• Computer Problems? David can help
  • Cirieco Design - Graphic Design and Marketing Services
  • Buy the 11th edition of Know-it-all passport

Below you will find a selection of the most recent entries from bloggers in our Work/Business section.

To view the entries from individual bloggers, click on the links below:

 

  • Claire Doole - Claire Doole Communications

    Claire is a former BBC correspondent and international spokeswoman who is passionate about helping people communicate with confidence. Since 2006, she has successfully trained hundreds of professionals in the art of presenting and public speaking, talking to the media, managing communications in a crisis, and writing for the web. In addition, she has coached C-level executives and public figures to give powerful TEDx and TED style talks in Europe and the Middle East. A Swiss and UK national, Claire trains and coaches in French and English.

  • Elizabeth Ballin - Life Coach

    As a long time member of the international community in Geneva, Elizabeth Ballin has been coaching adults and students from all parts of the world.  She has coached business professionals, musicians/artists, couples, families and adolescents.  She is a fully accredited Life Coach by the International Coaching Federation. Elizabeth Ballin, Life Coach

  • Patrick Hoza - US Tax & Financial Services

    Since 1990, Patrick has many years of experience with US individual expatriate taxation under his belt, including High Net Worth Individuals, streamline/voluntary disclosure filings and tax consulting, as well as working with large multinationals like Novartis, BP, Hewlett Packard and General Electric. He has extensive knowledge in serving both US expatriates and resident and non-resident aliens with their US tax-related issues. Patrick Hoza is a Tax Director at US Tax & Financial Services, with extensive experience in all aspects of Individual US tax and Expatriation, including Hight Net Worth Individuals and large multinationals.

    Patrick started his career in 1990 in California, with Westpro Ltd., as a Senior Tax Consultant, then spent the middle part of his career working at KPMG and Ernst & Young. During his time with Ernst & Young, he worked and lived in Russia, France and finally Switzerland. He has gained a valuable working knowledge of the respective income tax regulations in all of these countries.

    Patrick holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Colorado, is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents and is a Certified Acceptance Agent.

  • Melitta Campbell - Business Coach
    Business Coach and Mentor with nearly 3 decades of business experience and a passion for helping women confidently build a business they love. She is also the founder of the Swiss Entrepreneurs Club and president of the Swiss Riviera Toastmasters Club in Montreux. Originally from Wales, she now lives in Montreux in a chalet she has renovated with her husband overlooking the Swiss Alps. 

  • Sunita Sehmi - Walk The Talk
    Founder of Walk The Talk, Sunita has been training, developing and now coaching Business Communication skills in both companies and educational establishments for over twenty years.  She has a passion for helping people to maximise their potential and created Walk The Talk with the sole aim to drive each and every client to perform their best.
  • Robert Harris- Forth Capital
    With over 25 years experience working for some of the major financial institutions in the City of London, Robert is a founding partner of Forth Capital, the leading expat financial advisory company in Switzerland. Regulary quoted in newspaper articles and magazines, he is well placed to advise expats on a variety of financial issues that may arise during their time living in Switzerland.
  • Debbie Croft - Croft Coaching

    As the founder of Croft Coaching, Debbie has a passion for helping people overcome challenges, embrace change and live life to the full; with an ethos of “work hard, play hard”.

  • Sarah Santacroce, https://humane.marketing/coaching

    Areas of Expertise: Conscious Business Coaching, Humane Marketing, LinkedIn

    Sarah Santacroce is a Conscious Business Coach for Coaches and service-based solopreneurs, founder of Humane Marketing and author of Marketing Like We’re Human, Selling Like We’re Human, and Business Like We’re Human. Since 2006 in marketing, entrepreneurship, and conscious business coaching, she’s supporting changemakers worldwide through workshops, programs, and her signature Conscious Business Coaching. Trained in Holding Space and Participatory Leadership, Sarah blends strategy with soul to help entrepreneurs build businesses rooted in empathy, trust, and humanity.

    Sarah has been a guest on nearly 100 podcasts and has been podcasting since 2016. Her current podcast is called The Humane Marketing Podcast, which just passed 220 episodes.

  • Diana Ritchie - SSC Sàrl
    A Director at Swiss Career Connections, Diana will provide you with some useful tips for job hunting.

Making a successful pitch to an executive board

Screenshot 2024 07 03 at 16.46.39 copy

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com

Pitching to an executive board is high-stakes. After months of hard work developing a project or strategy, you need the board’s buy-in—but securing it is no easy feat.

The room is filled with senior executives who are busy, and their knowledge of your subject might vary widely. Adding to the challenge, there may be up to nine members present—an odd number to avoid voting ties.

I’ve coached many professionals to navigate these make-or-break moments. So, what’s the secret to winning over the board?

Below are some tips and tricks that could help you get the thumbs up for your next pitch.

Preparation prevents poor performance

Advance notice is critical. Boards don’t like surprises. It pays off to informally speak with each member beforehand so that you can write a concept note that you can get signed off.

Make sure you send a PDF of your slides to the board a few days before the pitch so they have time to read it. This means they can absorb the main arguments and prepare some pertinent questions.

How to give a talk that engages the audience

Screenshot 2024 07 03 at 16.46.39 copy

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com

“We are a new women’s networking group in Geneva and would love you to talk for 40 minutes about your career in communications”, says Valentine Honoré, the founder of the Curiosity Club.
My first reaction was, do I really want to talk about myself?
The second, was do I have anything to say?
And my third, 40 minutes is far too long. 
You would think I would jump at the chance of talking to this group of women. But I have spent most of my professional life not talking about myself. I have always been most comfortable when asking questions as a journalist, or conference moderator, speaking on behalf of an organization or training people to speak in public or to the media!
 
Although the invite was out of my comfort zone, I thought it would be good to put myself in the shoes of the clients I train and coach in public speaking. They often tell me that they are also uncomfortable talking about themselves even though they know that personal stories help people connect. 
 
Below are some tips and techniques on how I went about telling my story. 
 

What makes a great interviewer?

Screenshot 2024 07 03 at 16.46.39 copy

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com

Did you watch Emily Maitlis’s interview with Prince Andrew about his relationship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein? If not, did you see the wonderful film that has just come out – Scoop – about that interview? 
 
Emily excels as an interviewer. She enters each conversation well prepared, focused and with a clear idea of how she wants to steer the conversation. Her strength also lies in her ability to listen to deepen her understanding and ask probing follow-up questions. This blend of preparation and flexibility is one of the reasons her interviews are so compelling. 
 
You may not get to interview a member of the British royal family – few get that opportunity. However, her approach and techniques are worth observing, if you are asked to conduct an on-camera interview for your organization or company.
 
Over the past few months, I have trained a number of people on how to interview their CEOs, members of senior management teams or technical experts for videos to be posted on the company intranet, website or social media platforms. 
 

Tips from a Masterful Media Communicator

Tips from a Masterful Media Communicator
 
By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com
 
People often ask me who excels at talking to the media. My answer is Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UNRWA – the UN Palestinian Relief Agency that employs 13,000 people in the Gaza Strip, and runs schools and social services. 
 
Lazzarini has one of the most challenging jobs in the world, made even more difficult since the events of October 7th. Currently, he is  banned by Israel from visiting Gaza, and his agency is not allowed to deliver much-needed food to the North of the strip where famine looms. Israel has also accused a dozen UNRWA staff of involvement in the Hamas attacks on Israel – allegations that remain unsubstantiated. 189 of his staff have so far lost their lives in the conflict.
 
Yet he remains cool, calm and collected when questioned by the media about those allegations, the effectiveness of the relief operations or the plight of the Palestinians. 
 
I have analyzed some of the interviews he has done with major international broadcasters, Al Jazeera, Sky News and BBC, over the past six months, with a view to illustrating some of the techniques he uses that make him such an excellent interviewee. 
 

Keeping the show on the road

Claire close up

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com

One of the key roles of a conference moderator is making sure that everything goes smoothly. Whatever happens, the show must go on, and the only person who can ensure this is the moderator who has the microphone.
 
Nothing as dramatic has happened to me as the famous incident back in the 1980’s when BBC newsreader Sue Lawley carried on reading the news when activists stormed the studio – one handcuffing herself to a camera and the other crouching below the newsreader's desk!
 
However, here are a few conference shockers that I had to deal with and ensure the show went on… 
 
The rollercoaster of technical chaos: At one event, we were eagerly awaiting the keynote speaker's wisdom, only to be met with the dreaded "failed to connect" message not once, not twice, but three times on day one. The organisers refused to ask her to pre-record her remarks for day two and, predictably, day two didn't fare any better! Again, we twice tried to connect, but our speaker remained elusive, leaving us hanging without a single word of her anticipated keynote.
 
But wait, there's more! As we attempted to patch in speakers from every corner of the globe, it seemed like the universe conspired against us. Five consecutive no-shows! It was like a virtual game of hide-and-seek, and we were losing spectacularly.
  1. Event Organisers, Heed Your Moderator's Counsel
  2. What makes a great keynote speech?
  3. Power of the Editorial Sense
  4. Does work feel like work? Or pleasure?
  5. Is Chat GPT Valuable for Public Relations Professionals?
  6. The Unexpected Panel 
  7. What makes a great Master of Ceremonies?
  8. SEE, STOP, SAY: How to deliver a speech that captivates
  9. When do you cancel a panel discussion?
  10. Speechwriting - How to capture your speaker's voice
  11. Know Your Audience – the Key to Successful Speeches and Presentations
  12. 10 top tips for nailing that job interview
  13. The forgotten panel participant - the audience
  14. Lessons from the pandemic on how to communicate science
  15. Media Training: How to Answer the Personal Question
  16. Wolfgang – the master storyteller
  17. Demystifying the art of storytelling
  18. Has there been an event reset since COVID?
  19. Setting up and running hybrid meetings
  20. Advice from a moderator on how to select your panel speakers
  21. Melitta Campbell's new book out: A Shy Girl’s Guide to Networking
  22. Press briefings in the virtual world
  23. How to professionally produce a virtual event
  24. Hybrid events the new normal in 2021
  25. Moderating in the virtual world - Tips and techniques from a professional moderator
  26. Engaging Presenting in the virtual world
  27. Business Coach versus YouTube Mentors
  28. Successful virtual events are good television
  29. Expatriation the easy way or How I learned to give up my US citizenship and breathe freely again
  30. Streamlined Voluntary Disclosure for US citizens living in Switzerland
  31. Facilitating engaging meetings in the virtual world
  32. The power of virtual learning particularly in a pandemic
  33. 10 Tips for Moderating Dynamic Virtual Meetings
  34. Unprecedented pandemic press conference from pharma industry
  35. Business Success Secrets from a Local Business Coach for Women
  36. Storytelling is an essential professional skill
  37. How to Plan your Business for Success in 2020
  38. Creating a STAR panel discussion
  39. An end to "Manels" and "Manferences" - a Moderator's View
  40. Helena Rubenstein - Opportunity missed to tell the story of a great woman
  41. How to make your point the right way
  42. How to succeed at a video job interview
  43. Storytelling to further your career
  44. A job interview is a presentation
  45. The Perfect Career for Trailing Spouses?
  46. Avoiding Oscar Night Gaffes
  47. Is Davos the gold standard of panel discussions?
  48. Search Inside Yourself: born at Google and based on neuroscience
  49. Time in the market, not timing the market
  50. You Too Can Be A Powerful (TEDx) Public Speaker
  51. What Makes a Powerful TED Talk?
  52. Sunita meets one of the authors of "The Joy of Leadership"
  53. Building Rapport for Effective Communication
  54. Benefits of Next Generation Passive Investment Strategies
  55. Sunita talks to plant-based Chef Anou Boccasam
  56. Handling Question and Answer Sessions
  57. How to construct a memorable speech
  58. Motivational speeches: Take a lesson from football
  59. Sunita talks to yoga teacher, Céline Le Roux Schaer
  60. 6 top tips for an engaging panel discussion
  61. How Women Rise: Break The 12 Habits Holding You Back From Your Next Raise, Promotion Or Job
  62. An interview with Anne-Marie Struijk, Founder of La Maison de Tara
  63. How to craft a memorable sound bite
  64. Delivering powerful presentations
  65. Saving Swiss Public Service Broadcasting: Tips on structuring a persuasive speech
  66. An interview with Peter Wharton
  67. How to be prepared for market volatility – the importance of risk profiling explained
  68. How to reach your peak - an interview with Anders Ericsson
  69. Moderating with a Cartoonist
  70. Technology can transform your conference
  71. Hotel-Restaurant Valrose in Rougemont, Vaud - an interview with John Grohe
  72. Moderator, Facilitator and Master of Ceremonies: What is the Difference?
  73. “Pain is the agent of change,” Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving
  74. Women and retirement – prepare in advance and be independent – just in case!
  75. Lessons from a Master Coach: What I learnt about public speaking from a musical maestro
  76. Sunita Sehmi talks to gender and inclusion specialist, Fleur Heyworth
  77. "Answer, don't avoid the question Prime Minister"
  78. Sunita Sehmi: interviewer and interviewee
  79. John Tomlinson talks to Sunita Sehmi about Trainer Tools, a collaborative podcast project for trainers
  80. The Local Media: Friend or Foe? How to constructively engage with local journalists
  81. Champion of women, food guru, inspirational entrepreneur: Pinky Lilani, the Ultimate Spice Girl
  82. How to moderate a hot topic
  83. Many Expats unaware their UK pensions have been affected
  84. Sharing happiness with Frederik Van Lierde, founder of Gift Voucher Kiosk
  85. How to sound natural when reading a speech
  86. The Entrepreneur's Wife: A Survival Guide
  87. The inaugural speech of Donald Trump: How persuasive was it?
  88. Happiness
  89. Moderating with Macron
  90. Find out more about abandonment recovery in Sunita Sehmi's interview with Susan Anderson
  91. Yogi banker brings corporate careers and holistic lifestyles together
  92. Find out more about Shakti Leadership in Sunita Sehmi's interview with Nilima Bhat
  93. Flexible working from the perspective of a Line Manager/Team Leader
  94. "Anyone can be a leader - it is a choice": an interview with Willem Jan Hofmans founder of YIELD
  95. Sunita Sehmi talks about The Work with Byron Katie
  96. Pension Protection Fund - is your pension safe?
  97. Tips for professional women during maternity leave
  98. The Ralda family talks to Sunita Sehmi about why sponsoring their olive trees makes a great Christmas present… that keeps on giving throughout the whole year.
  99. Capital Gains Tax for Non-UK Residents
  100. 5 key elements of a good LinkedIn profile picture