In work, I found my joy and my purpose: to serve.
“Derick, you would do well in sales rather than in an engineering role.”
-The late Prof. Noble Banadda, at the time Head of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University.
These words, spoken after I presented my final-year Agricultural Engineering research project, inspired me to pursue a career in Technical Sales.
Top 5 skills
Strategic Leadership & Vision Setting
Commercial & P/L Management
High-Impact Customer & Stakeholder Management
Building & Leading High-Performance Teams
Large-Scale CAPEX Project Leadership
My Journey
Experience
Senior Sales Representative (Sales Manager)
Full-time
Jan 2025 - Present
East Africa · Remote
Key Responsibilities Summary:
- Strategic Sales & Business Development
- Lead new machine sales and Lifecycle Service (LCS) growth across East Africa, driving revenue through high-value CAPEX opportunities, spare parts, retrofits, and long-term service agreements.
- Executive-Level Customer Relationship Management
- Build and sustain strong partnerships with key industry stakeholders, engaging at C-suite level to influence investment decisions and long-term modernization strategies.
- Regional Key Account Leadership
- Manage and develop Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) accounts across East Africa, delivering tailored operational support, performance improvements, and multi-country account coordination.
- Technical & Commercial Advisory
- Provide expert consultation on bottling, packaging, and processing efficiency, guiding customers on optimization strategies that enhance productivity, equipment reliability, and ROI.
- Cross-Functional & Multi-National Project Coordination
- Collaborate with engineering, service, logistics, and global leadership teams to ensure seamless project execution, from tendering and order processing to commissioning and after-sales support.
- Market Expansion & Growth Strategy
- Identify new market opportunities and emerging customer needs to expand Krones’ footprint in Uganda and the broader East African region.
- Sales Process Leadership & CRM Excellence
- Drive pipeline visibility and forecasting accuracy through disciplined CRM management, ensuring proactive customer engagement and timely follow-through across all sales cycles.
Regional Sales Engineer Uganda | Rwanda | Burundi
Full-time
Nov 2021 - Jan 2025 · 3 yrs 3 mos
Kampala, Central Region, Uganda · Remote
Key Responsibilities Summary:
• Managed customer portfolios across Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, driving growth in key industrial sectors.
• Developed and executed territory action plans to achieve sustained business expansion.
• Built and nurtured customer relationships through targeted sales calls, solution selling, and high-quality technical support.
• Identified, qualified, and forecasted opportunities using the full Lead-to-Order process and CRM tools.
• Designed engineering solutions and value propositions that maximized customer ROI and unlocked new sales potential.
• Maintained accurate customer records, reports, and analytical insights to guide commercial decision-making.
• Collaborated effectively across technical, service, and internal support teams to ensure seamless project delivery.
Head of irrigation Department
Full-time
Feb 2020 - Nov 2021 · 1 yr 10 mos
Kampala, Uganda
Key Responsibilities Summary:
• Led the department’s commercial and operational strategy to achieve sales targets.
• Managed team performance, reporting, and participation in company management meetings.
• Designed irrigation pumping systems (solar, fuel, and electric) and provided technical expertise.
• Oversaw implementation of key projects for FAO, NAADS, and MAAIF.
• Delivered customer and end-user trainings to support product adoption and system performance.
• Directed tendering and bidding processes for major irrigation contracts.
• Conducted regular sales and management reporting to guide decision-making.
Senior Sales Engineer
Full-time
Feb 2018 - Feb 2020 · 2 yrs 1 mo
Kampala, Uganda
Key Responsibilities Summary:
• Sold specialized engineering equipment to industrial and commercial clients.
• Managed end-to-end tendering processes and bid preparation for major contracts.
• Built and maintained strong customer relationships through consistent communication and field visits.
• Led the full sales cycle from opportunity identification to contract closure.
• Provided reliable customer support to ensure long-term satisfaction and repeat business.
Education
Makerere University
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering.
2013 - 2018
• Served as Minister of Gender, Ethics & Integrity in the 82nd Students’ Guild.
• Elected Guild Representative Counselor for the School of Food Science, Nutrition & Bio-Engineering.
Summary:
Graduated with a strong foundation at the intersection of mechanical engineering and agriculture. Coursework focused on food processing systems, irrigation and hydraulics, and farm mechanization, equipping me with the engineering expertise to design efficient production, water management, and agricultural systems. This technical background enables me to solve complex challenges in food and industrial value chains while supporting innovation and productivity.
Key Skills:
Mechanical Engineering · Irrigation Systems · Food Processing · Team Leadership
Cavendish University Uganda
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration and Management, General
Nov 2019 - Aug 2024
My MBA strengthened my expertise across core business disciplines—strategic management, finance, marketing, and operations—giving me a holistic understanding of how organizations grow, compete, and scale.
To complement this formal education, I also studied My Personal MBA, a book that distills essential business principles into practical, actionable frameworks. It reinforced and expanded the concepts learned in the classroom, sharpening my ability to evaluate business models, identify growth opportunities, and design strategies that deliver measurable impact.
This combined knowledge enables me to:
• Analyze and optimize business operations
• Assess organizational strengths and weaknesses
• Develop clear, effective strategies for sustainable growth
• Drive performance across commercial and technical functions
My grounding in both academic theory and real-world business practice empowers me to lead with clarity, agility, and strategic direction.
Key Skills:
Business Analysis · Go-to-Market Strategy · Business Agility · Business Strategy · Key Account Acquisition & Retention
Harvard Business School Online
Feb 2024 - Jun 2024
Self-taught:
edX - Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract
edX - Leading in a Remote Environment
Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract
Taught by former Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried, this course deepened my understanding of how contracts are formed, enforced, and interpreted. I learned about offer and acceptance, limits of enforceability, exceptions to performance, remedies for breach, and third-party rights.
Leading in a Remote Environment
This HarvardX program enhanced my skills in adaptive leadership for distributed teams. I learned how to lead effectively in remote settings, improve communication and productivity, build trust, and select the right digital tools to support collaboration.
Key Skills: Business analysis, executive management, contract law, negotiation, cross-functional team leadership.
McKinsey & Company
McKinsey Forward Program, Leadership & Professional Development
Jun 2023 - Dec 2023Jun 2023 - Dec 2023
I completed the McKinsey Forward Program, a leadership and professional development experience that strengthened my capabilities in business analysis, digital skills, and modern leadership. I developed stronger communication and problem-solving skills, learned to apply design thinking, and improved my agility in fast-changing environments. Through collaborative projects, I enhanced my teamwork, adaptability, and personal branding strategies, gaining practical tools for career growth and effective decision-making.
Key Skills: Agile project management, problem solving, business analysis, design thinking, communication, adaptability, branding, business agility.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Certificate Issued May 2025
Skills: Proactive Leadership · Strategic Vision · Prioritising Effectively · Strategic Negotiations · Empathic Design · Team Synergy · Strategic Planning
Krones
LCS Field Sales Manager Training Basic, Certificate Issued Jul 2025
Skills: Business Strategy · Solution Selling · Business Relationship Management · Stakeholder Management · Technical Sales Presentations
Volunteering
President of the Rotary Club of Kampala Palms 2024-2025
Social Services
As President, I led the club’s strategic direction, guided weekly meetings, and oversaw key events and community projects. I developed leadership skills without formal authority, driving results through influence, collaboration, and inspiration.
Key achievements and responsibilities included:
• Motivating and engaging members while supporting recruitment and retention efforts
• Ensuring responsible financial management and compliance with Rotary International standards
• Representing the club in the community and building strategic partnerships
• Leading training initiatives and fostering professional development for members
• Collaborating with the board to implement long-term strategic plans
This role strengthened my ability to lead diverse teams, manage complex projects, and deliver measurable community impact.