Feature in Bold Journey Magazine
February 6, 2024
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Meet Flora Tromelin
Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Flora Tromelin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
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Flora, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism primarily stems from the challenges I’ve encountered in both my personal and professional lives. These experiences have taught me resilience and the ability to see the silver lining in every situation. I firmly believe in the adage, ‘everything happens for a reason.’ So, if a particular endeavor doesn’t work out as planned, I view it as an opportunity for something better to come along. This perspective fuels my optimism and helps me stay positive, even in the face of adversity.
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Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve always been drawn to international environments. My career began at Pommery Champagne House, interacting with English-speaking tourists. After earning a master’s in marketing management, I worked in B2B sales for a local newspaper, speaking French daily. Craving more international interaction, I joined the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), an independent U.S. agency managing war cemeteries and monuments worldwide.
My work with ABMC led to my appointment as the Chief of Protocol to the U.S. Ambassador to France in 2014. Beyond etiquette, my role involved managing communications, evaluating event invitations, and planning embassy events, ranging from small dignitary meetings to large functions with thousands of attendees. This role allowed me to facilitate relations between the U.S. mission and the French and foreign governments.
During this time, I met my husband, Aaron, who was serving as U.S. Army Attaché at the embassy. Now, I leverage my international experience and communication skills to offer major event management and intercultural consulting through my company, FCT Strategies, LLC.
In addition to running my company, I also proudly represent the French American Chamber of Commerce in Arizona in a voluntary capacity, further strengthening the ties between these two nations and fostering mutual growth.
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If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reflecting on my journey, the three most impactful qualities have been:
1) Adaptability: Working in diverse environments, from a Champagne House to the U.S. Embassy, required me to adapt quickly to new cultures, languages, and professional norms. This flexibility has been crucial in navigating the challenges and opportunities that came my way.
2) Communication Skills: Whether it was interacting with tourists, managing communications for the U.S. Ambassador, or running my own company, effective communication has been at the heart of my success. It’s not just about speaking or writing well, but also about listening and understanding others’ perspectives.
3) Leadership: Leading teams, planning major events, and representing organizations have all required strong leadership. This includes strategic thinking, decision-making, and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
If I could add a fourth one, that would be commitment. I’ve always been committed to my promises and responsibilities. This reliability has built trust with my colleagues and clients and has been fundamental to my professional success.
For those early in their journey, my advice would be to stay committed: always follow through on your promises. This will build trust and open doors to opportunities.
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As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz has played a pivotal role in my personal and professional development at a difficult time in my life. The book, based on ancient Toltec wisdom, introduces four powerful principles that have the potential to transform one’s life:
1) Be Impeccable With Your Word: This agreement taught me the power of words and the importance of using them responsibly to express the truth and spread positivity. You never know what the person in front of you is currently facing. Words can hurt, use them wisely.
2) Don’t Take Anything Personally: This principle has certainly been the most important for me to acknowledge. It helped me maintain my peace of mind even in challenging situations, understanding that people’s actions and words are often more about them than about me. This is true for everyone.
3) Don’t Make Assumptions: This agreement has encouraged me to seek clarity in all my interactions, leading to better understanding and fewer unnecessary conflicts.
4) Always Do Your Best: This principle reminded me that as long as I’m doing my best, I’m on the right path. It has helped me strive for excellence without being overly critical of myself.
These principles have not only shaped my mindset but also guided my actions. My advice to those early in their journey would be to read that book!
Feature in CanvasRebel Magazine
August 2023
Full interview (and pictures) here.
Meet Flora Tromelin
STORIES & INSIGHTS AUGUST 21, 2023
We were lucky to catch up with Flora Tromelin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Flora, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
I love my life as a business owner! Don’t take me wrong: it is not easy. Many people think that you are living a great life when you own your business, that you can do whatever you want whenever you want it. That is partly true. But the reality is that I work hard, many hours. All the successful entrepreneurs that I know work far more hours than full-time employees, and earn far less. It is also very difficult to take any real time off when you are a consultant and you have to deliver regularly.
But that’s an exciting endeavor. I like the freedom of choosing with whom I work. I like the excitement of working on new projects with new people. Above all, I love to learn, constantly.
I was an employee back in my home country France. I had a job that fulfilled me, and I was happy because I felt I was making a difference. Many times I have missed it. I often wonder if my life would not have been simpler if I had kept it. And then I look back at all the things I have achieved since I created my company and reflect on the skills I have strengthened or developed. And I have no regrets. I am grateful to the United States which allowed me to create my own wealth, and to my clients and business partners for trusting me.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
In most of my career, I have been surrounded by international people. My first job as a college student was at the Pommery Champagne House, working with English-speaking tourists. After earning a master’s degree in marketing management, I worked in business-to-business sales for a local newspaper. I spoke French every day and missed interacting with people from other countries. I finally left to find a more international environment.
I ended up working for several years for the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The ABMC is an independent U.S. government agency that administers, operates, and maintains war cemeteries and monuments around the world. I loved the interesting work and interacting with so many counterparts from the United States and elsewhere.
My performance with the ABMC led to an appointment as the Chief of Protocol to the U.S. Ambassador to France in 2014. When people hear diplomatic “protocol,” they might think of etiquette, but the position involves so much more! As Chief of Protocol, I oversaw and helped manage all communications and correspondence addressed to the Ambassador and going out to the French government and public. I evaluated the thousands of event invitations the ambassador received, recommended which events would best further the U.S. mission’s goals, and helped prepare officials and staff to participate effectively.
I was also responsible to plan and execute embassy and mission events, which ranged in scale from small meetings of presidents and other dignitaries to large functions with over five thousand attendees. I had an active role at these and other events, sometimes as a speaker, and always helping to smooth and facilitate good relations and interactions between the U.S. mission and the French and Foreign governments and the public. I loved working with diplomats and others with major roles in world affairs. I also met my husband, Aaron, during this time when he was serving as Army Attaché at the embassy.
Now, I use my international experience and communications skills to provide major event management and intercultural consulting through my company, FCT Strategies, LLC.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
It was not easy to move from France to Arizona with my family including 2 teenagers during the summer of 2020. The pandemic had shifted many of everyone’s habits and ways of interacting with others. But I landed filled with the joy of starting a new life and the certitude I would find a new job quickly. The move proved to be more difficult than I thought it would be. Knowing no one upon arrival was challenging, to say the least. I am a public relations person; I just love people. But then I felt useless and unwanted. Fortunately, I am a resilient and optimistic person. I started to throw myself into community service and searched for an internationally-oriented community. I built a huge network quickly thanks to my interpersonal skills.
Nevertheless, my search for a job proved to be more complicated. After many unsuccessful interviews, I decided to create my own consulting company, FCT Strategies, LLC. I am a strong believer in “Sometimes things happen for a reason.” The launching of my company is one of them: from my failure to find a job, I became an entrepreneur, something I had never thought about before my move!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
I have two words that come to mind: integrity and honesty. Be good – Do good.
Word of mouth is precious when it comes to clientele. I earned most of the clients I have today, thanks to prior contracts where they could witness firsthand my deliverables. I am also not shy about helping others. When I see a good potential match between two clients or organizations, I am not afraid of making introductions without expecting anything in return. Supporting each other is key and that’s how you build and earn trust among your potential clients.
Contact Info:
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Website: https://www.fctstrategiesllc.com/
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fct-strategies-llc
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Speaking engagement at Phoenix Business Radio X
On February 14, 2023, our Founder Flora Tromelin had the opportunity to introduce the work she does with her colleagues at the University of Arizona - Arizona FORGE.
Thank you so much Phoenix Business RadioX, Karen Nowicki, and Darrol Robinson for this great opportunity!
Flora was thrilled to participate in the interview with Arizona FORGE Founder and Executive Director Brian Ellerman and her Mentor colleague Rafael F. Tapia, Jr.
Please listen to the replay to learn more about Arizona FORGE programs, and how they support the University of Arizona students and local entrepreneurs.
For FCT Strategies, Giving Back to the Community is Essential
Thank you to Frontdoors Media for featuring in February 2022 and 2023 our Founder, Flora Tromelin, for her role as Chair of the Fundraising Gala Committee for the Arizona Nonprofit Veterans Heritage Project (VHP). Flora is also a proud member of VHP's Board of Directors.
Phoenix Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR) December Newsletter
Many thanks to Trevor Cook, PCFR Fellow, and Tina Waddington, PCFR Executive Director, for the great article in PCFR December 2021 Newsletter, featuring our Founder Flora Tromelin.
FCT Strategies, LLC is proud to be a member of such a fantastic organization!
We encourage you to join!
Event management with the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce Summit
Listen to the Phoenix Business RadioX podcast and learn more about the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce Summit Nov 2-4, 2021 in Phoenix.
Show was broadcast live on October 28.
Podcast is available here:
Protocol, Etiquette and Cross-Cultural Communication
Thank you #SnacksWithSurprise and the City of Surprise Economic Development Team for a great opportunity to talk about FCT Strategies LLC and our Protocol/Etiquette and cross-cultural communication services!
Cross-Cultural Communication Expertise
FCT Strategies LLC is featured on Local First Arizona's website - This article explains why it is important to be aware of cultural differences when you want to grow internationally or better manage your multicultural team.
Please take 2 minutes to read!
Going Global? Don’t Forget the Cultural Differences! — Local First Arizona (localfirstaz.com)