The April FEW meeting featured guest speaker Christopher Wood, President of Estee Lauder KK, Japan. Born in the United States to Canadian parents, Christopher was raised in the peripatetic home life of a diplomatic family.
His formal education includes a law degree from the University of W. Ontario and an MBA from I.N.S.E.A.D. in Fontainbleau, France.

Christopher began his career in prestige cosmetics selling sun tan lotion for L'Oreal along the border of France and Belgium. Ambition, as well as a natural predilection for travel, led him to a career with Estee Lauder as a Turnaround Specialist. His experience at the helm of non-performing affiliates around the globe has provided him with unique insights on the challenges of management within a multinational corporation.

Mr. Wood gave a polished and entertaining presentation titled "Executives Without Borders", enumerating many "Global Best Practices" and honest guidelines for those hoping to pursue an international career in management. Those that were lucky enough to hear Christopher speak (and bring home a delicious bag of Estee goodies!) are sure to remember some of the following salient tips:

THE THREE TRAITS HE LOOKS FOR IN AN EMPLOYEE:
1. Ambition: An inherent sense of urgency.
2. Passion: To thrive in the razor thin place between panic & euphoria.
3. Humor: He asks applicants Do you like to laugh?

KNOW YOUR PURPOSE (AND CONSTANTLY REEVALUATE)
Understand you role in the big picture.
Capitalize on your personal USP = Unique Selling Proposition

FIND A COMPANY THAT HAS A PHILOSOPHY YOU CAN BELIEVE IN.

FIND A SUCCESSOR IMMEDIATELY.
If you can't be replaced, you won't be promoted.

THE THREE KEYS TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
1. Language
2. Market
3. Cultural Context
(Without at least 2 your chances at success are strongly diminished.)

EXPECT CRITICISM

CONQUER LOCAL PRECONCEPTIONS and MISNOMERS
No market is so unique that you can't use normal business practices.
Manage differences by maintaining belief in yourself and a certain flexibility in your presentation.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE. INTEGRITY TRANSCENDS CULTURE.

BALANCE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL TIME.
If you need to choose between them, choose your personal time. It will always be more rewarding.

MOVE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

BE A RULE BREAKER.
Rules and regulations are often a disguise for incompetence.
Business as usual is not a sustainable model.

MANAGE WITH THE FOUR R's
1. Respect
2. Recognition
3. Reward
4. Reach Out