Johannes Julius Lutainulwa
Dar Es Salaam
Summary
Dynamic digital leader with 9+ years of experience driving innovation, product development, and digital transformation across fintech, MediaTech, and mobility sectors. Proven ability to design and execute digital strategies that scale revenue, expand financial inclusion, and enhance customer experience across mobile, web, and transactional platforms.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Group Director, Growth, Strategy & Innovation
Smart Africa Group
08.2021 - Current
- Driving revenue growth across 5 subsidiaries, managing over 40+ brands generating $5.5M in ARR.
- Leading and managing 5 managing directors, 10 senior managers, and 50+ operations teams across functions.
- Lead digital transformation initiatives for Vodacom, TBL, NMB, BCT, HILL GROUP, ONMOBILE, Yas, and other key clients key clients.
- Formulated and executed SAG's digital growth strategy in East Africa.
- Developed integrated service offerings in AdTech and FinTech to diversify revenue.
- Oversaw end-to-end product development lifecycle, ensuring timely launches.
- Improved omnichannel user experience, leading to increased client engagement.
- Cultivated relationships with C-level executives to create cross-sell opportunities.
- Enhanced omnichannel UX across platforms, improving NPS, and driving digital adoption, resulting in a 30% increase in client retention.
- Ensured platforms adhered to data privacy laws, cybersecurity protocols, and AML policies through close coordination with legal and risk teams.
- Deployed Data Studio, Zoho CRM, and BI dashboards to track revenue, client retention, and operational KPIs, informing strategy refinement.
Business Director, Digital & Innovation
Smart Codes Tanzania Ltd
10.2020 - 08.2021
- Managed a $1.8M client portfolio, achieving 20% monthly growth through B2B enterprise solutions.
- Leading strategic technology partnerships with Vodacom, NMB, WWF, TBL, M-Paper (Rifaly), Hill, and Amana Bank.
- Leading cross-functional teams to deliver websites, e-commerce platforms, data collection systems, Salesforce solutions, reward systems, telecom integration, and lead generation tools for over 30 clients.
- Lead C-level engagements to drive strategic planning and enhance client acquisition.
Country Sales Lead
Uber BV
09.2019 - 09.2020
- Generated over $4M in ARR by onboarding 120 companies, exceeding targets by 110%.
- Closed contracts with prominent brands, including Crdb Bank, Equity Bank, KPMG, and DHL.
- Sustained a client retention rate of 95% through proactive support and engagement strategies.
- Executed effective growth strategies across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to expand market presence.
Strategic Partnerships & Marketing
Uber Tanzania
10.2018 - 07.2019
- Leading ecosystem and strategic partnership that grew the business to $1.5M in ARR, delivering value to both drivers and riders.
- Tigo Tanzania (Vas) for both drivers and riders, boosting monthly GMV growth from 15% to 40%
- Launched Uber's new offering, a B2B product - Uber For Business, onboarding 50+ companies and achieving 110% of annual sales targets; closed brands like Amref Tanzania, Aga Khan, Aim Group, NBC Bank, East African Law Chambers, Jamana Printers, and BOA Bank.
- Collaborating with agencies to drive lead generation and onboarding of Enterprise, Mid-Sized, and SMEs.
Business Development Manager
Aforevo (Murphy Ben International)
09.2017 - 10.2018
- Developed and led content strategy to optimize monetization across Google and YouTube, increasing ad revenue by 40% and generating $150,000+ GMV
- Managed social media and YouTube channels, expanding content visibility for music, series, documentaries, and local entertainment.
- Partnered with TV stations and digital agencies to grow reach, performance, and brand positioning.
- Supervised a team of 5 digital marketers to scale channel KPIs and media revenue.
- Built partnerships with in-house production teams, digital platforms, and advertisers to support media investments and drive platform growth.
- Tracked channel performance and campaign ROI through detailed reporting and analytics.
- Coordinated with legal, vendor, and finance teams to ensure project delivery and compliance with investment goals.
Business Development Executive
Let Consultancy Ltd
01.2017 - 08.2017
- Onboarded and managed a portfolio of 20 companies and 100+ expatriates, securing $100,000+ in annual rental renewals.
- Led business pitches, proposals, and contract negotiations, closing deals with clients including Barick, Feza Schools, Stanbic Bank, and SKOL Construction.
- Streamlined the end-to-end client journey—home search, inspection, lease processing, legal support, and payment facilitation.
- Launched customer service initiatives that improved onboarding and pricing transparency, enhancing client satisfaction and retention.
- Represented the firm at industry conferences and client meetings to drive visibility and trust.
- Collaborated with value-added service providers to improve holistic customer offerings.
Inside Sales & Lead Generation Associate
Suzhou Jinkefa Energy Technology Co. Ltd
Shenyang
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Achieved a 40% lead-to-conversion rate through targeted cold calling, emailing, and follow-ups—contributing to an estimated 30%+ increase in revenue.
- Developed a lead engagement calendar to improve prospect nurturing and pipeline velocity.
- Managed inbound queries, presented product information, and generated custom quotes.
- Supported the Sales Manager in crafting strategies to position Jinkefa as a preferred energy partner across Africa.
- Conducted competitive benchmarking and market scans to inform outreach strategies and uncover growth opportunities.
Education
BBA - International Economics
Shenyang University of Technology
Shenyang, China06-2017
Associate of Arts - Diploma in Accounting And Business
ACCA
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania01-2013
High School Diploma -
Arusha Modern
Arusha, Tanzania06-2010
Skills
- Analytical thinking
- Revenue growth strategies
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Business strategy development
- Market research analysis
- Team leadership
- Performance metrics evaluation
- Digital transformation initiatives
- Stakeholder engagement
- Interpersonal communication
- Agile methodologies
- Regulatory compliance oversight
- Product development lifecycle
- Data analysis
- Customer experience enhancement
- Cultural awareness
Certification
- Seed Spark Entrepreneurship programme: Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
Accomplishments
- Best Innovative Leader, Smart Africa Group (Year 2023)
- MVP of the Year: Smart Codes (Year 2022)
- Top 3 best-performing country sales leads across SSA at Uber (Year 2020)
Languages
Swahili
First Language
Swahili
Proficient (C2)
C2
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Reference
- Monica Mziray - Country Head of Operations,+255 752 740 553,mmzira@ext.uber.com, Uber BV
- Davis Rwekiza- Co Founder/ COO, +255 766 271 010, davis.evans@digicash.co.tz, DIGI CASH
- Claudia Malile - Group HR , +255 683 080 681, claudia@smartafrica.group, SAG
Timeline
Group Director, Growth, Strategy & Innovation
Smart Africa Group
08.2021 - Current
Business Director, Digital & Innovation
Smart Codes Tanzania Ltd
10.2020 - 08.2021
Country Sales Lead
Uber BV
09.2019 - 09.2020
Strategic Partnerships & Marketing
Uber Tanzania
10.2018 - 07.2019
Business Development Manager
Aforevo (Murphy Ben International)
09.2017 - 10.2018
Business Development Executive
Let Consultancy Ltd
01.2017 - 08.2017
Inside Sales & Lead Generation Associate
Suzhou Jinkefa Energy Technology Co. Ltd
01.2016 - 01.2017
BBA - International Economics
Shenyang University of Technology
Associate of Arts - Diploma in Accounting And Business
ACCA
High School Diploma -
Arusha Modern
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