Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Courses
LANGUAGES
Interests
Timeline
Generic

KAUSTUBH SHARMA

Sydney

Summary

Professional with apt understanding of partnership development. Known for strong focus on team collaboration and achieving measurable results. Skilled in relationship building, negotiation, and strategic planning. Adaptable to changing needs, consistently delivering impactful solutions.

Overview

4
4
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Partnership Manager

Akolade
04.2025 - Current
  • Secured sponsorships by cultivating relationships with prospective partners and presenting compelling proposals.
  • Evaluated sponsorship opportunities based on company objectives and alignment with brand values, prioritizing high-impact partnerships.
  • Managed a diverse portfolio of sponsors, ensuring timely delivery of contractual benefits and maintaining strong relationships.
  • Increased event revenue through effective negotiation of sponsorship agreements, maximizing value for both parties.
  • Provided exceptional customer service to sponsors, addressing concerns promptly and professionally to maintain positive partnerships.
  • Re-engaged lapsed sponsors by rebuilding trust and repositioning event value, achieving a 40% success rate in renewing previously disengaged partnerships.

Senior Business Development Manager

Akolade
02.2022 - 04.2025
  • Led end-to-end sales cycles across 12 projects and events, delivering consistently strong outcomes.
  • Developed and executed go-to-market strategies to support new business acquisition and event success.
  • Monitored market and client feedback mid-cycle to adjust approaches and maintain alignment with evolving needs.
  • Built and maintained relationships with senior stakeholders, including C-level executives across government, corporate, not-for-profit, and Indigenous sectors.
  • Identified and pursued sales opportunities with a focus on long-term value, supporting customer retention through reliable pre- and post-sale engagement.
  • Partnered with the Production team to shape event direction and content, using frontline insights to inform program development.


Notable Achievements

  • Delivered a high-performing, government-focused event in 2022, generating $420,000 in revenue — exceeding target by $80,000.
  • Achieved $650,000 in revenue during the 2023–2024 financial year, outperforming targets by 23%.
  • Provided day-to-day leadership and support to teams of 2–3 sales representatives per event, contributing to consistent delivery against targets.
  • Progressed into a Team Leader role in recognition of strong performance, with added responsibility for mentoring and coaching peers.


Business Development Associate

Think & Learn Pvt. Ltd. (India) – EdTech firm
03.2018 - 07.2018
  • Proactively drove business development by maintaining detailed records of client interactions and consistently holding 6–7 meetings per week with prospective clients.
  • Managed full-cycle customer engagement - from initial outreach through to deal closure; providing tailored responses and support across a diverse portfolio of educational programs.
  • Fostered a collaborative team culture that supported productivity and cross-functional engagement.
  • Led a team of two Business Development Associates, achieving a 6% increase in sales over five months through strategic coaching and focused execution.

Education

Master of International Business -

Macquarie University
Sydney
07.2019 - 08.2021

Bachelor of Technology - Mechatronics

Manipal University Jaipur
Jaipur
08.2012 - 08.2016

Skills

  • B2B Sales & Sponsorship Acquisition
  • Consultative Selling
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Strategic Prospecting & Cold Outreach
  • Sponsorship Strategy & Activation
  • Strategic Account Mapping
  • CRM & Pipeline Management
  • Written & Verbal Communication Skills

Additional Courses

  • Global Leadership Program, Macquarie University - Aug 2022
  • Competitive Strategy, (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich), Coursera - Aug 2020
  • Customer Analytics (Wharton University, USA), Coursera - May 2019
  • Communicating with Confidence, Linkedin Learning - June 2020

LANGUAGES

English
Hindi

Interests

Music

Guitar (Self-Learning)

Video Gaming

Timeline

Partnership Manager

Akolade
04.2025 - Current

Senior Business Development Manager

Akolade
02.2022 - 04.2025

Master of International Business -

Macquarie University
07.2019 - 08.2021

Business Development Associate

Think & Learn Pvt. Ltd. (India) – EdTech firm
03.2018 - 07.2018

Bachelor of Technology - Mechatronics

Manipal University Jaipur
08.2012 - 08.2016
KAUSTUBH SHARMA