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CAREER
163
May15
#5
PREVIOUS CAREER:
Director Marketing Communications, Pan Pacific Singapore.
Prior to that: Regional Marketing Communications Manager,
Siemens Water Technologies, Singapore.
Best part of the job:
Hospitality was always my dream
industry; it’s fast-paced, it’s never boring and every day is a
new challenge. Hoteliers are fun to work with, and it was so
different to the technical environment at Siemens.
Biggest challenges:
At Siemens, it was standing one’s ground
as a woman in a male-dominated technology company; at the
Pan Pacific, it was the 24/7 non-stop hotel industry, which
affected my work-life balance.
Inspiration for career change:
After working hard for years to
realise my first dream at the Pan Pacific, I decided to move on
to my second dream: starting my own business.
NEW CAREER:
Managing Director and Founder, Saakalya Pte Ltd, Singapore.
We focus on three concepts: décor solutions focused on
wellbeing, holistic weekend breaks to the countries from
which the Saakalya Collection has been sourced, and yoga.
Reason for choice:
Saakalya Pte Ltd is a lifestyle and wellness
concept, but that is a coincidence. I discovered the products
sold under the Saakalya Collection on a tour of Asia’s various
furniture trade shows back in 2010, for an unrelated reason.
Later, curious friends asked to join me on sourcing trips
to remote areas of Indonesia and Thailand. And with this,
Saakalya Travel was born: themed, holistic weekend trips. I
decided to become a yoga teacher after I left the hotel, and
this also became part of the business.
Best part of the job:
That I started something from zero; it’s my
own idea and all my effort and time is invested in this business.
It’s an endless learning process and I never stop learning.
Bigget challenge:
Setting targets and goals sometimes means
working long hours, including weekends. I’ve had to learn
that our bodies are not machines, and that we need a break
once in a while.
Most satisfying achievement:
Our official launch in December
2014 was an important milestone; the support from friends
and business partners was fantastic, motivating me and
keeping me going.
Old job versus new job
:
The new always wins over the old.
Nothing is more important for me than continuous learning
and change.
Alexandra Schmutterer, German
USEFUL ADVICE
Just believe in yourself, decide what
you want and you will get it.