Michael Thede | Marketing Communications

CV

Professional Experience

2018-2023
Marketing Communications Manager
China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) • Shanghai, China
  • Led international communications, digital marketing and branding efforts, and managed a team responsible for editorial content, media relations, search, social media, videography and design
  • Advised senior leadership on communications strategies, best practices, opportunities and risks impacting the organization’s mission, objectives and reputation
  • Owned style, content and visual identity (VI) guidelines, as well as ‘final look’ on all school communications, including, thought leadership, press releases, customer stories, website, reports, newsletters, brochures and signage, and served as managing editor of a quarterly print magazine
2017-2023
Communications Advisor
Self-Employed/Various Agencies • Shanghai, China
  • Worked with clients such as Disney, Porsche and others, doing brand storytelling, journalism, writing for mobile and interactive media, film subtitling and speechwriting
2013-2017
Senior Project Manager
Education First (EF) • Shanghai, China
  • Led a cross-functional team responsible for the planning, assessment, procurement and implementation of new hardware and systems solutions, resource management, new process creation and conducting staff training
  • Managed roll-out of Wi-Fi, iPads, mobile device management (MDM) and enterprise apps from user-acceptance testing (UAT) to full launch in 200+ sites across 4 business units in 3 countries with a budget of $2.5 million (USD)
2009-2011
Creative Content Developer
Education First (EF) • Shanghai, China
  • Wrote, edited and published print, digital and interactive media content for an 8-level educational learning platform and 30-episode educational travel video series

Education (Degrees & Diplomas)

2024-2025
master of marketing (master’s degree)
Schulich School of Business (York University) • Toronto, Canada
  • Intensive one-year program that helps students develop analytic, creative, and managerial skills needed in modern marketing; program prepares students for work across an array of industries and marketing functions
2008-2009
diploma in writing for film, TV & interactive media
Vancouver Film School (VFS) • Vancouver, Canada
  • Program focused on creative writing for film, television, games, interactive media and advertising, including story, character, film business, pitching, genre, film theory, producing, story editing, narrative design and more
1997-2003
Bachelor of arts, film studies & philosophy
University of Western Ontario (Western University) • London, Canada
  • Program covered the theoretical, aesthetic, historical, technological and cultural aspects of cinema (film studies) and ancient, early modern and contemporary philosophy, ethics and law, as well as analytical and critical thinking tools (philosophy)

Education (Other)

2022-2023
Management Essentials
Columbia Business School • New York City, USA
  • Program covered leadership and team management skills, decision-making and influence, innovation and ideation, finance and budgeting, stakeholder management, operations management, performance measurement, and more
2021-2022
Mastering Digital Marketing: SEM, SEO, Social Media and Beyond
London Business School • London, UK
  • Program focused on strategies for omnichannel marketing (including search, social media and content) and mastering the digital customer journey, community building and customer advocacy
2020-2021
High-Performance Marketing Communications: Strategies for Success
Kellogg School of Management • Chicago, USA
  • Course covered strategies for marketing communications, including creative briefing, setting objectives, audience targeting, positioning, market research and customer insights, executing a campaign and measuring success
2019-2020
Multimedia Journalism
University of Toronto • Toronto, Canada
  • Program focused on developing effective journalistic storytelling skills and the use of multimedia tools and techniques, as well as current ethics and trends around both news and brand journalism
2015
Professional Certificate in Project Management
University of Western Ontario (Western University) • London, Canada
  • Project Management Institute-recognized professional certification recognizing proficiency in the knowledge areas and process groups contained in the Project Management Book of Knowledge

Volunteer Work

2024-Present
Director of marketing & communications
Endeavour Consulting for Non-Profits • Toronto, Canada
  • Responsible for working collaboratively across the organization to strengthen Endeavour’s brand, drive fundraising and boost reach to both volunteers and client organizations in the skills-based pro bono consulting field
2024-Present
PR MANAGER & Senior Writer
American Marketing Association (AMA) • Toronto, Canada
  • Responsible for elevating the reputation and profile of AMA Toronto, providing effective communications support for chapter activities and programming, and helping to advance the chapter’s DEI initiatives through earned and owned media channels
2013-Present
founder & editor
CINEMORATA • Toronto, Canada
  • Founded and manage an on-going blog with a mission to celebrate the diversity and creativity of Canadian film. I also organize a monthly creative writing workshop aimed at exchanging constructive feedback about screenplays and other creative work

Technical Skills

  • Creative: Adobe Creative Suite, Affinity, CapCut, Canva
  • CMS: WordPress, Drupal, Ghost
  • CRM: HubSpot
  • Search & Social: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Hootsuite, Meta Ads, Google Ads
  • Email: Mailchimp
  • Analytics: Google Analytics
  • Media: Meltwater, Cision, PR Newswire
  • Collaboration: Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365/Teams, Asana, Zoom
  • AI: Copilot, Midjourney, ChatGPT, Dall-E