Randstad Enterprise

Part of the EMEA Talent Marketing Client Partner team. We work with our clients and account teams to understand their strategic goals and challenges and develop comprehensive talent marketing strategies that align to the employer brand and improve the candidate experience.

Talent Marketing Client Partner

Serrala

Serrala provides software solutions for financial automation and B2B payments to medium-sized to large Enterprise customers globally, with a strong footprint across Europe and the US.

Responsibilities:
o Part of the global marketing leadership team
o Budget Responsibility
o Team responsibility for 9 employees
o Brand strategy
o Shareholder management with all external suppliers and internal interfaces
o Responsible for the introduction of a content marketing strategy 
o Responsible for internal communication and employer branding strategy

Global Director Corporate Brand and Communications

Human Marketing

No more BS Marketing speak. It's time to make marketing more human.
Connecting your business with the hearts and minds of your audience is my true passion and what I do.

Human Marketing helps you to create a brand that connects with your audience by telling your stories in a human way.

Content Strategist & Storyteller (Owner)

Sabbatical

Sabbatical year to spend time attending classes and coachings, reading books, building networks and, most importantly, spending time with my daughter. 
Unfortunately I missed out on the travel experience due to Covid.

Kelly Services

• Member of the Global Marketing Leadership team.
• Enhanced and oversaw the global content marketing strategy for b2b and talent marketing.
• Researched, created, and implemented content marketing projects to be distributed globally. 
• Launched award-winning content marketing projects across +25 countries.
• Increased brand awareness, website traffic, and lead generation through effective Content, PR, and targeted marketing campaigns  
• Coordinated and executed national and international events. 
• Delivered sales and operations support with content marketing initiatives.
• Managed a global pool of suppliers to reduce costs and grow productivity.

Success:
- Continued development of the content marketing strategy and realignment of the
development process, including the establishment of new design guidelines
- Annual implementation of diverse global research projects
(+ 50 content materials per year, increasing the PR clippings, client events, e-mail and
social media campaigns)
- Implementation of a global content supplier and distribution strategy
(500 recipients, cost savings through the centralization of all content marketing
projects)
- Implementation of the "Talent Leadership in Action" events in Germany
(4 events per year, 20 participants per event, positioning as an HR solutions provider)

Director, Global Content Marketing

• Developed and implemented a global content marketing strategy across 3 continents.
• Planned and produced b2b and talent marketing content initiatives, including white papers, eBooks, blog posts, case studies, videos and podcasts to drive content awareness and leads.
• Compiled research regarding market opportunities, potential clients, competitors and external trends. 
• Identified and leveraged relevant topics and stories to maximize engagement. 
• Directed relationship management with third-party institutions, writers, publishers and event organizers while maintaining cross-functional communication and meeting operational goals. 
• Oversaw social media profile management including post scheduling and engagement analysis.
• Researched, commissioned and developed content across +25 countries. 
• Assessed new market opportunities.
• Collaborated with key stakeholders including marketing operations, eBusiness, PR, and marketing information teams.

Success:
- Implementation of a uniform content marketing strategy and aligned process for 31 countries within the first 12 months
- 100 leads per month
(through external content marketing platforms)
- + 30% website traffic
(due to regular promotion of content and the introduction of a global blog program)

Sr. Manager, Global Content Development

Provided leadership and direction for 16 Country Marketing Managers as part of the European Leadership Team. Responsible for the European Marketing budget.

• Part of global marketing team. 
• Established the European marketing strategy.
• Developed and implemented marketing objectives for 16 countries.
• Developed and implemented employer branding strategy.
• Post-merger integration marketing (Randstad Portugal)
• Internal and external communications, PR and Events across Europe.
• Developed and executed European lead-generating online marketing campaigns.
• Vendor Management.

Success:
- 4,500 monthly client contacts with regular European-wide thought leadership newsletter
(website in 16 languages used for the monthly European e-mail campaigns)
- 50% cost savings through the centralization of contract management
- 5,000 sales leads per EMEA Sales Day - two times per year
- + 50% press clippings through the implementation of the Kelly Global Workforce
Index
- Brand integration in Portugal - 6 months instead of 12 months

Regional Marketing Manager EMEA

Provided leadership and marketing strategy for +15 branches across Germany. Part of the German Leadership Team. Responsibility for the countries marketing budget.

• Set up the German marketing strategy.
• Developed and implemented marketing objectives for the country.
• Managed internal and external communications. 
• Responsible for all external & internal events.
• Developed and implemented local and national sales activities.
• Launched and maintained country websites and social media channels.

Success:
- + 50% website traffic through website re-launch
- 30% cost savings through vendor consolidation
- 200 leads per Sales Day (planning, coordination and implementation of 2 national
Sales Days p.a)
- 10% successful meeting appointments through the marketing call center
- + 70% press clippings via the Kelly Global Workforce Index PR strategy
(annual national survey given to HR Managers to identify new HR trends)

Marketing Coordinator/Manager Germany

Implementation of a training program across 16 locations in Germany.

Project Manager Germany

Office Assistant

Deutsche Shell AG

Marketing Assistant

Marketing | Brand | Communication | Fintech | SaaS

Here is what I have learned in all my years working in marketing: If one thing can make your brand more relatable to other humans, it's telling stories.

Hi, my name is Michael, and I am on a journey to help others make their marketing more human by telling authentic stories that help solve problems and inspire humans to connect with them.

This came after a nearly 20-year-long career with one of the largest recruitment companies in the world, where I held several marketing leadership roles.

After that, I ran my own solopreneur business for two years before I joined a Fintech company to run their Global Brands and Comms department.

I am now fortunate to work for Randstad Sourceright, the world's leading partner for talent, where I help our clients to develop  recruitment marketing strategies that connect them with the best talent in their industries.

Over the years, I lived in Switzerland and Australia before moving back to my hometown, Hamburg, where I enjoy time with friends and my daughter, a good game of football, or reading a great book.

I am driven by sharing stories openly and honestly with others. It's the best way to connect with other humans, and the one thing I enjoy most is precisely this: connection.

Michael Kirsten

Xcllusive Business Sales

Selling your business isn’t just a transaction - it’s one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions you’ll ever make.

And the tough part?

Finding the right buyer, getting fair value, and navigating the process without wasting time on tyre-kickers or drowning in red tape.

That’s where we come in.

At XCLLUSIVE Business Sales, we work with business owners who are thinking about selling - but aren’t sure where to start.

Whether you’re ready to sell now or just planning ahead, we help you:

• Understand your business’s true market value
• Attract serious, qualified buyers
• Navigate the sales process with expert support
• Get personalised assistance from our broker team to maximise your return with minimum stress

If you’re exploring your options and want real clarity - not pressure - let’s talk.

Attention: 

We only work with serious business owners who are ready to sell now. 

Over the past 20 years we’ve organically attracted and built a database of over 100,000 buyers - plus private equity, investors and family offices. 

To protect those relationships (and your time), we carefully assess each business / opportunity.

So if your business is profitable and you’re serious about selling, we’d love to hear from you. 

If you’re not ready to sell but would like a proper business valuation to determine what your business could be worth in the marketplace, we have a valuation team who can help with that, too. 

DM me the word “EXIT” or email me at edison@xcllusive.com.au, and we’ll have a friendly chat to see how we could assist.

Business Sales Consultant | Associate

Skyrocket Conversions

* WAITLIST CLOSED * 

Struggling to convert precious leads into paying clients? Not sure how to attract attention to you or your business?

Combining my passion for writing and storytelling with over 20 years of experience in Sales and Marketing, I can be your secret weapon for generating more revenue. I'm here to help you boost your sales and craft compelling content that drives results.

Sales Coaching:

I offer tailored Sales Coaching to help you master the art of selling. Whether you're a Coach, Consultant, or Solopreneur, I can teach you how to:

- Close more deals
- Convert leads to clients
- Increase your monthly revenue

All that without being pushy or salesy.

Why Choose Me?

Experience Matters: Over two decades of experience working in the sales field, where I helped businesses generate more revenue and grow their client base. I also built and operated my own food service business in Sydney’s competitive food scene.

Friendly & Professional: I’m one of the friendliest humans you’ll ever meet, and I love working with motivated individuals. I’m also a family man with a real passion for food, travel, and photography.

Tailored Approach: I choose who I work with, ensuring a good fit and personalized service.

PS: Currently unavailable for Sales Coaching or Ghostwriting. Follow & Connect for fun, positive, real-life content.

Keep It Real...
Edison Apolonio

Consultant

ReachLocal Australia & New Zealand

During my time at ReachLocal Australia and New Zealand (which later rebranded to LocaliQ), I helped small to medium businesses find a solution to some of their biggest problems: 

- Not enough visibility online.
- Not enough lead flow.
- Not enough clients.

I did whatever I could to get in front of business owners, booked my own appointments, and scheduled meetings both in person and over video calls. My approach was a mix of...

- DM.
- SMS.
- Cold call.
- Cold email.
- Door knocking.

As a team, we helped our clients achieve their business goals using time-proven solutions tailored specifically to their needs, which is usually a combination of:

- Social Media Ads
- Google Ads
- LiveChat
- Website
- SEO

Even though it was my first time being employed as a Digital Marketing Consultant - I managed to WIN in more ways than one:

- Grew and managed a book of clients from $0 to $50,000/month MRR ($600,000/year ARR) in my first 12 months.
- Met and developed a good relationship with business owners from various industries.
- Learned how to create proposals for each new business owner I met with.
- Learned how to use Salesforce CRM and other tools of the trade.

It was not an easy job but I enjoyed it. Most of the staff were great to deal with and I got along nicely with many of them.

Having spent over 20+ years in sales and marketing, working here has added new tools to my tool kit which I’m now able to use to help others succeed online.

Overall, I had a great time working at ReachLocal and I managed to remain good friends with a few of my ex-colleagues, which I’m always grateful for.

I remain hopeful that our paths will cross again. 

Who knows… maybe next time, I will be the one helping them with other solutions to enhance their capabilities. 

My heartfelt gratitude goes to the entire ReachLocal (LocaliQ) team in Australia and New Zealand. Wishing you all ongoing success in the years ahead. Thank you, Team!

Digital Marketing Consultant

Reliable Online Advertising Service

In 2018… I decided to learn how to sell products online.

Ended up with 2 x Shopify stores and a 3rd store which I used for product testing.

I learned how to build a Shopify store and source products from overseas. 

I sold them for a profit to customers from Tier 1 countries... such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.

I learned how to run some basic Facebook Ads.

Unfortunately, I ran out of money before I could even get close to scaling the business.

In 2020… I decided to jump head-on into becoming a Solopreneur (digital marketing - animated explainer videos).

Along the way, I made bad financial decisions that forced me to stop operating.

In 2021, I had my own battle against depression and won.  Here's hoping I will never, ever experience that again.  It was the darkest moment of my life.

In 2022… I forced myself to get back into the workforce as I’ve got a family to support and needed cash flow to help pay the bills.
 
If you’re expecting to read a big hero’s journey that ends with a victory party full of Lambos and Rolex watches... then I’m sorry to disappoint but you won’t find it here.

The biggest lesson that I learned from this experience is that…

LIFE is a series of Decisions and Lessons. 🤔

I made DECISIONS… some good, some bad.

I made plenty of MISTAKES…

And with every decision…

…. with every mistake…

I learned something new.

We Live And Learn.

Founder | Business Development Manager

Green Pasture Meat Co.

Not long after I decided to leave Sanda Fine Foods (which I co-founded), I received an offer to work with the Founder and CEO of Green Pasture Meats - who also happened to be one of our suppliers in our food service business.

He needed someone to be an "all-rounder" and he's known me for years, so when he found out I was looking for a change... he kindly offered me a position to work with him directly.

Over the years I helped his business in a variety of ways:

- Helped the Sales Team with sales calls and inquiries/quotes.
- Assisted in the day-to-day administrative tasks (invoicing, banking, etc.)
- Helped the Warehouse Team with receiving stock and processing/dispatching orders.
- Helped support and troubleshoot computer issues and MS Office software problems when needed.
- Led the implementation of a brand-new stock control system (bar code scanner system).  Prior to this system being installed, everything was checked and recorded manually. 
- Built the company website.
- Set up their social media.
- I even cooked the team breakfast and lunch on several occasions - just for fun.

Sales & Customer Service | IT Support | Warehouse Support

SANDA Fine Foods

SANDA Fine Foods was a food service business that I co-founded back in 2010.

We served fresh meats and small goods to Cafes, Pubs and Restaurants all over Sydney - including high quality Wagyu meat. 

This experience taught me how to find suppliers, source products to buy and sell... and find customers to sell them to.

I did everything I could to get clients: cold calls, cold emails and literally door-knocked businesses... yes, I walked the streets and went door-to-door to introduce our business to potential clients. 

Got our business cards printed, company-branded T-shirts and Caps... then setup meetings to speak with Chefs and Business owners.

I dealt with a ton of rejections on a daily basis... which made every WIN even sweeter.

We maintained a friendly relationship with our clients through regular visits and conversations.

We kept our overheads low, became profitable in 12 months and operated successfully for several years. 

Even managed to buy my 2nd convertible and do some travelling with my family. Fun times!

Co-Founder | Business Development Manager

Premium Ghostwriter | Consultant | Helping Coaches, Founders, and CEOs Build A Personal Brand and Boost Revenue By Writing Content That Resonates | Visit My Featured Section and the Limited Time Offer On The Link Below.

This is one of the most brutally honest About pages you’ll ever come across on LinkedIn:

At 16, I landed in Sydney with my parents and three younger sisters. Six of us. A few boxes. A couple of suitcases. Nothing more.

No safety net. No network. No wealthy relatives. Just grit, hustle, and a powerful reason to start over.

That immigrant mindset shaped everything I do… carrying me from survival mode to sitting across the table with founders and CEOs running 7, 8, and even 9-figure businesses.

If you told the poor 10-year-old version of me back in Manila that this would one day be my life, he would’ve laughed in disbelief. Back then, survival was the only goal.

How did I get here?

My down-to-earth, outgoing personality naturally pulled me into sales.

Over the past 20+ years, I’ve sold nearly everything you can think of - travel packages, mobile phones, real estate, food products, health & personal care products, digital marketing services, brand-new cars, and cinema advertising.

I’ve knocked on restaurants, pubs, and café doors in Sydney’s summer heat. Cold-called strangers who didn’t want to listen. Built a profitable food service business from scratch in one of the most competitive food markets in the country.

I didn’t learn sales from a textbook. I learned it in the trenches.

I believe in keeping it real, not just highlight reels. That’s because I know what it’s like to try and fail… and I’ve failed plenty of times. I can tell you those failures taught me more than the wins ever did.

So, why am I here on LinkedIn?

Life moves on - things change - people change. Today, I work with an incredible team of business brokers and marketers. We help business owners sell or exit their companies with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

Yes, I’m here to grow my network, be seen and heard, and inspire ambitious underdogs who refuse to quit, even when the odds are stacked against them.

Yes, I’m building a life I don’t need a vacation from, and I want to help others do the same.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me cooking for my family, enjoying movie nights at home, traveling, discovering world-class cuisines, tasting delicious street foods, and capturing moments through photos and videos with my loved ones. I’ve visited 17 countries so far, with plenty more to explore.

What you see is what you get when you’re dealing with me. If this resonates with you, hit Follow and send me a Connection request.

NOTE: If you’re a scammer, don’t bother me - I’ve got nothing for you. If you're real, ambitious, and not afraid to lose, we'll get along just fine.

taplio

The Battle

Michael Kirsten

Edison Apolonio

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?