Living her dream, in her dream city, with her dream job. Dorotea set up her life with her husband in Singapore and has not looked back.

What’s your story?
My story is about managing to do what you choose to do with passion. I believe we create our own good fortune when we trust life, even when it throws unexpected challenges our way. I have always been fascinated by communication and true connection between people. So no matter what I did as work, this is what I created. I am a connector and an authentic relationship builder. So far, I have had two main careers, 12 years of theatre and 13 years of coaching and training to help business leaders achieve effective, emotional intelligent communication at work.

What excites you most about your industry?
I love to witness the journey of my clients when they go from lack of confidence, hating their next presentation or their  next ‘endless meeting’ to discovering that preparation can be enjoyable! I can hardly hold back my enthusiasm, when I see them become ‘Audience Smart’. They are then capable to really connect with their listeners and adapt, in the moment, to the changing mood of their audience. That makes me very proud and happy.

What’s your connection to Asia?
Back in 2007, my husband was sent here to work for a few weeks to replace a colleague and I joined him on the trip. We fell in love with Singapore because, having Singaporean friends we had met in Europe, they showed us their Singapore. It took us three years to make our dream of moving here come true. After 4 years of living here, we still cannot take it for granted and we often look at each other with an ear to ear smile “We did it, we are here”. We have applied for our PR and are waiting with fingers crossed.

theatre

Orange CCC logo

Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Definitely Singapore, because there is no other city in Asia where entrepreneurship is stimulated and supported to this extent. Most of our Singaporean friends are astonished to find out that we left Switzerland, in the middle of Europe to be here on the ‘red dot.’ We tell them, that for us, it has all that we need, dream and want: The safety, the green, the wonderful mix of people, the food as my husband would say, and a huge potential for my ‘Effective and Heartfelt communication’ business.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
To have a meaningful existence where the dreams I follow make a positive difference for others as well as myself.
 
Who inspires you?
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, he was an entrepreneur at heart who decided to put at the center of his concern and love the people of Singapore. When there was nothing there but difficulties, opposition and challenges, he never gave up his dream and vision of the Singapore of today. He also understood the importance of heartfelt communication and was a good listener. He was aware that he could not do it alone and he built a team and and a legacy, nurturing it throughout the years like each and everyone of the trees he planted. No wonder that people queued over 8 hours to say goodbye to him.

What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I heard the youtube speech of an extraordinary young man called Boyan Slat from TedX Delft . He shares his elegant, low cost, innovative solution, which would enable the oceans to clean themselves from plastic pollution! Again the entrepreneur’s spirit at work. Please look him up. It will give you hope for the future.

If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Nothing, I have no regrets so far as I consider that all the difficult times I have had, taught me precious lessons I could only have learnt through experience.

How do you unwind?
With music, light movies, sport, seeing friends, reading, swimming.

Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
We don’t have a favourite hideout in Asia, as we still find so much to do and see here in Singapore. Remember it is our dream city.

Everyone in business should read this book:
Entrepreneur’s Revolution by Daniel Priestley.

Shameless plug for your business:
With my training and coaching programs, SME Business leaders and managers experience that effective and emotional intelligent communication is at the core of having a healthy, well functioning and performing company. Communication is more than just words, it is about ideas, attitudes, beliefs and values that translate into decisions, motivation, behaviours and actions. One of the the key responsibility of leaders is to create a culture of open and effective communications based on mutual trust and respect so that teams can then function at their best. With my books and through my methodology over 500 leaders and managers have transformed useless, endless meetings into effective and fruitful ones where presentations are crisp and impactful and conversation is facilitated to be to the point and heartfelt.

How can people connect with you?
Dorotea Brandin, Author
Leadership Communication Coach and Trainer

Solution Focused Coach (ICF)
Founder of CORE COMMUNICATION COACHING, www.CCC.sg
Increase your Influence with Heartfelt Presence Communication Skills
IMPACT Leadership, ‘Adaptive Presentation skills’, Fruitful Meetings

Twitter handle?
https://twitter.com/listentovalue

This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:

CallumConnects

Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia.  He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries.  He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence.  A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.

Take the ‘Key Person of Influence’ scorecard <http://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/scorecard/>

Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Get his free ‘Asia Snapshot’ report from www.callumlaing.com

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