Wesley W. Kahn
Summary
Diligent and insightful with natural aptitude for leadership and fostering collaboration. Possesses knowledge in organizational development and effective communication, with proven skills in strategic planning and team building. Committed to applying these transferable skills to drive success in any new role.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Leadership Consultant
Youth With A Mission, South Central Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
01.2006 - 12.2021
- Assisted leadership teams with building shared beliefs and attitudes across organizational structures.
- Delivered informative presentations to specific community groups and large-scale conferences on topics such as team building and character driven leadership skills.
- Helped community leaders to develop customized internal strategies for promoting and developing leadership skills in their current function.
- Built strategic partnerships across multiple non-governmental organizations and church communities to help directors and senior leaders improve management structures and a team cohesive culture.
- Coordinated meetings for community leaders and facilitated educational workshops for young leaders.
- Transformed skills and success of individual leaders with one-on-one coaching sessions.
- Strengthened relationships between organizational structures with cross-functional (and cross-cultural) team-building activities promoting collaboration and understanding.
- Improved employee retention rates by designing targeted professional and personal development initiatives for managers and leaders.
- Fostered diversity and inclusion within organizations by offering training sessions covering topics such as cultural competence, cross cultural awareness and understanding of world view biases.
- Served as a thought partner to leaders and managers seeking guidance in navigating complex organizational challenges or changes in their roles or responsibilities.
Seminary Lecturer
Soweto Campus, AOG Seminary
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2004 - 12.2004
- Taught informational and systematic theology. Classroom teaching with assignments that required analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information from various sources.
- Selected and designed lesson plans and curriculum to meet academic objectives.
- Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning.
- Mentored and advised students to explore career pathways based and amplify knowledge, skills and strengths.
International Missionary
Youth With A Mission
Mozambique, East Africa
09.1992 - 12.2003
- Established partnerships with NGOs focused on similar goals such as poverty alleviation / healthcare access improvement in order to maximize resources available for positive change.
- Volunteered to help with special projects of varying degrees of complexity including founding an elementary school for primary education.
- Strengthened connections between mission teams and host communities through regular follow-up visits and ongoing support efforts.
- Raised funds for various mission projects by engaging donors, planning fundraising events, and writing grant proposals.
- Promoted health education by conducting seminars on topics such as nutrition, hygiene, disease prevention within the context of the local culture.
- Developed strong interpersonal skills through regular interactions with individuals from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, enabling effective communication and collaboration in a multicultural work environment.
- Contributed to the continuous improvement of office policies and procedures through regular review sessions alongside colleagues from other professional areas within the institution's administration department.
- Managed phone and email correspondence and handled incoming and outgoing mail and faxes.
- Managed filing system, entered data and completed other clerical tasks.
- Built and maintained excellent relationships through timely response to inquiries and going above and beyond to accommodate unusual requests.
- Created and maintained detailed administrative processes and procedures to drive efficiency and accuracy.
Assistant Pastor
Trinity Presbyterian Church - South African Synod
Bergvliet, Cape Town
02.1991 - 12.1991
- Provided pastoral care to congregants through one-on-one counseling sessions, addressing their spiritual and emotional needs.
- Supported congregants during life transitions like marriage, baptism, or funerals through personalized pastoral services.
- Enhanced congregation engagement by incorporating multimedia presentations and relatable stories into sermons.
- Delivered thought-provoking sermons that encouraged congregants to challenge their beliefs and grow spiritually and emotionally.
Missionary Volunteer
Youth With A Mission
Delmas, South Africa
02.1989 - 01.1991
- Empowered individuals with valuable life skills through workshops on topics like budgeting, job searching, and conflict resolution.
- Improved cultural understanding by immersing in local customs and traditions, fostering mutual respect and collaboration.
- Enhanced community relationships by organizing and leading outreach programs such as the racial reconciliation project - "The Torch Run" across South Africa during the Apartheid era.
Gas Station Clerk
Esso Gas Station
Victoria, BC
12.1985 - 09.1988
- Maintained clean and orderly work station.
- Provided accurate cash handling and timely transactions, ensuring smooth operations at the register.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by providing efficient and friendly service at the gas station.
- Delivered exemplary customer service and warmly greeted guests.
Education
Language Arts Education
University of Lisbon
Portugal09.1998
Ordination Certification - Coursework
Presbyterian Synod - Program
Cape Town, South Africa02.1991
Bachelor of Arts - Biblical Studies
University of The Nations
Muizenberg, South Africa11.1989
High School Diploma -
Reynolds Secondary High School
06.1988
Skills
- Ethical & adaptive leadership
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Coaching and mentoring experience
- Diversity and inclusion, cross cultural experience
- Public speaking
- Strategic planning
- Excels in working in a team environment
Languages
Portuguese
Native or Bilingual
Chuabo
Professional Working
Timeline
Leadership Consultant
Youth With A Mission, South Central Africa
01.2006 - 12.2021
Seminary Lecturer
Soweto Campus, AOG Seminary
01.2004 - 12.2004
International Missionary
Youth With A Mission
09.1992 - 12.2003
Assistant Pastor
Trinity Presbyterian Church - South African Synod
02.1991 - 12.1991
Missionary Volunteer
Youth With A Mission
02.1989 - 01.1991
Gas Station Clerk
Esso Gas Station
12.1985 - 09.1988
Language Arts Education
University of Lisbon
Ordination Certification - Coursework
Presbyterian Synod - Program
Bachelor of Arts - Biblical Studies
University of The Nations
High School Diploma -
Reynolds Secondary High School