Ryka Sekhavati

Summary

Commercially minded, sports and exercise science & nutrition graduate with 5 years’ experience selling exercise services D2C, sports nutrition products B2B, and 3 years’ experience within business development targeting health, wellness & sports nutrition brands & manufacturers. Alongside this, I have 1 year experience within a logistics role during the commonwealth games! I’m a hard worker who does what he says.

Key Skills and Technical Knowledge

• University thesis – The effect of caffeine on visual gaze within golfing tasks pre-post cognitive fatigue
• Business development – cold calling, lead generation,
• Key Account Management – maintain key relationships with buyers and accounts.
• Public speaking – JLR, NHS, Coventry University.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, Excel

Relevant Work Experience 

Senior Business Development Manager – 2023 – Present

D R Newitt

• £85,000 revenue within first 6 months 
• £167,000 revenue within first full calendar year
• £200,000 within second full calendar year
• Brought on to develop new business opportunities and implement a clear sales strategy.
• Targeted sports nutrition & wellness industries, built a strong pipeline and created tailored sales materials.
  • Powders, dry blends, gummies etc…
• Developed and implemented sector-specific sales strategies to acquire new clients and expand existing accounts across the sports nutrition sector.
• Managed leads end-to-end: client engagement, proposal development and pitch presentations.
• Represented the company at trade shows and events, expanding brand presence and generating qualified leads.
• 2 direct reports

Sales Manager – 2021 – 2023

Fitness Worx 

• Organising and managing over 28 employees across 8 sites
• Built and maintained long-term client relationships, ensuring repeat business and enhanced customer satisfaction – selling nutritional products to gyms, wellness centres & events.
• Managed the sales pipeline, from lead generation and qualification to quotation and project conversion, delivering consistent revenue growth.
• Prospected and secured new business opportunities within the sports nutrition and powders industry.
• Conducting interviews for over 30 prospective employees.
• Leading sales pitches to potential customers – onboard commercial businesses
• Procurement – direct & in-directs 
• Directing educational seminars to continually progress working standards with over 20 employees.
• Leading seminars to external businesses (JLR, NHS)
• Analysing business and performance data – excel

Personal Trainer – 2018 – 2021

Fitness Worx                           

Logistical Coordinator - 2022

Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022  

• Organising small teams with deliveries to and from different locations in the events centre.
• Communication, pricing and procurement with suppliers
• 3PL primary communicator 
• Communicating with leaders in other teams to achieve a common outcome goal. 
• Setting small tasks which lead to the achieving overarching outcome goal.

Education

Coventry University                                                                                                    2020 – 2023                 

BSc Sports and Exercise Science (Hons) – 2:1

Modules studied include – Human nutrition, physiology,  psychology, biomechanics and data analysis, statistics, psychology in the workplace and research skills and analytics. 

Project (Neutraceutical Psychology) – The effect of 3mg/kg caffeine on the gaze behaviours, pre-post cognitive fatigue tasks, during golf putting tasks

Kenilworth Sixth form                                                                                                                 2017 - 2019 

Three A-levels in Chemistry, Biology and PE.

Kenilworth Secondary School                                                                                                 2012 – 2017

11 GCSEs grades A-C including English, Maths and Science

Core Competencies

• B2B Sales Strategy & Execution
• Sports Nutrition & Powders Industry Expertise
• Client Relationship Management
• New Business Development & Account Growth
• CRM & Data-Driven Decision Making
• Negotiation & Solution-Led Selling
• Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
• Market Trend & Competitor Analysis
• Pipeline & Forecast Management
• Leadership & Team Development

8+ years of sales and business development experience across sports nutrition, wellness, fitness, and logistics.

Senior Business Development Manager (2023–Present, D R Newitt): Generated £200k+ revenue within two years by building new business in sports nutrition and wellness. Developed sector-specific sales strategies, managed full sales cycle, represented company at trade shows, and led a small team (2 direct reports).

Sales Manager (2021–2023, Fitness Worx): Managed 28 employees across 8 sites, selling nutrition products B2B. Drove pipeline growth, secured new clients, led pitches and procurement, and delivered educational seminars to internal teams and external partners (e.g., JLR, NHS).

Personal Trainer (2018–2021, Fitness Worx): Delivered direct-to-consumer exercise services, building strong client relationships.

Logistics Coordinator (2022, Commonwealth Games): Oversaw supplier communications, 3PL coordination, and team organisation to ensure seamless event logistics.

Coventry University – BSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Science, 2:1 (2020–2023)

Key modules: Human Nutrition, Physiology, Psychology, Biomechanics, Data Analysis & Statistics.

Dissertation: The effect of caffeine (3mg/kg) on gaze behaviours pre- and post-cognitive fatigue during golf putting tasks.

Kenilworth Sixth Form (2017–2019)

A-levels: Chemistry, Biology, Physical Education.

Kenilworth Secondary School (2012–2017)

11 GCSEs (A–C), including English, Maths and Science.