Aurelija Zaksė

As a Range Leader of IKEA Retail Baltic organization, my primary mission is to shape the direction of the Home Furnishing Business by gaining profound insights into local market needs from both a consumer and product range perspective, anchored in the unique concept of life at home.

I am responsible of defining the Home Furnishing Business strategy, aiming to maximize long-term growth and profitability. Through close collaboration with Shopkeepers as matrix partners in three Baltic countries, I ensure the seamless execution of our strategies, creating an environment where our offerings align with customer needs and demands.

All of the above is made working daily with range dimensioning, pricing, price levels, price design, forecasting and competition monitoring.

In this role close collaboration with internal Baltic market teams is as much important as with Core Business Range teams in IKEA of Sweden.

As one of the leader in the HFB department, I take pride in embodying the IKEA values. We lead by example, drive an open and sharing climate that echoes the spirit of togetherness that defines the IKEA brand.

Served as a key contributor in the seamless transition of the company’s e-commerce platform to a new web infrastructure. Responsibilities centered on ensuring accurate content migration, including:

• Managing the transfer of web content from the IRW platform to the new system.
• Coordinating and validating multilingual translations to ensure consistency and localization accuracy.
• Developing and optimizing landing pages that reflected the new range tree (product categorization and structure).
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams including UX/UI, IT, and digital marketing to maintain brand integrity and user experience during the migration.

Led the business-side execution of the Navision master version migration project, ensuring effective collaboration between business operations and IT. Accountable for comprehensive planning, stakeholder alignment, and seamless implementation. Key responsibilities included:

• Planning and coordinating project activities, including scheduling super user meetings and maintaining efficient cross-functional information flow.
• Organizing and overseeing User Acceptance Testing (UAT), ensuring readiness of testing environments, including setup of classrooms with appropriate furniture and hardware.
• Acting as a key liaison between business teams and IT, translating operational needs into system requirements and ensuring alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Developing and executing an internal awareness and communication plan to prepare the organization for the upcoming changes and ensure a smooth transition.
• Supporting go-live activities, including resource readiness, system checks, and business continuity planning.
• Supporting post-go-live operations through active bug reporting, issue tracking, and problem-solving to ensure a stable and functional system rollout.

Managed end-to-end B2B sales operations at IKEA, supporting both high-volume and smaller orders with a strong focus on customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Key responsibilities included:

• Handling B2B customer orders, including coordination of picking services, deliveries, and installations to ensure seamless execution.
• Leading interior design projects for business clients in collaboration with in-house interior designers, from initial consultation through to project completion.
• Applying in-depth IKEA home furnishing knowledge to tailor solutions that met the specific needs of each B2B customer.
• Driving improvements in internal B2B processes to enhance workflow efficiency and elevate the overall customer experience.
• Acting as a key point of contact for business clients, ensuring consistent, high-quality service across all touchpoints.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining digital operational localizations in the Navision system, ensuring accurate configuration and alignment with local business processes.

Oversaw customer service operations and office administration at a gift card company, ensuring service excellence across all customer-facing and internal functions. Key responsibilities included:

• Managing day-to-day office administration and supervising the administrative team to maintain high service standards.
• Leading recruitment and onboarding of sales staff for seven customer meeting points located in shopping malls across Lithuania.
• Coordinating scheduling, monitoring working hours, and ensuring proper staffing levels to maintain uninterrupted operations at all retail locations.
• Ensuring that sales points opened and closed according to schedule and adhered to company standards and local regulations.
• Overseeing cashier documentation and ensuring full compliance with national legal requirements regarding financial transactions and reporting.
• Acting as the primary escalation point for complex customer issues, with final decision-making authority in resolving customer service matters.
• Supporting cross-functional coordination between sales, administration, and customer care to deliver a seamless and professional customer experience.

Served as the first point of contact for customers, managing both online inquiries and phone communications with professionalism and efficiency. Key responsibilities included:

• Providing frontline customer support and directing inquiries to the appropriate departments.
• Managing day-to-day office operations, including maintaining office supplies, coordinating vendor agreements, and ensuring a well-organized and functional work environment.
• Overseeing administrative tasks such as document management, internal coordination, and office correspondence.
• Planning and organizing office events and internal team activities to support a positive workplace culture.
• Supporting general administrative needs to ensure smooth office operations and a high level of service to both internal and external stakeholders.