a strategic thinker confident liaising with all key stakeholders in any project.  This enables me to enter any company at a senior level and quickly influence change and become an integral part of any team.

 I am a firm believer in improvement, not for the sake of it, but in automating systems and creating the best possible infrastructure for efficiency and success.  Having experience over multiple markets in SEA, as well as, the UK I understand the importance of cohesion in systems and frameworks; and the need for adaptability to individual market standards.

I have a proven track-record of delivering projects, on time and within budget; whilst creating future scalability for growth. 

Skilled at building and developing effective and culturally diverse teams, my approachable, yet firm and confident personality as a project leader, or support function allows me to identify opportunities to increase workflow efficiencies, while supporting co-workers in multiple markets, acting as a touchpoint both internally and with external partners – all with clear trackable business metrics.

What I Do

Leadership

Leadership

Using a firm yet approachable leadership style to manage cross market teams, emphasing communication, individual responsibility, skill development and clear communication with all stakeholders to deliver exceptional projects with exacting standards.

Operations

Operations

Skilled at building and implementing frameworks; over multiple markets to enhance operational efficiencies, internally and in conjunction with external suppliers and stakeholders. All frameworks are data driven ensuring trackable metrics at every project stage; from lead generation, critical path management and final execution within budget.

Human Resources

Human Resources

I have extensive experience implementing HR policies and procedures maintaining company ethos and values which can be rolled out and adapted to multiple markets, incorporating differentials in legal requirements and cultural nuances. Adept at onboarding and exit strategies; the key element is the ability to asses and work with team leaders to increase skill development and ensure each team member is in the best position for themselves and the company.

Events

Events

Experience in both corporate and B to C events ranging from London Fashion Week and Pitti Uomo in the UK and Europe as well as sales, shopping and brand awareness events. This includes but, not limited to, ideation, forecasting & budgets, price modeling, supplier sourcing & negotiation, team allocation, critical path management with a fully fledged plan B always in place.

Testimonials

Resume

20 Years of Experience

Experience

Aug 2018 - Dec 2023
TALA by Tala Alamuddin

Operations Director

A luxury boutique handbag and accessories brand. As a grass roots start-up this role was all-encompassing from daily operations, finance, events, web development, sourcing & production.
• Negotiated TALA’s expansion into its first brick & mortar consignment in Europe launching Q1 2024
• Successful launch of TALA’s first brick & mortar in store consignment Design Orchard in Singapore July 2023
• Successfully launched totallytala.com in March 2020
• Successful Event planning including but not limited to Boutiques Fair, Private & Multi Brand private events in Singapore, LFW @Blake’s Hotel 2019, Private one day UK event with revenue of 50K SGD
• Re-modelled consumer price points with a minimum decrease of 20% while maintaining margin, renegotiation of all vendors without compromising quality
• Implementation & optimisation of daily operations
• Hosting of online live sales events via social media, organising photoshoots, as well as, panel participation as the brand representative.

Mar 2017 - Jul 2019
The Parent Inc (Tickled Media)

Head of New Markets & Regional Business Operations, ASEAN

Asia’s #1 largest digital community of parents through website and app, theAsianparent.com.
• Successful launch of new markets for signature brand theAsianparent, launching in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan ahead of plan and within budget
• Pre-launch market due diligence, project management, and recruitment of full-time and freelancers by market
• Managing tech for asset new site deployment and testing
• Liaising with the content division to select, produce and translate locally relevant content
• Additionally promoted to Regional HR & Business Operations (covering all of ASEAN); successfully created & initiated regional policies throughout the group
• Additionally promoted to Head of B to C events: overseeing all markets established and emerging
• Subsequently, relocated to Bangkok to extend this framework, evaluate operational and cost efficiencies resulting in an operational cost decrease of 15% while respecting local marketing nuances.

Dec 2014 - Dec 2016
Tanderra

Operations Director

Private Family Members Club in Singapore
• Recruited prior to club opening as the first senior management hire
• Developed all operations and HR policies, recruited, and ran the membership and operations teams
• Established and refined the infrastructure pre- and-early launch phases, implementing a framework to ensure maximum efficiency as the company grew its membership base and personnel
• Successfully executed soft launch and grand opening establishing excellent relationships between staff and members; critical to ensure membership satisfaction and growth
• Ran club and private events for members and the public
• Oversaw implementation of membership booking and POS systems
• Executed monthly billing and accounts in conjunction with the accounting consultant
• Price modeling for all membership and class packages.

Jul 2014 - Nov 2014
American Association of Singapore

Events Manager

The leading non-profit organization that celebrates American culture in Singapore.
Arrived in Singapore as trailing spouse and quickly joined a short contract position with the AAS to develop, research and execute original ideas for AAS events including entertainment, equipment, supplies, licence procurement, budgets, marketing, publicity, registration, and ticket sales.

Apr 2006 - Sept 2012
Hackett London

Design Manager

British traditionally inspired luxury menswear brand.
Reported directly to the Creative Director as the primary contact for the design department internally and externally. Managed all design related sectors including HR, events such as London Fashion Week, Pitti Uomo, Photoshoots, as well as sampling & production, product development (internal & external), and budgeting & forecasting.

Jun 2000 - April 2006
Various

Early Career Roles

Toronto: Accounts Assistant Goodmans
Research Assistant Sunnybrook Hospital
London: TV Choice
Assistant, CIPD Publishing Co-ordinator
Laura Ashley Visual Merchandising Executive

Education

Sept 1996 - Jun 2000
McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Bachelor of Arts

Major: English & Cultural Studies Minor: Religious Studies

Skills

Recruitment, Talent Development & Staff Wellness

100%

Systems and Framework Creation & Implementation

100%

Systems Scaling & Adjustment for Local Markets

100%

Budgets & Forecasting

100%

Sourcing

100%

Supplier Management & Negotiation

100%

OPEX Market Audits & Refinements

100%

Sustainable & Repurposing Sourcing & Initiatives

100%

End to End Market & Project Management from market analysis though to launch

100%

Events Planning & Management including presenting, online sales and panels

100%
Download my full CV

Contact

Get in Touch

How May I Help?

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp