Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in leadership development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Taty Fittipaldi, Founder of Coaching Expatriates LLC., located in Denville, NJ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Coaching Expatriates® is a company focused on talent development and global leadership training. We help corporate global leaders make impactful business decisions by helping them learn and master the four success pillars of global leadership. Navigating uncertainty and multicultural challenges in global markets are imperative during talent development. We are here to help executives who want to excel in that and propagate a healthy corporate working environment.
Tell us about yourself
While learning and growing as a corporate talent during my career, I was heavily trained. None of my training, though, provided any context for working in global and multicultural environments. And no training provided actionable and practical processes for applying all those interesting concepts. I started my business to share what I learned through the years so that other leaders can expedite their learning and careers without the same hassle I went through.
It is always inspiring and motivating when I see a customer have breakthroughs and say, "things make so much sense now they are coming together!" When I see their increased confidence and their efforts in promoting better working environments, it's when I feel very accomplished.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was the creation of the Global Executive Leadership Program. This is a complete leadership development system that helps leaders learn, assimilate and practice key global leadership concepts and skills. It's more complete than most big fish training out there in the market and more focused on the multicultural and global corporate environments.
For me, it's a big accomplishment because I spearheaded an entire project that brings real value to corporate executives around the world. This project took over a year: from research, concept, outline, execution, and testing and beta-testing until the full product launch. It feels great to birth this kind of product, not only because it brings real value to the world but because it really changes the way global leaders think, relate, and strategize as global executives.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about being a business owner is "wearing too many hats" at the same time. Most people say, "that's what being a CEO is like." But this is the wrong mindset. A business owner is more than a CEO because they are actually responsible for many other roles inside the company. Like board members, PR, fund-raising, marketing, promoter, and so on.
They are the executive, legislative and judicial, all in one. The business owner must be a very balanced leader to deal effectively with that. Every business owner must navigate all this ambiguity plus the uncertainty while wearing all these hats. That's the hardest, in my opinion.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My first tip is to take some time doing research and raise your (and your team's) self-awareness about what you want to do and your purpose in life. That sounds easy, but it's not. Most people don't have it clear to the very last detail. Being crystal clear about what you want to accomplish as an entrepreneur and how is vital.
The second tip is to take time to properly research who you want to serve. This is often overlooked by most newcomers. Creating your business personas is something crucial. Your products and services are the same, but how they will feel is different, depending on who you are serving and what's their purpose when consuming what you have to offer. As entrepreneurs, we have to adjust to what they want instead of having them adjust to our offers.
The last tip is getting a coach. I would not have been as resilient and as strong as an entrepreneur if I didn't have my coach supporting and pushing me whenever I needed. They function as sounding boards and accountability partners, which is essential for any entrepreneur.
A bonus tip is to get a mentor. Someone with many entrepreneurial years in their belts can give you a few pointers and tips. Having someone to set your expectations correctly can be very powerful. It's different from the coach. The mentor will help you set the right goals. Your coach will help you strategize, plan, prepare, and execute.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.coachingexpatriates.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachingexpatriates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taty_coaching_expatriates/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CExpatriates
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coaching-expatriates/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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