The Red Couch Talks
Christian Ter-Nedden
Christian was born in Marburg, Germany, and moved to the Zurich, Switzerland, area at age 9. Not a great experience, as the culture shock was significant. He obtained the M.A. in Linguistics and English at the University of Zurich, with a year abroad at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. Without knowing there was such a thing, he started in the relocation industry while still in college. As a Business German teacher to Zurich expats, he enhanced their dry German lessons with trips to the nearest supermarket. Destination services! In California, he worked for a German-American cultural center with artists-in-residence who wanted to walk around Los Angeles and couldn’t drive. (More destination services required.) His mobility career began in earnest with a five-year role at Cartus as a mobility consultant and later operations manager at Sterling Lexicon. Currently, he is looking for a new role in mobility/relocation, while pursuing his interests in personal finance.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianternedden/
Michael Sullivan
Meet Michael, the charismatic host of ‘Where Are You From? A TCK Podcast’, where tales of cultural fusion and global adventures come to life. But Michael isn’t just your average podcaster; he’s a maverick storyteller with a passion for bridging divides. His debut book, “Building Bridges: Can We Love & Relate in a Polarized World?” isn’t just a memoir—it’s a symphony of human connection composed from his odyssey around the globe.
Michael’s journey began when his parents whisked him and his sister off to Thailand at the tender age of seven. But that was just the prologue to a saga filled with daring escapades and heart-stopping twists. From serving in the Navy, where he sailed across oceans and explored far-flung shores, to falling head over heels for his wife—a Filipino widow with three children—in the bustling streets of Singapore, Michael’s life reads like a gripping adventure novel.
But the rollercoaster didn’t stop there. After leaving the military, he ventured into entrepreneurship in the Philippines, only to face the harsh reality of bankruptcy not once, but twice. Undeterred, Michael pivoted to teaching English as a second language, a job that would take him to the far corners of the earth—from bustling Asian metropolises to tranquil European villages. With two graduate degrees under his belt and stamps from eight countries in his passport, Michael finds himself in Türkiye, a fellow in the esteemed English Language Program sponsored by the US Department of State. But for Michael, this isn’t just another stop on his journey; it’s a chance to inspire a global movement towards kindness and equality.
So, buckle up and join Michael as he navigates the choppy waters of life, weaving a tapestry of tales that will leave you spellbound and, perhaps, change the way you see the world forever.
Are you interested in ..
‘Where are You From?’ My TCK Podcast
Connecting with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or WhatsApp
Kirsten Raynal
Kirsten Raynal is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in business development and account management, B2B sales and travel risk management. Kirsten Raynal brings a wealth of experience to the table, having worked in international medical and security risk management, selling “Man & Machine” solutions (leading travel risk and critical event management technology powered by artificial intelligence), employee benefits, accident and health insurance, and medical care across multiple regions, including France, China, Germany, and Switzerland. Her contributions to the risk management industry have been trusted, and her ideas have helped introduce travel risk management even in the often overlooked SME market.
Throughout her career, Kirsten has demonstrated proficiency in forging strategic business development and partnerships with key stakeholders such as Corporate Security Officers, Human Resources and Travel Managers and Accident & Health Insurers, insurance brokers, and business associations. Her adept leadership skills have enabled her to lead high-performing teams, innovate new solutions and drive collaborative efforts toward achieving business objectives.
Kirsten’s extensive experience in the travel risk management and insurance industry includes roles where she has successfully navigated complex international markets, developed comprehensive risk management solutions, and fostered long-term client relationships. Her ability to understand client needs and deliver tailored solutions has resulted in notable successes in expanding market share and driving revenue growth.
Kirsten is a registered Nurse, studied Medicine at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and holds an MBA, (Manager de L’assurance) from the Ecole Nationale D’Assurance, France, where she gained a solid foundation in business management principles. She stays updated with industry trends and best practices through ongoing professional development and networking initiatives.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Kirsten is passionate about building meaningful connections and giving back to her community. She has been elected president of the Switzerland chapter of EWMD (European Women Management Development) and actively engages in networking events and volunteer activities, leveraging her expertise to contribute to causes she cares about.
Connect with Kirsten Raynal on LinkedIn to explore potential collaborations and learn more about her expertise in business development, risk management, and international employee benefits.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-raynal-652a121a/
https://www.xing.com/profile/Kirsten_Raynal/web_profiles
My Red Couch Talk with Ken Nickel-Lane
Ken Nickel-Lane has been involved in immigration and global workforce solutions for over 20 years, during which time he oversaw regional and national operations for several large global organizations. Ken brought that big-firm network and expertise to his practice, Nickel-Lane Immigration, where he and his team continue to deliver expert immigration services to corporate clients across various sectors, ranging from start-ups to large global multinationals. Nickel-Lane Immigration is supported by related experts in corporate registrations, tax guidance, HR support, and DSP services. This allows them to be a one-stop shop provider for clients setting up or expanding into the Canadian market. Ken is a founding member of the Partners Immigration network and is the organization’s current Chair. The group began as a small group of immigration colleagues and associates, sharing insights and industry updates. Over time Partners has formalized to become a viable alternative for companies seeking immigration and related support internationally. Partners is now represented in 30 countries worldwide and growing, working together to provide seamless, multinational immigration services delivered with the same high standards for service, accessibility, and quality.
linkedin.com/in/ken-nickel-lane-canadian-corporate-immigration
https://www.instagram.com/nickellane.ca/
https://youtu.be/uHEP58KRnjw?si=miKM9zOVeYnmbaGy
My Red Couch Talk with Karlijn Jacobs
Karlijn Jacobs is the Ombudsperson for International Children. Her ultimate goal is for international children and their families to experience equal support and understanding as they would have received if they had not moved across borders.
She founded Expat Valley, a social enterprise that supports mobile families internationally and everyone who benefits from their wellbeing. With Expat Valley, Karlijn raises awareness amongst multinational organizations that employ a global workforce about their employees’ Family Relocation Experience. She offers education and hands-on tools and solutions for organizations looking to improve employee well-being. Karlijn also works with suppliers in the Global Mobility industry that are looking to distinguish themselves from the crowd: helping them become more family-friendly within the scope of their services. With the International Family Expert Alliance (IFamEA), Karlijn is offering a ‘home’ to all professionals worldwide who cater to the needs of international children and their families. IfamEA provides professional exchange, interdisciplinary learning, and networking for international family experts.
Link: karlijn@expatvalley.com
Ask Me Anything about Family Relocation Experience in a 15-minute call: https://calendly.com/expatvalley/ask-me-anything
web: www.expatvalley.com
My Red Couch Talk with Anna Burnett
Anna Burnett grew up in a rural part of Wyoming at the base of the Big Horn mountains. At a young age, her parents fostered in her a love of art and exploring her surroundings, igniting a realization that using her creativity would be her path to happiness and success.
She attended the University of Wyoming, where she completed her Bachelor of Art with an emphasis on drawing, painting, and art history. In the following years, she worked various jobs, from waitressing to making ends meet, while also selling her children’s illustrations on Etsy and freelancing children’s art for Oopsydaisy.com, Crate and Barrel, Walmart, and others.
After relocating to Germany in 2015, Anna’s love for exploration led her to discover a sense of belonging among the old charm and history of Europe. Following the birth of her son in 2018, she moved to Arlesheim, Switzerland, where, after living in three states and three countries, she finally felt she had found her forever home.
In 2021, Anna founded “Anna Burnett Photography” and has thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. In February, she completed the IDBS (Interior Design Business School) and subsequently opened her own interior design company, “Anna Burnett Interiors,” where she is currently working with her first client. Additionally, she is in the process of partnering with a friend to procure vintage and antique furniture from across Switzerland, which will be sold through their store, “OMAhaus,” slated to open this summer.
Instagram: @anna.burnettinteriors
Facebook: Anna Burnett Photography
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-burnett-12449147/
Websites: https://www.annaburnettphotography.com/
My Red Couch Talk with Miriam van Kempen
“It comes up like a fart.”
Miriam van Kempen is a 42-year-old mother of her son Stein, girlfriend of her next-door neighbor Mike, an enjoyer of the good life of yoga, reading, learning, and exercising, and sales director of Heart Relocation.
In this role, she has built Heart into a brand of caring professionals, helping global mobility teams build and improve their global mobility program and assisting their assignees and their families with their moves around the globe. To give back to the community and bring some of her other passions into the equation (connecting, helping people, and making the world a better place), she has founded LinkedIn communities such as Finders Keepers, Relocate the Profit, Struggle Latte with a Wink and Spill the Beans. She started her career as a primary school teacher and has now been working for global relocation management companies such as Crown, Santa Fe, and Heart for almost a decade.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriamvankempen/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/heart-relocation/?viewAsMember=true
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8990208/
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12720842/
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12525515/
My Red Couch Talk with Divya Shori
Divya is an exceptional individual who has significantly contributed to entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and parenting. As the co-founder of Parent Palette, she has been instrumental in its establishment and driving its continuous growth and evolution. Her adaptability and dynamic approach to professional challenges and her diverse leadership roles have earned her an illustrious 16-year career. Currently based in Zurich, Switzerland, Divya has been recognized as one of the “Young Entrepreneurs Who Are An Inspiration To The Youth” by Mid-Day.
Her unwavering belief in continuous learning, unlearning, and relearning has helped her stay at the forefront of an ever-evolving market landscape. Divya’s passion for personal growth and development is evident in her role as a prolific writer. She regularly contributes insightful articles on personal growth, sharing her wisdom and experiences to inspire and guide others on their personal development journeys.
Divya’s commitment to women’s empowerment has earned her the prestigious 1000 Women Faces of Asia Award at the age of 33. She’s also dedicated to supporting initiatives that empower parents with scientifically-backed information and guidance related to childbirth and early parenting decisions. Her deep concern for the well-being of mothers and infants underscores her dedication to this cause.
Beyond her professional achievements, Divya is a dedicated advocate, and her vision and passion are integral to Parent Palette’s vision. Through her professional endeavors and heartfelt advocacy work, Divya has demonstrated her unwavering commitment to positively impacting society. Her dual roles as a successful entrepreneur and dedicated advocate reflect her passion for improving the world.
My Red Couch Talk with Katerina Fagetti
Katerina Fagetti, a prominent figure in the Global Mobility field, was born in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and pursued her education in the Czechoslovak Federative Republic, ultimately graduating in International Trade in the Czech Republic. Her journey into the dynamic realm of Global Mobility began when, at the age of 24, she embarked on a six-month venture with the primary goal of enhancing her proficiency in English and French.
Unexpectedly finding herself in Zurich in 2004, a time when the Czech Republic had not yet joined the European Union, Katerina faced linguistic and cultural challenges. Undeterred, she channeled her determination into becoming a passionate Global Mobility Expert. Over the years, she has amassed a wealth of knowledge, serving as both the process and product owner within a globally active organization boasting over 3,000 employees.
With more than 14 years of hands-on experience, Katerina specializes in addressing everyday global mobility issues in the Oil & Gas sector and financial institutions. Operating on Swiss soil, she has cultivated a robust background in Swiss labor law, immigration law, social security law, and tax law. Her dedication and expertise have positioned her as a key contributor to the intricate landscape of global workforce mobility.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katerina-fagetti-gms-41b28879/
My Red Couch Talk with Monica Shah
Monica Shah Zeeman has been working with international families for twenty years to support their lives abroad. I met her at ETH the renowned federal university in Zürich, Switzerland where she had moved with her family. Monica is the founder of Children First which offers early schooling and a tutoring center for students in Swiss schools. She is a child development specialist with an unusual background in social entrepreneurship. She first worked in Bern as an Assistant Headteacher at the da Vinci Academy. I discovered when I invited her today that after graduating from Oxford University the first charity she founded was part of a network of community education charities across the UK one of which became the first Academy school in the UK, in East London. She has a psychoanalytic diploma and launched a counseling service for mothers with babies called the Mothering Project in north London. Her textbook ‘Working with Parents’ was published by Heinemann in 2001 before she moved to Switzerland. In Zurich she gives talks on Choosing the best school for your child and parenting Multilingual Children, is the President of Circle of Schools and you can find some of her writing as well as other interesting articles on the Family Matters Switzerland website. Monica lives in Zurich, Switzerland.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-shah-zeeman-0853b415/
Website
Family Matters Switzerland
https://www.familymattersswitzerland.ch/author/monicashah/
My Red Couch Talk with Brian Padilla
Brian Padilla currently serves as Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner for Lionsgate Entertainment. In his role, Brian leads strategic HR Business Partnerships across Lionsgate’s Television Businesses, which include Scripted and Unscripted Television Production, and Worldwide Television Distribution. Brian also leads Production HR, which services Lionsgate’s slate of active television and motion picture productions. Before joining Lionsgate, he held progressive roles in HR at companies such as Miramax, Creative Artists Agency, and NBC Entertainment.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Massachusetts’ College of Liberal Arts, a Master of Music in Voice Performance from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, and an Executive Master of Professional Studies in Human Resource Management from Cornell University’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations. Brian is an avid supporter of live classical music and an amateur pianist. He currently resides in the Los Angeles area.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianpadilla-hr/
My Red Couch Talk with Flavia Augusta de Almeida
Following Flavia Augusta de Almeida’s academic pursuits, she accumulated over 16 years of experience in corporate architecture before relocating to Basel. While in Basel, she decided to amalgamate her corporate expertise with teaching skills, earning certification as an English instructor. Drawing from her personal foreign language learning journey, passion for languages, academic training, and professional teaching background, she established “faa Language Coaching”.
Specializing in instructing adults for effective communication through language development and cross-cultural training in English, Flavia also offers guidance for English examinations such as the Cambridge Certificate and TELC. Additionally, she assists clients proficient in English to enhance spoken clarity through accent-neutralization techniques.
You find her on:
My Red Couch Talk with Barbara Hesse
Having called Switzerland home for over 13 years, Barbara Hesse decided to embrace a new journey after spending a substantial amount of time in the Corporate World. Motivated by a genuine love for people, presentations, and her impact, she took the leap into self-employment. In the Big Four corporate setting, Barbara found her niche for over two decades, specializing in proposals and supporting colleagues in showcasing the added value and client benefits, extending her reach to presentations. During this corporate journey, Barbara recognized and empathized with the insecurities that often lingered. Her response was compassionate and proactive—she initiated internal training programs to create a positive shift. The joy and success experienced in this endeavor became a driving force, ultimately leading Barbara to focus exclusively on this impactful work.
OCTOBER 2023
My Red Couch Talk with Sandipta Jadhav
Sandipta Jadhav is an Indian immigration lawyer and Global Mobility specialist with close to two decades of experience in global people transitions. She has witnessed hundreds of global aspirants immigrate to and from India and many other countries including Germany. She was born and raised amidst the bustling streets of South Mumbai, India. Central to her professional ethos is an unwavering commitment to customer experience and consistently striving to surpass expectations and craft unparalleled journeys for each valued individual she serves. She has a proven track record of success in helping individuals and organizations navigate the complex world of immigration.
You can find Sandipta Jadhav on LinkedIn.
Rajeev Ranjan
My Red Couch Talk with Rajeev Ranjan
Rajeev Ranjan: With over 12+ years of experience in the software industry, Rajeev has versatile business experience and an entrepreneurial attitude with a global perspective. He completed his MBA from FHWS Germany and his Bachelors from Birla Institute of Technology in India. He has worked in 15 countries on three continents (Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific), leading and managing business activities and partnerships across diverse markets and cultures.
In his multiple roles, ranging from international sales to strategy and alliance management, he has helped enterprises transform their experiences through digital transformation by solving their current and future needs. Currently, he is associated with Newgen Software as Director of Global System Integrators Sales.
Rajeev has also been associated with leading business schools in India as a guest lecturer, such as Welingkar Institute of Business Management, JAIN (CMS), Christ University Institute of Management, and Presidency School of Business, where he has covered topics related to Leadership, International Business, Business Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Block Chain, Digital transformation, etc.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a topic close to his heart. It has been part of multiple sustainable non-profit initiatives related to skill development and education to alleviate the lives of those who need helping hands.
Linked
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeevranjan26/
Doreen Cumberford
My Red Couch Talk with Doreen Cumberford
Doreen Cumberford helps globally mobile expats, digital nomads, and returnees to create happier, easier, and more successful transitions while relocating overseas. A Certified Coach, and 30-year licensed Practitioner, Doreen speaks, writes, and teaches about the principles and practices necessary to joyfully navigate mobility from cradle to grave, or from launch to landing. The author of Life in the Camel Lane, Embrace Your Adventure and Arriving Well, she is currently writing Aftermath: How To Move Home After Living Overseas. Nomadic Diaries a Podcast, will launch in December 2023. A native of Scotland, living in 8 overseas countries over four decades on four continents has enabled her to support globally mobile communities in creating more satisfying lives and building their dreams no matter where they land.
The Nomadic Diaries Podcast
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenmcumberford/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RockYourReentry
Hannele Secchia
My Red Couch Talk with Hannele Secchia
Hannele Secchia is an Adult Third Culture Kid working in global mobility and raising her own Third Culture Kids. Although her passport countries are Finland and Germany, she grew up between Ethiopia, the UK, and Kenya. When she married, she added another two countries to the mix, as her husband is South African and Italian. Hannele currently works as a leader among the expat community in Ethiopia to facilitate thriving – before, during, and after their stay. The blend of her own multicultural family, her experiences crossing cultures continually throughout her life, her heart for those who are globally mobile, and her background in HR are the perfect combination for this work. She also brings her learning from both the corporate and the non-profit sectors to bear in her current role as the President of Families in Global Transition, where she is helping to position the organization strategically for the future. She is on the brink of another big transition this coming year as she moves to Finland, where she will theoretically be a repatriate, although she does not fit that box either, never having lived in Finland!”
Hannele Secchia’s social media links are:
Adam Brody
The Red Couch Talk with Adam Brody
Website: www.adambrody.com
Instagram: adambrodyzurich
Facebook: Adam Brody Zurich
Linkedin: ADAM BRODY GmbH
What is the Red Couch Talk
Angie Weinberger is challenging you to join her for an interview on the Red Couch. She started this video series as an experiment on YouTube for International Women’s Day and was mainly promoting female leaders. The red couch because is the only piece of furniture she’s had since she was eight, and it’s been around the world. It’s almost falling apart, to be honest, but it’s Angie’s happy place. Also, as you know, all famous therapists have a red couch. Do not worry, the interview is not a therapy session, but you will feel better afterward (That’s what we call Angie-Magic).
Angie Weinberger is the Founder and the Managing Director of Global People Transitions GmbH. Angie also considers herself a social media junkie and a Bollywood lover. She was born in a small German village near Lake Constance in the 1970s and grew up in Germany. Her first “intercultural” experience was moving from the South of Germany to an area near Heidelberg, where her parents took over a children’s home.
Curious about foreign cultures and eager to have a fully immersive experience in another culture, she moved to the UK at the age of 19 where she worked as an Au Pair for a local family. This experience taught her that there is more to living abroad than language, the experience of cultural adjustment, and that other cultures view Germans differently than she expected.
After that gap year, she returned to Germany to study International Business Studies at the University of Paderborn. Her career in Global Mobility started to take shape when she was accepted to study in Australia focussing on International Human Resources. Tasmania was the starting point of her true interest in the topic as during her thesis Angie researched Short-Term Assignees and the failures of the company which had sent them out to other countries. Being away from home and family also taught her how to make friends anywhere in the world and that she was able to keep a clean kitchen in the student dorm.
After completing her degree, she started working in Human Resources as a Global Mobility Specialist and HRBP. She experienced Expat Life when she went on assignment to India in 2006. There, she worked as an HR Project Manager supporting a large strategic outsourcing project at a global bank. Working in a growth market was an eye-opener and Angie still has very fond memories of her time in India. She became a fan of Bollywood and learned to dance and eat with her hands.
In 2007, Angie was headhunted by PwC to take on her first real Global Mobility leadership role. With PwC, she finally managed to return to her dream city Zurich where she is still based to date. Once the Swiss Global Mobility team and function were up and running,
Angie decided to follow her long-term wish to help more Global Mobility Managers, Expats, and Expat Spouses through coaching. From her blog, she launched her company Global People Transitions GmbH in 2012. If you want to read more about how she came to make this dream come true, read her story here.
Today Angie is also a Professional Certified Executive Coach, Intercultural Trainer, and Group Seminar Facilitator. As a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualified Administrator, Angie can run intercultural assessments for managers and staff. She combines intercultural coaching, her long-standing Global Mobility expertise, and workshop facilitation skills into programs for Global Mobility Managers, Expats, and Expat Spouses.
In her consulting work at various medium-sized and larger companies, she still experiences Global Mobility challenges every day. She is passionate about bringing out the best potential in her clients and is on a mission to bring the human touch back into Global Mobility. She is a guest lecturer at various academic institutions and teaches “Global Mobility” and “Intercultural Management” in Germany, Holland, France, and Switzerland.
Angie regards ongoing education as highly important. To keep growing as a coach and meaningful individual, she is taking part in the Expat Coach Coalition, a special education for coaches and facilitators offered by Sundae Schneider Bean. She is a member of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research in Switzerland (SIETAR CH), for which she was the Communication and Digital Media responsible between 2014 and 2017. She also lectures for the Erasmus University, ExpatiseⓇ Academy and is a member of the global Expatise Academy Advisory Board.
Her working languages are English and German, but she can also communicate in French and Spanish, understands Swiss German, and studied Arabic at a beginner level. To give back, she supports migrants and refugees as a trainer and mentor in Zurich. When Angie is not working (hard to believe!), she enjoys hiking in the Swiss or Italian countryside, watching movies, and indulging in the cooking of her Pakistani partner. She loves Bollywood, creative writing, and spending time with friends and family. Obviously, she would love to travel more and eventually become a “digital nomad”.
Angie is the author of The Global Rockstar Album – 21 Verses to Find Your Tact as an Inclusive Leader (2023), The Global Mobility Workbook (Third Edition, 2019), The Global Career Workbook (2016), a self-help job search guide for internationally mobile professionals who are undergoing a career transition in a market with which they aren’t familiar. Angie is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Global People Club Sandwich where she regularly writes and edits inspirational articles about various aspects of Global Mobility. She started her blog in 2010 and has published over 360 posts ever since. Do you want to become a reader of the Club Sandwich? Sign up here.
With the eye of attention that she usually reserves for the Expat Experience, Angie recently started a video series called “The Red Couch Talks”. You can find the previous sessions on Angie’s YouTube Channel.
