Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
References
Timeline
Generic

Dejan Nakic

Sydney

Summary

Throughout my 13-year career at ESM, I’ve consistently demonstrated a drive for growth and leadership, by identifying business needs and proposing solutions. I successfully carved out four unique positions for myself, evolving from an Independent Contractor into a Business Development Manager and eventually Operations Manager with the focus of expanding and developing the office around me.

As a sales leader, I’ve built and led teams that achieved the #1 national ranking multiple times, with a strong track record of promoting internal talent. Many of the individuals I’ve coached started with no sales experience and have since advanced into senior roles within or outside the organisation. My approach centers on building high-performing, supportive environments where people are cared for, challenged, and retained. This balance of empathy and accountability has led to strong team loyalty, outstanding retention, and sustained top-tier performance.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Operations/Sales Manager

ESM Sydney
Sydney
09.2019 - Current
  • Designed and led a structured onboarding program for new fundraisers, reducing ramp-up time and increasing early-stage sale success rate.
  • Delivered ongoing field coaching and in-the-moment feedback to help individuals reach daily sales targets.
  • Developed training modules focused on objection handling, donor engagement, and compliance.
  • Conducted weekly team training sessions and one-on-one coaching to increase standards and raise team performance.
  • Implemented recognition and incentive strategies aligned with training milestones to boost engagement and fundraiser longevity.
  • Managed and led team engagement events to reward staff, elevate motivation, and deepen connections.
  • Oversaw the full recruitment lifecycle, including sourcing, interviewing, and closing candidates through contract signing.

Business Development Manager

ESM Sydney
Sydney
02.2017 - Current
  • Supported the Managing Director by sitting in on interviews with potential candidates, conducting phone screenings and running final interviews before taking on those tasks myself.
  • Collaborated with team leads to identify high-potential candidates and fast-track them into leadership training.
  • Conducted roleplays, field shadowing, and feedback sessions to enhance fundraiser performance.
  • Developed and refined onboarding processes to reduce drop-off during early training stages and improve retention.
  • Developed personalised 12-week growth plans to guide and help reps achieve internal promotions aligned with their career goals.

Sales Specialist

Myrepublic
Sydney
06.2018 - 02.2020
  • Started in inbound sales, transitioned to outbound customer acquisition, and was later promoted to a coaching role based on performance.
  • Conducted regular coaching, call reviews, and performance evaluations to improve rep productivity and conversion metrics.
  • Managed daily KPIs including call volume, conversion rate, average handle time, and customer satisfaction scores.
  • Trained new hires on product knowledge, CRM systems, and sales techniques.
  • Created sales contests, incentive programs, and team challenges to boost morale and drive performance.

Independent Contractor

ESM Sydney (Formally Pure Prospects)
Sydney
02.2013 - 02.2017
  • Engaged members of the public through face-to-face conversations to secure ongoing donations for non-profit organisations.
  • Consistently met or exceeded daily/weekly targets in high-pressure, performance-driven environments.
  • Delivered persuasive pitches tailored to diverse audiences, resulting in a high donor conversion rate.
  • Built rapport quickly with strangers, overcoming objections and handling rejections with professionalism.
  • Participated in regular training sessions to refine communication techniques and stay informed about campaign updates.
  • Collaborated with team members to share best practices and maintain a positive, high-energy atmosphere in the field.

Education

Cert IV - Business Sales -

One Step Further
Sydney, NSW
07-2014

High School Diploma -

Waverley College
Waverley
12-2012

Skills

  • Sales Coaching & Development
  • Performance Analysis
  • Training Design & Delivery
  • Critical conversations with staff
  • Recruitment & Onboarding
  • Communication & Motivation
  • Problem-Solving & Decision Making

Accomplishments

  • Recognised as a top-performing leader and invited to present 3 times at the International Sales Managers Conference (Aus/NZ).
  • Led multiple virtual coaching sessions for offices nationwide.
  • Member of "The 10 club". Achieving a weeks worth of sales in one day.

Affiliations

  • Board-member + Player for the UTS Gators (Gridiron)
  • Member of the Activate UTS Sports management committee

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Operations/Sales Manager

ESM Sydney
09.2019 - Current

Sales Specialist

Myrepublic
06.2018 - 02.2020

Business Development Manager

ESM Sydney
02.2017 - Current

Independent Contractor

ESM Sydney (Formally Pure Prospects)
02.2013 - 02.2017

Cert IV - Business Sales -

One Step Further

High School Diploma -

Waverley College

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Dejan Nakic