Workshops & Seminars

I am perhaps best known for my lively, inspiring and interactive workshops that draw on my experience of ten years as an expatriate accompanying partner. Since 1997 I have spoken to spouses at Shell, Schlumberger, the British Council and British Diplomatic Spouses. A popular speaker at WIN (Women's International Networking Conference) (Milan), Families in Global Transition (Indianapolis), Bloom Where You're Planted (Paris), Women on the Move/Global Living (Paris and London), FAWCO (London and Luxembourg), I also run courses for specialist consultancies such as Culture Shock! Consulting (London), Farnham Castle (England) and Ricklin-Echikson Associates (USA) as well as those I organise myself.

Most of my talks can be relayed by video, teleconference, webconference or in person & all have been backed up by published articles in the international press. All can be adjusted to fit your own time constraints (from one hour to one full day). Fees are based on a full day, regardless of the actual length of the presentation, owing to the travel time that is necessarily incurred.

Topics:

Presentations

The Recycled Expatriate
This interactive workshop is great fun. It deals with the expatriate wife's need to be constantly flexible and ever reinventing herself according to life stage and location. Introducing the concepts of reinventing both the personal and professional identity, the workshop calls on my very different, yet very relevant, experiences and shares tips and survival tactics. Taking a positive and proactive approach to the many negatives thrown up by a mobile lifestyle participants are invited to consider their own goals and strengths and take the first step towards their next and best metamorphosis.

Portfolio People
This inspiring and practical workshop will allow delegates the tools to see their strengths in terms of a variety of career opportunities that can work well together. Juggling family, home and career is not a new concept, but add the juggling idea to a mobile lifestyle in which the spouse can so easily lose sight of herself is more complex. This workshop encourages delegates to focus on elements of their life that will allow them the greatest satisfaction in terms of work and play. Ultimately students will learn how to portray their multifaceted personalities and careers on paper as a professional portfolio that will take them onto bigger and more exciting things.

Making Things Happen with Teamwork
For many mobile spouses it can be hard to maintain a career when faced with constant upheaval. Forging useful and lasting working relationships is harder than ever. This workshop will introduce delegates to the immense value of building virtual, real and varied teams that will help them to delegate responsibility and move forward effectively in their chosen careers. Providing the tools for recognising and acting on the potential of fellow spouses, while encouraging effective networking tactics, this session will set delegates on the path to greater success.

A Career In Your Suitcase
This unique course, based on the book 'A Career in Your Suitcase', is designed to inspire, motivate and inform accompanying partners, so that they can feel confident about looking for 'off the economy' work and personal satisfaction while living abroad.

Delegates are invited to look inside themselves and identify their loves, skills and interests while evaluating the meaning of success. They then look outside themselves to identify local opportunities. Finally, they learn how to set manageable goals and make it happen for real.

Ultimately, everything is pulled together with group work and brainstorming.

Passion, Presents and Persistence
Learn how to build relationships, connect people and network for personal and professional benefit. Find out how networking can open doors for you, create magic and make dreams come true. Culminates with networking in action, leading to valuable contacts being made within the group.

Get in Print
Writing is such a versatile career - and sometimes it can be well paid too. Learn how to learn to write in the first place, how to improve your skills, to get into print, and to get paid for it. Discover these secrets and more from a wordsmith who has been, variously, poet, short story writer, student, teacher, journalist, publisher, editor, presenter and copywriter.

The Expatriate Writer
I sold my first book, entitled French Tarts, at 23, to the first publisher I approached. Since then I have published 17 books, hundreds of articles and formed her own publishing company.

Writing, in its many forms, dovetails beautifully with a career on the move. Writing too, is a form of therapy. This half or full day workshop shows where to get inspiration and how to turn that into words that sell - without needing to do lots of research and study.

During the programme, delegates will begin to write the words that will sell.

Working from Home
Often this is the ideal option for women on the move, particularly with school age children.
This workshop talks of organising your office, inspiration, coping with partners as well as time management and administration. Beating stress while remaining positive and motivated are included.

Capturing Creative Thinking
I have been writing since I could hold a pencil. Over the last 15 years I have made a living as a journalist, author, publisher, editor and teacher of creative writing. Her talk on Capturing Creative Thinking will teach you how speedwriting can help you to unlock your creativity - even if you hate writing. Bring along pen and paper and enjoy yourself.

Dual Careers Today
Using statistics, surveys and case studies, I describe the current situation for dual career partners today and then offer a variety of solutions. Drawing from my own experience, during my ten years as a 'trailing spouse' who chose to create my own luck, I explain how the loss of professional identity can destroy an overseas posting.

Find Your Passion
Deep down we know in our hearts what we want to do for a living. The trouble is we convince ourselves to pursue other things in the name of money, fame or a quiet life. This insightful workshop asks delegates to look inside themselves and discover their hidden talents. Group work and brainstorming are used to help dig up those long buried dreams.

Revive That Career
Motherhood, life abroad or other circumstance can cause many people to put their careers on hold for a few years. Facing reintegration into the world of work and professional identity can be daunting. This workshop invites delegates to reassess their skills and strengths and explore the wonderful opportunities that await them.

Spring into Action
If you have an idea of what you love to do, but have no idea how to turn that into a career, then come along and join in a blue sky and brainstorm session that shows you how to turn those skills and passions into paid work. Discover the tools, such as networking and informal teambuilding that will make your dream into a reality. This workshop would ideally be conducted by two presenters.

Speaker fees
The hiring company to organise and pay for:

In exchange I will:

Non-profit associations
If you are a non-profit association then I am happy to discuss flexible ways to proceed, which include purchasing of my books for resale and entrance fees