I am a creative and digital communications strategist with over 7 years of industry experience, focused on driving tangible growth in content and campaign rollout across multiple digital platforms. I excel at interpreting data points to steer future strategy and at engaging internal and external stakeholders to achieve results. I thrive in collaborative environments across branding, product and research teams, delivering innovative strategies that improve branding efficiency and client outcomes while maintaining a friendly, inclusive approach.…

VERA (ZAINAB) VALENTINE-WHENSU

I am a creative and digital communications strategist with over 7 years of industry experience, focused on driving tangible growth in content and campaign rollout across multiple digital platforms. I excel at interpreting data points to steer future strategy and at engaging internal and external stakeholders to achieve results. I thrive in collaborative environments across branding, product and research teams, delivering innovative strategies that improve branding efficiency and client outcomes while maintaining a friendly, inclusive approach.…

Available to hire

I am a creative and digital communications strategist with over 7 years of industry experience, focused on driving tangible growth in content and campaign rollout across multiple digital platforms. I excel at interpreting data points to steer future strategy and at engaging internal and external stakeholders to achieve results.

I thrive in collaborative environments across branding, product and research teams, delivering innovative strategies that improve branding efficiency and client outcomes while maintaining a friendly, inclusive approach.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Contracted Content Strategy and Communications Specialist at Business Score
January 31, 2025 - October 15, 2025
Developed engaging content for LinkedIn and the company website; collaborated with design to ensure consistent messaging; tracked content performance to refine strategies; increased engagement and alignment of messaging.
Creative Strategy and Communications Lead at Global Initiative Microfinance Bank
June 1, 2023 - October 15, 2025
Designed and led market and consumer research projects; increased cross-collaboration between communications and research teams by 150%; led strategic alliances with insurance partners, boosting client retention by 200%; oversaw campaigns and grassroots outreach to small to medium grocery shop owners, achieving a 175% increase in new client onboarding.
Head of Digital Communications Research at Foretrade Ltd
August 1, 2021 - October 15, 2025
Led qualitative and quantitative social media research on the Nigerian property market; directed the social media marketing research department; designed a brand communications framework increasing efficiency by 105%.
Content Strategy and Communications Officer at Cafe Neo
January 1, 2020 - October 15, 2025
Developed and executed a relaunch campaign on social media resulting in a 75% increase in engagement; conducted research-informed rebranding of social media pages; educated the marketing team on successful content strategy and online presence.
Contracted Brand Strategy Specialist at Plos4 Properties Ltd
May 1, 2025 - October 27, 2025
Designed visual and communication branding documents. Informed the branding strategy and improved branding efficiency by 80% upon project completion. Designed and conducted brand market research during the brand design process to improve branding effectiveness. Initiated cross-collaboration across communications, branding, and product teams to increase overall project efficiency by 65% upon joining the project.
Contracted Content Strategy and Communications Specialist at Business Score
January 1, 2025 - October 27, 2025
Developed engaging and persuasive content for various media, including LinkedIn and the Website. Collaborated with the design team to ensure consistent messaging and tone. Tracked and analysed written content performance to refine strategies and improve results. Increased LinkedIn engagement by 111%
Creative Strategy and Communications Lead at Global Initiative Microfinance Bank
June 1, 2023 - October 27, 2025
Designed and led the execution of multiple market and consumer research projects and increased cross-collaboration success between the communications and research teams by 150%. Designed and led the execution of multiple strategic alliances between the bank and insurance companies to create attractive packages for customers, leading to a 200% client retention increase. Led cross-collaborative efforts between communications and creative teams to design and execute several successful campaigns and grassroots outreaches to small to medium grocery shop owners, achieving a 175% increase in new client onboarding.
Content Strategy and Communications Officer at Cafe Neo
January 1, 2020 - October 27, 2025
Developed and executed a relaunch campaign on the company’s social media accounts that led to a 75% increase in engagement on Instagram and Facebook. Conducted research-informed rebranding of social media pages. Educated the marketing team on successful content strategy and online presence.

Education

MA at University of Salford
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
BSc at University of Salford
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2020
MA Public Relations and Digital Communications at University of Salford
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
BSc Business and IT (First Class Honours) at University of Salford
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2020

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Professional Services, Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet, Financial Services, Education
    paper LinkedIn Content Design

    This was done for a finance company’s LinkedIn to help improve their engagement and was successful, reporting a 111% increase in engagement during the first month of launch.

    I was responsible for the creative direction of this project, as well as supporting the design team and leading the social media team.

    Please check out this project below:

    paper COFFEE HOUSE SOCIAL MEDIA AD CAMPAIGN

    This project was done for a coffee house/ creative space called Cafe Neo.
    I was in charge of the creative direction and design of this project, as well as the management of all the other creatives under this project.

    THE CONCEPT
    This campaign was centred around connections built in a coffee house to highlight the importance of the Cafe Neo space, not just for coffee but for connections.
    In this campaign, visual stories were used to tell a story of a girl whose parents met at a coffee house and how it has created her love for the perfect cafe space. This campaign was run on Instagram and encouraged the UGC to engage the growing community on Instagram and also bring attention to the brand’s rebranding.

    Please check out this project below:

    paper Canva Creative Ad Campaignn Pitch

    This project was designed to pitch the “COAT” creative campaign to Canva.
    I was in charge of the entire project from creative direction to designing to copywriting.

    THE CONCEPT
    The COAT is the “Creative of All Trades” which speaks to the multifaceted creative who uses Canva.
    It dispels the myth that as a creative you have to be a specialist to succeed. It is a play on the popular saying “Jack of all trades, Master of none” and converts it to “Creator of all trades, master of Canva”.
    Canva gives the multifaceted creative the chance to master all aspects of their creative processes easily without having to become specialists in everything.
    This project includes moodboards and ad copies that were creatively directed by me.