Luis De La Melena
Vancouver,BC
Summary
Versatile and impact-driven generalist with 8+ years of experience across operations, service strategy, research, and leadership. Adept at problem-solving, building cross-functional systems, and executing under pressure. Led high-growth projects in hospitality, designed strategic insights for university and policy teams, and managed teams with a focus on performance and culture. Recently pivoted into digital marketing and analytics with certifications in HubSpot and Power BI. Trilingual and highly adaptable — thrives in fast-paced startup environments.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Researcher & Instructor
The University of Texas at Austin
08.2024 - 05.2025
- Designed and taught undergraduate courses on social movements and communications, engaging 80+ students each semester.
- Produced actionable insights for university teams and non-profits through research, policy briefs, and multilingual presentations.
- Recognized for excellence in teaching and leadership, fostering collaboration across departments.
Tree Planter
Ontario & BC Reforestation Projects
04.2020 - 07.2024
- Planted ~500,000 trees over four seasons, consistently ranking in the top 10% of planters for speed and efficiency.
- Developed grit, logistical problem-solving, and teamwork while working 10–12 hour days in remote environments.
- Documented experiences through storytelling, honing narrative skills and a reflective approach to challenging projects.
Operations & Service Manager
Les Enfants Terribles
10.2022 - 03.2024
- Overhauled operations at a legacy hospitality venue, driving a 220% sales increase and 50% boost in customer retention.
- Created and implemented service protocols and training programs that improved team efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Partnered with owners on brand strategy and marketing initiatives to align the customer experience with the company’s vision.
Intern, Policy Strategy & Communications
Hudson Institute
06.2022 - 08.2022
- Competitively selected (2% acceptance rate) for the Hudson Institute fellowship; completed 100+ hours of seminars on political strategy, communications, and crisis management alongside 30 top‑performing U.S. students—sharpened analytical thinking and storytelling skills.
- Collaborated in small teams to develop policy and messaging solutions for 6+ simulated crisis scenarios; delivered eight strategic recommendations to foreign‑policy leaders, influencing security decisions and driving improvements across five projects.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Concordia University
Montreal, QC05-2024
Doctoral Studies in Government -
The University of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX05-2025
Skills
- BizOps & Strategy: Process Design, Customer Insights, Project Coordination, Team Leadership
- Data & Tools: Power BI, Excel, Visio, HubSpot, Canva, Notion, Google Workspace, Miro
- Communication: Strategic Storytelling, Stakeholder Engagement, Trilingual (FR/EN/SP)
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
French
Native or Bilingual
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Graduate Researcher & Instructor
The University of Texas at Austin
08.2024 - 05.2025
Operations & Service Manager
Les Enfants Terribles
10.2022 - 03.2024
Intern, Policy Strategy & Communications
Hudson Institute
06.2022 - 08.2022
Tree Planter
Ontario & BC Reforestation Projects
04.2020 - 07.2024
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Concordia University
Doctoral Studies in Government -
The University of Texas At Austin
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