Polina Virr
About
GTM and Business Development Expert
International business development and strategic growth executive with 15+ years of experience advising companies, leadership teams, and institutions across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Experienced in international expansion, strategic partnerships, go-to-market strategy, and stakeholder engagement across technology, advisory, financial services, and innovation ecosystems. Currently advising startups, scaleups, and business associations in Switzerland on growth strategy, commercial positioning, and cross-border partnerships.
Skills
Business Strategy
Establishing Strategic Partnerships
GTM
Institutional Business Development
International Business Development
Sales Management
Sales Management Coaching
Open for
parttime
mentoring
freelancer
fulltime
Work Experience
Oxford Business Group (OBG)
2019-04 - 2024-12
Managing Director
Zürich
fulltime
Led and scaled the Global Sales, developed the Advisory Division from a niche function to a revenue-generating business unit, tripling project revenue within three years while delivering high-impact consulting projects for governments, multinational corporations, and development institutions across 35+ markets. - Built and led a high-performing international sales function, targeting institutional and enterprise clients across financial services, development finance, and government. - Closed and expanded high-value contracts with C-suite stakeholders, achieving 40%+ increase in client retention and lifetime value. - Partnered with C-level executives, boards and product, marketing, and delivery teams to align value propositions with client needs, increasing conversion rates by 25%. - Designed and led client acquisition campaigns across EMEA, Asia, and Latin America, successfully launching in 10+ new markets. - Established a Key Account Management framework to deepen strategic relationships, upsell advisory services, and boost cross-sell effectiveness.
Oxford Business Group (OBG)
2016-05 - 2019-04
Regional Director for Asia
Remote
fulltime
Managed all aspects of regional operations across Southeast Asia, including business development, research oversight, human capital, and stakeholder engagement. Led a diverse portfolio of public and private sector clients, delivering insights-driven advisory projects tailored to the dynamics of emerging markets. - Delivered 20+ high-impact market intelligence and advisory projects, supporting client decisions in investment, expansion, and policy design. - Boosted project profitability by 37% by streamlining workflows, enhancing service offerings, and realigning commercial incentives. - Advised public and private sector leaders on go-to-market strategies, regulatory frameworks, and industry-specific investment climates. - Cultivated an agile leadership culture and mentored emerging talent across ten Southeast Asian markets. - Increased regional revenue by 25% YoY by spearheading business development efforts, refining go-to-market strategies, and cultivating strategic alliances. - Launched new advisory offerings tailored to ESG, digital finance, and regulatory transformation — achieving 30% penetration in target segments.
Academic Experience
Tallinn University of Technology -
2005.08 - 2011.11
Master of Arts, MA in Business Administration, Marketing