1. How did you become interested in your profession? What do you enjoy most about your job? ”Consistency is the last resort of the unimaginative” - Oscar Wilde
My job is never consistent, and for this reason, never boring. I think this is one reason I enjoy training so much…no two groups, or sessions are ever the same. People have endlessly varying needs, peccadilloes, interests, hopes, dream – what could be more fascinating than that? For this reason I also enjoy teaching very much. Students challenge what you say. They make you think. They keep you fresh and your information current.

2. What was your first year like? First year where? I have had so many different careers – manager of development assistance projects in Southeast Asia (17 years); management consultant (3 years); intercultural and diversity trainer (10 years). My first year as an intercultural trainer was, of course, wonderful. I had discovered my true ‘calling’ as it were, as a ‘sensemaker’ to help people understand their immediate universe.

3. What were/are some of the obstacles you have encountered? My usual obstacle is linguistic. Although I originally studied journalism because of a passion for the English language, I have not spent much of the past 30 years in English-speaking countries. I’ve had to master, with fluency, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Lao and Dutch. I always say if the language is obscure enough, I’m sure to learn it! However it was my passion for people and curiosity for my environment that resulted in success. And the key to every culture on each lies in its language.

4. What is the most unique aspect of your business? I think my company’s flexibility is unique. No matter what your diversity challenge, or intercultural/organizational issues, we can help you. I use a wide group of very experienced associates and consultants, so we can guarantee we will find someone with experience in exactly the area you need. Further, I guess my ‘unique selling point’ is that I have lived diversity and intercultural understanding for all of my adult life…

5. From where do you draw inspiration? From women. I find the company of women inspiring, rewarding and endlessly beneficial. For this reason I have been actively involved in issues of gender and management for many years, and go out of my way to mentor younger women. I see organizational preference as the greatest challenge to overcome for women, and, as the mother of a young woman, hope to see this change in my lifetime. Role models? Mary Robinson, Maya Angelou, Judy Rosener, Tim Sanders (I try to live his knowledge – networks – compassion model every day) and Michel Kimmel, the only true male feminist I have ever met.

6. What significant partnerships have played a role in your success? Personally, my partner of 25 years, Bram van der Boon, and my children Ally (22) and Tom (19), and my dog, Sam (Labrador, 9). Professionally, my associations with the University of British Columbia, and Leiden University, which I have enjoyed very, very much.

7. What would you say is your “claim to Fame”? Humor. I don’t try to lecture, but rather to get people to see how absurd most of life’s daily situations are. In this way people see for themselves how their own expectations and perceptions are what really stands in the way of productive working (and living!) relationships. A situation just…is. Everything else is interpretation.

8. If you could only offer one piece of advice about the internet/ecommerce/websites to our readers, what would that be? Don’t let the ICT people control the content! Your website has to be designed to suit the end user, your customer, and in this most ICT people fail dismally, qua content. You have communications people, use them!! AND – answer your email. People will remember, and e-trust is the new currency.

9. What are some of the trends you are noticing in your industry? Experience and emotion…clients come back to you because they remember how you made them feel. No one ever remembers most of what you say. I personally take away ONE big idea from every conference/seminar/meeting. Try to distill your message into that one big idea that people can take away. Make it as explicit as possible.

10. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? For women everywhere – cherish the company of women. Try not to see women in a ‘relative’ position. We aren’t weaker, or stronger, we’re different. Be authentically brave, originally happy, and uniquely kind. Show leadership in everything you do, be the change you wish to see in the world. Ethics are not an issue that can be compromised – you are going to have show others how you wish to have them behave around you. And, if they act in a way you wouldn’t have yourself, shrug it off. Give them permission to do and act differently than you would yourself. You don’t have to like it, and you don’t have to copy it, but you do have to acknowledge, with respect, their right to do it themselves.

Mary van der Boon is Managing Director of Global TMC International Management Training & Consulting based in the Netherlands. She provides an extensive range of services as intercultural and diversity management trainer and consultant to multinational, governmental and non-governmental organizations based in Europe, the Mid East, North America and Asia.

To contact Mary van der Boon, visit www.globaltmc.com

© 2006 - Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 8 other books. She is also the Founder & CEO of the Women’s ECommerce Association, International www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) – an Internet organization that “Helps Women Do Business on the WEB.” She can be reached at www.HeidiRichards.com.