I learned what it’s like to start over, to feel vulnerable and lost – whether it’s starting in a new place with my family or in a new job.
We all have to eat and we like to eat well. I find the analogy to a kitchen works very well as we move through life. Just as a mise en place in the kitchen plays a crucial role in the success of a menu alongside high-quality ingredients, knowledge of kitchen skills and specific dishes is of great importance. Cookbooks are my indispensable companions – they stand for preparation and anticipation.
I have adopted this approach not only in our vibrant private life but also in my professional life. Guidance is essential. A cookbook is crucial for the kitchen and an awareness of different cultures is fundamental in international life.
I have turned this experience into my profession with one of the best educations for cultural understanding. “The Culture Factor Group” (formerly Hofstede) gives me the knowledge to build bridges. It also allows me to access a global network of qualified partners and resources.
I am Swiss, raised in Zurich, and have both a medical and a business background - two areas I never planned to leave. But as so often in life, things happen while you are making other plans.
With my husband and our three children, we started our life as expatriates in Barcelona. After a short interlude in Switzerland, we continued our journey to Dublin and from there to São Paulo, which we call home right now. At each station, I recalibrated myself and integrated into professional life.
I took the opportunity that life abroad gave me to reinvent myself over and over again. I trained as a makeup artist and worked on projects in theater, film and for Fashion Week. I am also a trained Pilates instructor and have taught with passion and dedication. Driven by curiosity and an appetite for new experiences, I enjoyed these completely different environment and found them wonderfully refreshing.
In addition to my work in event and restaurant management and coaching executives, I have been able to gain a wealth of professional experience on this meandering path. With this rich treasure trove of diverse experiences, I founded CultureNow.
When I'm at home, you can often find me in the kitchen. My stints at Ferran Adrià, Hofmann in Barcelona, and Le Cordon Bleu have helped me refine my techniques and learn from the very best. "Mens sana in corpore sano" is my motto - a healthy mind in a healthy body.
I had a strong desire to utilise my diverse experiences and share them with others so they can become a tool of assistance and guidance. With that in mind I qualified as a coach. With the training at the "Co-Active Training Institute" and my certification as an Associated Practitioner from "The Culture Factor Group," I have the necessary background to support you. Wheter you are a company, an executive, an employee, or family members who are traveling abroad. My program will prepare you for the challenges ahead and make sure you enter this next chapter in your life prepared and ready for the cultural changes that come with it.
I look forward to meeting you.
~ Monica, CEO Life Coaching ~