ACT Training International. Management and Executive training in Hong Kong, Singapore and Asia

PAULA MARCONDES : Principal Consultant and Facilitator

Paula Marcondes is the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of ACT Training International Pte Ltd.

Prior to founding ACT in Singapore (1997), and setting up ACT's offices in Hong Kong (2004) and Korea (2006), Paula worked as an in-house counsel for The General Electric Company of Singapore, in Singapore and for Richco Commex Ltd in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She set up and managed the legal departments of both companies and provided negotiation and contract management skills training to their executives and managers.

Paula's main areas of experience and interest are in curriculum design, team and leadership development, and communication and presentation skills. She, her husband and two children reside in Singapore. She lives her life with the desire to serve and enrich the lives of those she encounters.
Clients she has trained include Alcatel, ABN Amro Bank, ChevronTexaco, Club Med, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Citibank, Dresdner Bank, Deutsche Bank, ExxonMobil, Hewlett Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Merrill Lynch, UBS Bank, Mercury Interactive, Singapore Power, TNT International Express and Singapore Airlines, just to name a few.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB with specialization in Corporate Law) from the University of London as well as the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Worked as the legal counsel for The General Electric Company of Singapore Pte Ltd in Singapore (1995 – 1997) and for Glencore Agrocommercial Limited in Brazil (1990 – 1993), at the time when Glencore was Brazil’s largest commodities trader and exporter, where she managed a small team in the Legal Department. Successful entrepreneur and consultant - set up ACT Training International Pte Ltd in 1993 and opened its branches in Hong Kong in 2003 and in Korea in 2007. Manages a team of 4 full-time employees in Singapore which services ACT’s branches and clients in Asia Pacific.

ACCREDITATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS: Executive Coaching Certification by Results Coaching (12-week program), Certified EQ Trainer by 6Seconds, Certificate in Power Training I & II, Certificate in Training Management (PSB – Institute for Productivity Training), Team Management Systems Accreditation Certificate (Work Index, Linking Skills Index, Team Performance Index, Team Management Profile Index, QO2 Index).

MANAGERIAL, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Worked extensively with many key players in the banking and financial sectors, as well as in the manufacturing, education, manufacturing, IT/ electronics and training/consultancy sectors, most of which are well-known multinational corporations, and in the public sectors, in Singapore and in Asia with many years of experience in the areas of training needs analysis, program planning and course curriculum development besides the facilitation of training programs, in the areas of Leadership and Management Development, Executive Coaching, Communication Skills, Sales Skills, Interpersonal Relation Skills, Networking Skills and Presentation and Facilitation Skills.

CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Worked in service role in the retail industry in Brazil for 3 consecutive years as a summer job during her university years - direct customer interface. On each summer became the best sales person in the team. Worked with key players in the retail, hospitality, healthcare, IT/ electronics and public sectors, most of which are well-known multinational corporations in Singapore and in Asia, with many years of experience in the areas of training needs analysis, program planning and course curriculum development besides the facilitation of training programs, in the areas of Customer Relationship Management, Service Excellence, Service Recovery Skills, Business Writing and Executive as well as Front-Line Professional Image.

CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Studied 12 years in a German school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Holder of Sprachdiplom 1. Fluent in English, German and Portuguese. Worked for 1 year as a language teacher for executives of Touch Ross Consulting & Auditing in Sao Paulo, Brazil (1988 – 1989). 15-year residency in Singapore, 2-year residency in Hong Kong and 2-year residency in Seoul. Worked with a variety of nationalities and key players across a broad spectrum of industries, most of which are well-known multinational corporations, in Singapore and in Asia, with many years of experience in the areas of training needs analysis, program planning and course curriculum development besides the facilitation of training programs, in the area of Intercultural Communication Skills.

JENNIFER GRAHAM : Consultant, Coach & Head Trainer
(South East Asia)

With a background in Communication, Education and Language studies, Jennifer is uniquely positioned to present our Communication and Management Development programs. She combines and in-depth knowledge of her subject matter, with an enthusiastic and lively form of presentation and a genuine awareness of the importance of a motivated, aligned and well-equipped team. Jennifer couples her educational qualifications with workplace experience to specialize in the following areas:

Managerial, Leadership and Communication Skills: Communication, Presentation and Facilitation Skills, Interpersonal Relations Skills, Strategic Messaging, Networking Skills and Business Writing

Customer Excellence Skills: Customer Relationship Management, Service Excellence, Service Recovery Skills, Front-line professional Image and Customer-focused business writing skills

Intercultural Communication Skills: A long-term resident of Singapore, Jenny is a well-travelled Australian with Indonesian Language skills. During her time in Singapore, she has worked with a wide variety of participants from a wide variety of cultures and has experienced all the nuances, challenges and energy that such interactions entail. She brings this experience to the intercultural elements of our communication programs.

Qualifications: Born and educated in Australia, Jennifer obtained a Bachelor of Arts (With Distinction) from the University of Southern Queensland. Her undergraduate studies covered areas as diverse as organizational communication, mass media, linguistics, communication planning, Indonesian language and literature studies. She followed her degree with a post-graduate diploma in Education and has extensive teaching and training experience with a successful career as an educator in both Australia and Singapore.

She is an accredited Consultant of Team Management Systems in Australia (Team Management Profile, QO2 Index and Strategic Team Development Profile) and a certified trainer with HR Singapore.

Clients she has trained include Alcatel, Ciba Chemicals Specialty, Citrix Systems, Club Med, Citigroup, Chevron Oronite, Deutsche Bank, Dell Computers, Franklin Templeton Investments, Housing Development Board of Singapore, International Medical Clinic, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Schroder Investments, SAP, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Ministry of Defence, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Institute of Management, Swiss Reinsurance Company and UBS.

Workplace Experience

Managerial, Leadership and Communication Skills: Worked for 4 years with Education Queensland (Australia) as subject area coordinator. This role entailed planning and managing budgets, overseeing program design, coordinating a teaching team, liaising with parents, colleagues and school administrators, preparing documentation for moderating/auditing of school-based programs, producing articles for publication and preparing submissions for development grants.

Customer Excellence Skills: Worked in service role for major department store in Australia for 3 years. During this time she was trained and developed in interpersonal, service, problem-solving and sales skills.

Cross-Cultural Communication Skills: A widely-travelled Australian, Jennifer possesses Indonesian Language skills and has been a resident in Singapore for over a decade. She has worked with a variety of nationalities and key players across a broad spectrum of industries.

JANVIN KAUR SIDHU : Consultant, Facilitator & Coach
(Based in Singapore)

Janvin is a passionate, dynamic and caring facilitator with a natural penchant for motivating and inspiring growth and change in people. She has worked with an extensive range of participants; junior to top executives of companies, both in class room and outdoor training sessions as well one-on-one executive coaching sessions.

With ACT, Janvin has 5 years of experience in the areas of training needs analysis, program planning and course curriculum development besides the facilitation of training programs, in the areas of Leadership and Management Development, Executive Coaching, Communication Skills, Sales Skills, Interpersonal Relation Skills, Networking Skills and Presentation and Facilitation Skills.

She is also responsible for conducting ACT’s Train-The-Trainer program. Apart from conducting this locally in Singapore, also travelled to Hong Kong, Korea and Japan to run the Train-the-Trainer program for all consultants who joined ACT, to equip them with the necessary program knowledge and delivery skills for conducting the high quality of training programs ACT prides itself on.

Prior to working with ACT, Janvin worked as a Public Relations Manager for start-up Events and Entertainment Company interfacing with key clients to forge and strengthen relationships and develop the business.

Before that, she served in the marketing team of a smart card solutions company and was solely in charge for developing all corporate communications material for the organization. Internally, she also wore a dual hat in terms of running communications skills courses – presentation skills, better spoken and written English on an ad-hoc basis for the staff.

She also has a 1 year teaching stint, educating secondary school teenagers in the areas of the English Language and Literature.

Customer Management Skills: Janvin worked in public relations which required extensive client engagement and management skills. She worked with key players in the retail, hospitality, healthcare, IT/ electronics and public sectors, most of which are well-known multinational corporations in Singapore and in Asia, with many years of experience in the areas of training needs analysis, program planning and course curriculum development besides the facilitation of training programs, in the areas of Customer Relationship Management, Service Excellence, Service Recovery Skills, Business Writing and Executive as well as Front-Line Professional Image.

Program Expertise: Janvin specializes in conducting programs such as Presentation Skills, Business Writing, Customer Service and Engagement Skills, Leadership Commanding Skills, Strategic Interviewing Skills, Personal Effectiveness, Professional Business Etiquette, Proactive Time and Stress Management, Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making, Negotiation and Influencing Skills, Interpersonal Communication Skills and Developing Team Synergy.

With ACT Training, Janvin travels throughout the region speaking, facilitating training programs and running management retreats.

Focus Industries: Janvin has worked extensively with many key players in the banking and financial sectors, as well as in the manufacturing, education, IT/ electronics and training/consultancy sectors, most of which are well-known multinational corporations, and in the public sectors, in Singapore and in Asia.

She has worked with a variety of nationalities and major players across a broad spectrum of industries, most of which are well-known multinational corporations, in Singapore and in Asia. Specifically, she has travelled to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Indonesia (Bintan, Bali and Jakarta), Hong Kong and China (Shanghai) to conduct training programs.

She has a wealth of experience in handling the specific cultural intricacies of teams from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and Korea.

Qualifications & Awards: Janvin has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The National University of Singapore. Her undergraduate studies focused on economics, political science and linguistics. She is also a certified EQ Trainer by 6 Seconds and holds Team Management Systems Accreditation certificated in the Team Management Profile Index and QO2 Index. Janvin is fluent in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Malay and also speaks ‘conversational’ Chinese.

CRISTINA RODENBECK : Facilitator, Consultant & Coach
(Based in Hong Kong)

Cristina is an experienced and passionate communicator. After more than 11 years of successfully managing client relationships by receiving briefings, analyzing needs, negotiating budgets and presenting campaigns, research findings and ideas across three different markets (Asia, Europe and Brazil), Cristina is able to aptly add the value of her extensive experience and knowledge into her training, consulting and coaching projects with ACT.

Cristina combines her unique marketing and multi-cultural business experience to successfully facilitate our training programs in the areas of Leadership and Management Development, Executive Coaching, Communication Skills, Business Etiquette, Interpersonal Relation Skills, Negotiation Skills and Presentation Skills.

Before joining ACT, she worked for two of the world’s greatest advertising agencies, Ogilvy & Mather and Leo Burnett, where she managed the relationship with top blue-chip multinational clients such as Philip Morris, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Kodak, IBM, Kraft Jacobs Suchard, American Express, Mattel, Hutchison Whampoa Limited, amongst many others.

As a result of being a brand steward of important global brands in three completely different markets and cultures, Cristina has acquired a unique working experience. Her strength and qualities of understanding each culture in-depth, their differences and their specific needs are seen in her consulting and delivery style.

Cristina has completed the Executive Coaching Certification by Results Coaching, enabling her to partner with her clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their professional and personal potential. She successfully utilizes and imparts these skills into all her training deliveries.

Program Expertise: Cristina specializes in conducting programs such as Presentation Skills, Effective Communications and Interpersonal Skills, Strategic Interviewing Skills, Professional Business Etiquette, Negotiation and Influencing Skills and Developing Team Synergy. Cristina is also one of our course designers for our business etiquette series of programs.

Focus Industries: Cristina has worked extensively with many key players in the banking and financial sectors, chemical industries, digital and entertainment, hotel and services sectors, as well as in the engineering and landscaping fields.

Clients she has trained include: McGraw-Hill Companies, Prudential Asset Management, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Ove Arup, EDAW, BASF East Asia, Ciba Specialty Chemicals (Taiwan), Citibank Private Banking, Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, Deutsche Bank, Hong Kong Cyberport, Huntsman Advanced Material, Huntsman Textile Effects (China), Internet Securities Inc, Swiss Reinsurance Company.

Qualifications: Cristina holds a bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Advertising from Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado in Brazil. She started her career in Brazil’s business market, São Paulo with Ogilvy & Mather after an award winning graduation team work presentation done for the Agency and their Client, Seagram Company Limited.

She is an accredited Consultant of Team Management Systems in Australia (Team Management Profile, QO2 Index and Strategic Team Development Profile) and has obtained both Coaching an Executive Coaching Certification by Results Coaching (24-week program).

SACHIYO KAWASAKI : Consultant, Coach & Trainer

Sachiyo is an enthusiastic consultant, facilitator, and coach. Sachiyo firmly believes in unlimited potential of individuals for self-growth. She works with groups and individuals in order to achieve better business results and personal development through experiential learning. She has taught a wide range of workshops and seminars dealing with communication, meeting facilitation, managing change, leadership training, and life design. Sachiyo is an outstanding communicator in written and spoken Japanese, English, and Spanish.

Sachiyo is a registered Industrial Counselor (Japan), Co-active Coach (CTI Japan), and Supervisor (coach) of Inter-vision's Self Expanding Program (Japan). Sachiyo is also a qualified user of MBTI as well as accredited consultant of Team Management Systems (Australia), which enables her to use Team Management Profile, Team Performance Profile, Linking Skills, QO2, and Window on Work Values. Sachiyo is a certified ESL teacher from the American-Guatemalan Institute of Culture, Guatemala.

Sachiyo holds a BA in History from Bethel College, Kansas, U.S.A. and also attended Master's Program in Sociology with an emphasis on Cross-cultural Leadership Studies of Azusa Pacific University, California, U.S.A.

Sachiyo comes from both the educational and business background in cross-cultural settings. Prior to establishing herself in the consulting and coaching world in 2003, Sachiyo had 20 years of successful career with a North American forest product manufacturer. Sachiyo was the Representative Director in Tokyo from 1983 to 2003. In this position, she managed the Japanese sales office as well as the joint-venture partnerships. During the 1970's through the early 1980's, she was a teacher of English as a Secondary Language (ESL) and sociology in private bilingual schools in Central America.

Sachiyo's cultural and linguistic sensitivity was well proven in her business career, in which she successfully interfaced with culturally and professionally diverse groups of people.

ANA CHRISTINA LOPES : Facilitator, Consultant & Coach (Based in The Netherlands)

Ana Christina is an energetic and versatile consultant who faces challenges as opportunities for evolution and self-motivation. Being a vivid advocator of knowledge creation, Ana Christina views group interaction as fundamental requirement for knowledge sharing, one of the major competitive resources within organizations. Not only is she an inspiring consultant whose extensive experience in different industries provides her with a broad view about organizational cultures but she is also a remarkable example of an individual with unquestionable interpersonal and negotiation skills.

Before joining ACT Training in The Netherlands, Ana Christina had worked for 20 years in the educational, financial and telecom markets, having skillfully managed complex projects involving large corporations worldwide, with focus on Derivatives, Structured, Trade, Corporate and Project Finance. Born in Brazil, Ana Christina's experience in finance started with Banco Holandes Unido (ABN) in Rio de Janeiro, leading her to Europe, where she was based for many years while working for ABN AMRO Bank, Arbitral Finance and Banco do Brasil in Amsterdam. Having joined NORTEL Networks in Sao Paulo, Ana Christina was once again positioned in Brazil, although constantly involved with large multinationals in Latin America, USA and Europe. Her various management positions throughout her career path have provided her with elements that point to the undeniable and powerful combination of interaction, multi-cultural expertise, diversity and, above all, knowledge sharing as complementary tools for high achievement in a global economy.

Ana Christina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Portuguese, English and Literature from the Universidade Federal Fluminense (Brazil), Executive M.B.A with honours - magna cum laude - from the European University (The Netherlands), M.B.A. with IBMEC (Brazil), besides various certificates for extensive courses including International Affairs at UC Berkeley (USA), The International Finance System at the Institute of World Affairs (USA) and Project Finance with DC Gardner (USA).

MARGO LOCKHART : Senior Facilitator - Australia & New Zealand

"Margo is a rare individual who possesses in equal measure a depth of experience, warmth of character and skill in engagement. A combination which makes her a powerful catalyst for leadership growth in the people she works with."
Andrew Donovan, Director, TBL Australia Ltd

Margo Lockhart is a highly regarded facilitator and designer with an excellent reputation for developing trust and rapport in the working environment. Her extensive experience in program design, implementation and presentation in organisations such as AXA, The Body Shop Australia, the ANZ and National Banks, The Brotherhood of St Laurence, Executive Homes and Leadership Management Australia has established her as an effective and professional facilitator of change and development in the workplace.

With an academic background in education, counseling and organisational dynamics, Margo brings a disciplined and reflective focus to her personal development work.

Margo's extensive experience in the area of corporate ethics includes chairing the Ethics Committee at The Body Shop. Her current work in leadership development involves establishing and managing an in-house coaching program involving 80 managers at two different levels at AXA Australia.

Margo has a particular interest in work/life balance and designed a series of outstanding programs that enable organizations to increase awareness of the impact of strained work/life balance on business and personal performance.

Style and Focus

Margo balances her natural energy and enthusiasm with a well developed method of reflection and human warmth. On a one-on-one basis, Margo quickly and easily establishes rapport and respect with clients. Her facilitation style is collaborative, interactive, open and honest. Her concern at all times is to "connect" with her clients in a meaningful and genuine way.

Aside from applying the fundamental training principles of catering to different learning styles, the principles Margo uses to guide her training design and implementation are that effective training is interactive, fun, and geared towards clearly defined outcomes.