About the Founder
I specialise in catalysing the careers of forward thinking, global professionals and executives by helping them clarify their unique value, become highly visible and land work abroad. With 25+ years experience in professional and business development in 45+ countries, I provide expert guidance to those interested in making an impact in their organisations and the world.
I believe powerfully communicating your strengths and unique value - on and offline - is essential to winning in today's dynamic, digital and global marketplace. In a world of change these two constants drive your performance, your differentiation and are your ultimate competitive edge.
My in-depth, 360° approach to international career acceleration is at its core about helping you communicate your unique value in a compelling and relevant way to the people who need what you offer most. It is informed by 3 degrees, 8 certifications, 18+ years overseas and 25+ years of experience working on 6 continents.
By thriving in roles aligned with their strengths and global lifestyle, my clients are recognized and well-compensated for the value they create. But more importantly they are positioned to impact real change in the world.
By empowering change agents with what they need to realize their potential I hope to make the world an even more extraordinary place.
Interested in My Credentials, Experience, Media Features and Pursuit of Global Citizenship?
For those of you interested in my credentials, experience and who I work with as well as how my pursuit of global citizenship started from an early age, please read below.
Who I Work With
I work best with forward-thinking expats struggling to clarify, communicate and be recognized for their unique value. These global minded professionals, executives and consultants are ready to dig deep to unearth their true strengths and use this Personal Brand DNA to drive their career and business choices. Truly committed, they're eager to learn and ready to invest the time and energy to manage their careers on an ongoing basis. They're keen to unleash the power of their ideas and passion to create change in their organizations and the world.
My clients work for global and Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson and Cisco, as well as embassies, international organizations and the United Nations. I've supported clients in the following industries:
• Technology, HR, New Media, Finance/Banking, Pharma, Consulting, Tourism
• Renewable Energy, Sustainability, CSR, Medicine & Public Health
• Diplomacy, Foreign Service, International Development and Non-profits
I also work with global companies to empower their executives to meet objectives and grow as leaders on international assignment.
In addition I've worked with top European business schools like SDA Bocconi in Italy and top universities in the U.S. like Brown University to help their international MBA graduates and alumni to grow their careers at home and abroad.
My clients work for global and Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson and Cisco, as well as embassies, international organizations and the United Nations. I've supported clients in the following industries:
• Technology, HR, New Media, Finance/Banking, Pharma, Consulting, Tourism
• Renewable Energy, Sustainability, CSR, Medicine & Public Health
• Diplomacy, Foreign Service, International Development and Non-profits
I also work with global companies to empower their executives to meet objectives and grow as leaders on international assignment.
In addition I've worked with top European business schools like SDA Bocconi in Italy and top universities in the U.S. like Brown University to help their international MBA graduates and alumni to grow their careers at home and abroad.
Credentials/Experience
I've worked across many sectors and industries, both profit and non-profit. I have worked in senior, managerial and director level roles as well as being a consultant and business owner. I've spent many years in international development, including having designed training programs for executives and entrepreneurs from developing and transitional countries. I've provided long term, hands-on support to professionals and entrepreneurs as well as built my own portable business to support my global lifestyle.
I have 3 degrees, 8 certifications and am constantly learning about new tools and strategies to better support my clients. My credentials include:
- Certified Personal Branding Strategist - 1 of first 100 worldwide
- Certified Career Coach
- Certified Executive Coach
- Certified Online Identity Strategist – 1 of first 35 worldwide
- Certified 360 Personal Brand Assessment Analyst
- Certified Social Media Marketing Strategist - 1 of first 30 worldwide
- Certified Performance Analysist - 1 of 26 worldwide
- Certified in G3 Career Communications
- Masters Degree in Multimedia Design and Communications
- Bachelor Degrees in both International Relations and Semiotics
Expertise Recognition
As a specialist in expat and international careers, personal branding and online identity, I'm often featured in or asked to contribute to books such as:
- Storytelling about Your Brand Online & Offline
- Twitter Job Search Guide: Find a Job and Advance Your Career in 15 Minutes a Day
- Personal Branding for Dummies
- Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Truth About Moving Abroad & Whether it's Right for You
- A Career in my Suitcase
- A Broad Abroad: The Expat Wife's Guide to Successful Living Abroad
- Vado a Vivere all'Estero: Guida Pratica per Espatriati
- A four page feature in Fortune Magazine
- CNN Money
- Wall Street Journal Online - FINS
- The Financial Times
- The Washington Post
- BBC
- Channel News Asia
- Italy Magazine
- The Telegraph
I've been the International Job Search expert at one of the top job search sites according to Forbes and US News and World Report. And I've been the Expat Careers expert and columnist on Expat Focus, a top online resource for all aspects of expat life.
I've also been recognized for my expertise in careers and social media:
- 100 Best Career Resources for Graduates and PhDs
- Top 50 Personal Branding Consultants
- Top 30 Personal Branding Experts on Twitter
- 100 Personal Branding Experts To Follow on Twitter
- 100+ Career Blogs ALL Professionals MUST Read
- 9 Expat Blogs to Follow
- 20 Interesting Expats to Follow on Twitter
- 101 Best Job Search and Career Experts on Twitter
- Top 10 Facebook Fan Pages for Job Seekers and Career Minded Folk
- In over 500 lists on Twitter
My Story
My journey to becoming a global citizen, professional and business owner started early in life. Born in the U.S., books first introduced me to a world outside of my own and fueled a growing fascination with different cultures. I dreamt of following in the footsteps of my childhood hero Nancy Drew - traveling to Austria to save refugee children in Hungary or navigating the world of art and business in Japan.
Chronically curious even as a child, I watched every film with subtitles I could find to explore new worlds I dreamed of visiting. My first taste of life in another country inspired my pursuit of international travel and study abroad during high school and university. I attribute my two bachelor degrees in International Relations and Semiotics at Brown University - the study of global economies and how meaning is created - to first setting me on the path towards helping others find meaningful work abroad.
What I loved most about one of my first jobs with USAID designing training for entrepreneurs from developing countries was learning about the challenges of growing businesses in difficult environments - and the solutions to overcome them. So many of the people with whom I worked - like a woman in Tanzania who built a cheese making business with minimal electricity or a Romanian advertising executive starting his firm just after the Iron Curtain fell - showed me again and again that we are capable of much more than we believe is possible. I drew strength from those stories when I was facing my own challenges, including building a fulfilling personal and professional life in new countries.
That experience of empowering entrepreneurs to realize their business goals was the start of a 20 year career in career, organizational and business development. Since then I've worked with professionals and entrepreneurs in over 45 countries on 6 continents, and lived in 13 cities in 5 countries with short term assignments in Africa, Asia and Europe. I've worked in senior, managerial and director level roles as well as being a consultant and business owner. Although my focus on impacting change for growth and maximizing potential was always the same, the roles and cultures in which I worked provided new ways for me to stretch and grow.
Along the way I've pursued certifications in personal branding, executive coaching, career coaching, online identity management, social media marketing, performance analysis, career communications and assessments. I've also received a Masters Degree in Multimedia Communications which informs how I support my clients in building their online presence and network. The passion for learning and creative problem solving talents which emerged when I was young and were further developed from early on in my career are still contributing factors to my success today.
I continue to support projects in developing countries by donating a percentage of my income to life saving programs worldwide fighting AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Through Kiva.org I’m currently supporting a group in Peru to start a restaurant to serve traditional dishes to their community.
Chronically curious even as a child, I watched every film with subtitles I could find to explore new worlds I dreamed of visiting. My first taste of life in another country inspired my pursuit of international travel and study abroad during high school and university. I attribute my two bachelor degrees in International Relations and Semiotics at Brown University - the study of global economies and how meaning is created - to first setting me on the path towards helping others find meaningful work abroad.
What I loved most about one of my first jobs with USAID designing training for entrepreneurs from developing countries was learning about the challenges of growing businesses in difficult environments - and the solutions to overcome them. So many of the people with whom I worked - like a woman in Tanzania who built a cheese making business with minimal electricity or a Romanian advertising executive starting his firm just after the Iron Curtain fell - showed me again and again that we are capable of much more than we believe is possible. I drew strength from those stories when I was facing my own challenges, including building a fulfilling personal and professional life in new countries.
That experience of empowering entrepreneurs to realize their business goals was the start of a 20 year career in career, organizational and business development. Since then I've worked with professionals and entrepreneurs in over 45 countries on 6 continents, and lived in 13 cities in 5 countries with short term assignments in Africa, Asia and Europe. I've worked in senior, managerial and director level roles as well as being a consultant and business owner. Although my focus on impacting change for growth and maximizing potential was always the same, the roles and cultures in which I worked provided new ways for me to stretch and grow.
Along the way I've pursued certifications in personal branding, executive coaching, career coaching, online identity management, social media marketing, performance analysis, career communications and assessments. I've also received a Masters Degree in Multimedia Communications which informs how I support my clients in building their online presence and network. The passion for learning and creative problem solving talents which emerged when I was young and were further developed from early on in my career are still contributing factors to my success today.
I continue to support projects in developing countries by donating a percentage of my income to life saving programs worldwide fighting AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Through Kiva.org I’m currently supporting a group in Peru to start a restaurant to serve traditional dishes to their community.
To learn even more about my favorite topics, visit my Career By Choice blog.
What next?
To learn how I can help you become highly visible, sought-after and build a career or business abroad, go to the Solutions for Today's Challenges, Executives and Professionals or Consultants pages or contact me to schedule an initial conversation.