Resume

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Vanessa is a dynamic, proactive and successful leader with experience in customer management, higher education, sales, and EdTech/SaaS. She is a collaborative partner, strong quantitative problem-solver, organized and detailed, outcomes-driven, and exceptionally skilled at strategy development and execution. With superior communication skills that genuinely resonate and help others feel heard, appreciated, and valued, she is able to have impactful conversations at all levels, optimizing processes, operations and people to generate success. Vanessa is also the author of Embracing Your Perfectionist Self: A Satirical A-Z Guide on Finding Comfort and Inspiration in Being Good Enough.

What do I do today? 👇

PeopleGrove San Francisco, CA (Remote)

Customer Success Manager August 2023-present

• Closed 100% of renewals in 2023

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key partners, ensuring satisfaction and driving growth

• Analyze partner platform data, digging into adoption and engagement metrics to align with top institutional goals

• Conduct quarterly GAMs (Growth & Adoption Meetings) to review institution-wide strategy and success plans

• Execute renewal of contracts and identify upsell opportunities

• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Product to provide feedback, escalate inquiries and address questions

Embracing Your Perfectionist Self: A Satirical A-Z Guide on How to Find Comfort and Inspiration in Being Good Enough

Author

Grapevine.Org Boston Women in Business for Good December 2023-present

Founding Member

MOMS Club of Canton, MA 2022-present

Board Member

Memberships Manager

NACE (National Association of Colleges & Employers) 2022-present

Member

What else have I done? 👇

EXPERIENCE

PeopleGrove San Francisco, CA (Remote)

Director of University Partnerships August 2021-August 2023

• Increased sales using strategic planning, account development, and targeted prospecting to C-suite/VP level buyers

• Ranked #2 Sales Rep in 2023 for ARR and number of closed deals

• Successfully booked meetings with Presidents by crafting personalized, curated and buyer relevant content

• Averaged 8-week close window for first 3 deals post-maternity leave

• Hosted first Sales-driven Lunch ‘n Learn series, a key GTM activity that sourced opportunities on track to close

• Conduct critical needs analyses with potential partners, assessing key goals, strategies, and desired ROI outcomes

• Consistent leader in producing engaging thought leadership content

Northeastern University Boston, MA

Associate Director, Enrollment Quality Assurance 2019- June 2021

• Led the Enrollment Services team within Enrollment Management, responsible for pipeline management and strategy and processing College of Professional Studies applications (witnessed 28% growth in volume from 2019-2020)

• Grew overall graduate enrollments by 19% year-over-year despite pandemic conditions (34% domestic increase specifically)
• Implemented strategic operational improvements that supported scalability and revenue growth across 9 global campuses

• Developed College-Wide Admissions Policy Manual in consultation with academic and legal teams

• Initiated proactive call campaign strategy to regularly optimize each section of the enrollment funnel
• Trained internal teams on content updates, new expansion and growth opportunities and sales enablement techniques

• Strong communicator, with ability to synthesize complex data and trends to influence executive-level decisions

• Key Member of Go-to-Market strategy and implementation team

• Maintained extensive 100+ Program Resource Document Database for university global staff

Northeastern University Boston, MA

Senior Assistant Director of Enrollment Services 2018-2019

• Examined trends for 30+ Bachelor's Completion and Graduate programs across the University using pipeline management, optimizing enrollment strategies, and rendering admissions decisions for applications
•Managed and nurtured relationship with enrollment counseling staff to ensure top student experience
•Analyzed pipeline data to determine next steps in executing strategic enrollment plan
•Created and distributed reports on enrollment data, pipeline trends, conversion strategies, and campaign outcomes to stakeholders
•Collaborated with recruitment and marketing teams to implement prospective student initiatives
•Host and help direct on-campus admissions events

Boston Architectural College Boston, MA

Assistant Director of Admissions 2015-2018

• Attained 100% of domestic enrollment goal during first full recruitment cycle

• Grew international enrollment from 19% to 26% in under 2 years, citing 36% increase

• Educate and advise prospective undergraduate and graduate students throughout admission process

• Analyze marketing and enrollment data to strategically identify domestic and international recruitment travel

• Partner with Student Life Office to develop and execute Orientation, resulting in overall 86% retention rate

• Successfully implemented and manage the first College-wide Admissions Ambassador Program

• Continue to forge over 30 new relationships with national English language school partners

• Principal manager of CollegeWeekLive, a virtual college fair platform, hosting videos and discussions with students

• Attend NAFSA regional conferences to remain current with best practices in international student services

• Serve as key member on New Application Committee and Honors Program Task Force

• Facilitate articulation agreements with partner design schools in Seattle and Vancouver

Bay State College, Boston, MA Boston, MA

Assistant Director of Admissions 2012-2015

• Top performer in team of 9 with total outreach calls, emails, and applications submitted per week

• Implemented cross-institutional partnership with Nursing faculty to align admissions and academic goals

• Conducted interviews with each student applicant and reviewed FAFSA and scholarship qualifications

• Trained in SEVIS as Designated School Official (DSO) to issue I-20 documents for F1 Visas

• Planned and directed on-campus events such as Open House and New Student Orientation

NETC - National Educational Travel Council (now WorldStrides) Boston, MA

Boston Assistant Sales Manager 2011-2012

• Promoted due to 100% target achievement, strong leadership skills, and demonstrated ability to take initiative

• Retained 5 of highest grossing customers to preserve business relationship and future success

• Interviewed, hired, trained and supervised new team members

• Oversaw implementation and proper usage of Salesforce CRM database

Sales Team Leader & Senior Tour Consultant 2009-2011

• Reached 130% of goal while taking on first-time management responsibilities

• Continued selling to 3/4 of original territory to maintain rapport and ensure lasting business

• Led 1-on-1 sessions with 7 team members to provide guidance and training

Tour Consultant 2008-2009

• Achieved 100% of target in first year promoting international experiential learning tours to teachers

• Exhibited at domestic conferences and connected with customers at Teacher Conventions abroad

• Cultivated existing relationships while establishing new networks via referrals

• Conducted research and targeted marketing for respective territories

EDUCATION

Northeastern University Boston, MA

M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, GPA 4.0 2016

University of New Hampshire Durham, NH

B.A., Communication & Spanish, GPA 3.97 2008

University of Seville (Spain) Seville, Spain

Study Abroad Semester, Spanish Language & Humanities 2007

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

University of New Hampshire Durham, NH

College of Liberal Arts - Student Fellow 2007-2008

• Selected by UNH faculty as 1 of 5 to represent the 1000+ students in the College of Liberal Arts

• Served on Prospective Student Panels providing insights into the student experience at UNH

• Represent the Liberal Arts student body in university-wide task forces with the Dean and Faculty

University Advising & Career Center - Career Coach

• Reviewed and edited student resumes and cover letters for prospective jobs and internships

• Assisted with the management and coordination of career and internship fairs

New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR) Southern NH region

Communication Intern 2007-2008

• Drafted, edited and distributed press releases, media alerts, and e-newsletters

• Researched and presented public relations and marketing tactics at board meetings

• Actively networked with clients and presented at sponsored events

FOREIGN TRAVEL

Austria Belgium Bermuda Canada Costa Rica Czech Republic

England France Germany Hungary India Ireland Italy

Malta Mexico Morocco Netherlands Portugal Spain Switzerland

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Blackboard CampusVue Enable.us Gong HubSpot

LeadIQ MS Office OneDrive Outreach.io PeopleGrove

Salesforce Salesloft SharePoint Slack Tableau

Trello Vitally Workfront Zoom

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

NAFSA (International Educators Association) 2016-present

BASAA (Boston Area Study Abroad Association)

Boston Public Schools Summit – Cultural Competency Workshop Facilitator May 2017

Study Abroad Returnee Conference – Resume Review Volunteer February 2017

Northeastern University Boston Alumni

Committee Member 2016-present

University of New Hampshire Boston Alumni

Event Planning & Communications Committee Member 2016-present

StudentMentor.org

Academic and Career Mentor 2012-present

PUBLICATIONS & AWARDS

Bush, Vanessa. (2023). Embracing your Perfectionist Self: A Satirical A-Z Guide on Finding Comfort and Inspiration in Being Good Enough. Manuscripts LLC.

Beyond the Manuscript Podcast. (2023, December 19). Beyond the Manuscript Ep. 8 Vanessa Bush. Cooper Anderson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r00FUYlI2jM.

How to Get the Most Out of College Podcast. (2023, December 14). Coping with Less Control with Vanessa Bush. Elliot Felix. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectionism-and-coping-with-less-control/id1651276318?i=1000638538836.

Imperfect: The Heart-Centered Leadership Podcast. (2023, November 17). Episode 256: The Power of Making Others Comfortable with Vanessa Bush. Deborah Crowe, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-256-the-power-of-making-others/id1518475768?i=1000635205919.

UNH Alumni Relations. (2023, October 24). Overcoming Perfectionism: Embrace Progress, Not Perfection! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEW2BYts1DQ.

Canton Public TV & Canton Public Library. (2023, April 10). Book Author Tour: Vanessa Bush's book Embracing your Perfectionist Self 423: http://reflect-cctv-vod.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/2437?channel=1.

Bush, Vanessa. (2023). Embracing Perfectionism Firsthand. https://alumni.northeastern.edu/story/exploring-perfectionism-at-first-hand/.

Concept3D Higher Education Demand Gen Podcast. (2022, October 27). Episode 16: Social Capital in Higher Ed: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/higher-ed-demand-gen-podcast/id1640562803.

Northeastern University Office of the Chancellor's "Fixer Award" Nominee 2021

Most Likely to Find a Way through an Obstacle

Northeastern University Office of the Chancellor's "Learner-Centered" Nominee 2021

Always Places our Learners at the Center of What and How They Do Things

Northeastern University Office of the Chancellor's "Powered by Partnership Award" Nominee 2021

Most Likely to Be a Collaborative Team Player

Bush, Vanessa. (2018). Alumni advice: How to know if a master's in education is right for you. Boston, MA: Northeastern University Graduate Programs blog. https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/should-i-get-a-masters-in-education/.

Bush, Vanessa. (2018, July 9). The power of informational interviews. https://www.atherdesk.co/blog/2018/7/9/the-power-of-informational-interviews.

Bush, Vanessa. (2017). Newport: Full circle. Newport, RI: Newport Life Magazine, March/April edition 2017.

Williams, Vanessa. (2008). Christ had a wife?: Mary Magdalene as hypersexual icon. University of New Hampshire Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH: April 25, 2008.

Williams, Vanessa (2006). Parody advertisements in American Culture. CommEntary Journal of Communication, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH: May 2008.

Williams, Vanessa and Blair Joyal (2007). Socializing of Taste. CommEntary Journal of Communication, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH: May 2008.