My Year In The Fast Lane - Going Global.

This last year has been an epic journey for me establishing my business www.engeladutoitsuquet.com globally and completing an international coaching certification program. I am now a Divine Living Certified Business Coach.

Graduating as a Divine Living Certified Coach in Los Angeles.

The journey to entrepreneurship starts with the decision to ignore all stop signs in your mind and truly GO for what you want! As an entrepreneur it is also important to check in for little pit stops and nourishment on your way. My work and travels took me to eight cities around the world starting with London to Prague via Cape Town and then on to Paris and several visits to Lyon.

Cocktail hour in Paris with Gina DeVee and one of my style strategy clients, Erika Sheffer.

I worked from the Ritz in Miami and the Shangri-la in Sydney.

I styled five business women for branding photo shoots with renowned photographers Wendy K Yalom and Amanda Julca in Paris. My clients Joanna Turner and Erika Sheffer were featured in the Divine Living Magazine.

Creating greater visibility with personal branding style strategy for my client, Joanna Turner of missionforbalance in Paris with photographer Wendy K Yalom and make-up artist Melissa Hoffman Rangel.

I spent my birthday at Versailles and celebrated the evening with special friends from around the globe at the Georges Pompidou.

Birthday celebrations with Carol Solvay at the George Pompidou in Paris.

When August came around, LA and the hospitality of Ritz Carlton, Marina del Rey beckoned. I shopped Rodeo Drive and put plans in action for an exciting joint venture over dinner at the Beverley Wilshire Hotel.

Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles with Nance Rosen.

I hiked the Temescal Canyon trail above Santa Monica, styled clients on Venice Beach and graduated with 31 women from around the world.

With fellow celebrity stylist Sam Saboura at Ritz Carlton Marina del Rey in LA.

In October I will be working with my clients from the spectacular Villa Cora boutique hotel in Florence, Italy to create that wow factor for a stylish business of their own.

Villa Cora, Florence Italy.

The best part of my work is the people I inspire. They take action, say YES! to their dreams and reap the rewards forever. www.engeladutoitsuquet.com

The 10 Principles of Power

What does it take to be a true leader?

The 10 Principles of Power. What does it take to become a power player and swiftly move up the ladder. www.engelaminshull.com

To start with you must be willing to embrace your strengths. Let's take a look at the ten traits you need to become a power player.

1. Leaders keep the end in sight.
They're aware of their company or business goals and they are self-aware. They let this vision guide their critical decisions.

Speaking to an international audience at the Shangri-La hotel in Sydney, Australia.

2. They collaborate.
They work with others to share resources and to fill the gaps in their own strengths.

3. They're prepared to serve.
It takes personal security to be able to stand in a place of conflict, where people differ and still listen respectfully, question yourself and make decisions for the greater good of the business.

4. Leaders chart their own course.
They're not afraid of the space between their dreams and reality. They believe in the power of their dreams and they take the necessary action to take a leap of faith.

Leaders read to inform themselves and take inspired action. (photo - worklondonstyle)

5. They reinvent themselves.
Leaders are demanding of themselves. They're willing to invest in training and coaching and have the courage and determination to create a new reality for their business.

6. Leaders help others achieve.
They are inspired to share, mentor and uplift others by offering knowledge and resources that could springboard their success.

7. They take the initiative.
Leaders are self-starters who use their emotional intelligence, self-awareness, self-management, social skills and motivation to bring a project to fruition.

8. Leaders love to learn.

Good leaders read everything, network with people at the level to which they aspire and go back to school for additional training.

9. They fight for a good cause.
Leaders find ways to use the resources and skills they have acquired to give back. They look for opportunities to do pro-bono work.

10. Leaders are change agents.
They expose their people to opportunities to refine their skills, recommend books, meetings and training sessions. They urge people to think about who they are, what's next and who they are developing.

I believe power is about sharing leadership, working with mentors and coaches and cultivating others to get things done with a real sense of excellence.

Brand You - Preparing For Success

When I was invited to be the keynote speaker for International Women's Day, I decided to take a look at the strategies that have propelled me to success in key industries.  I spoke about the power of the individual: investment and return, self knowledge and attainable aspirations. You can see this special training video here:

Preparing for Success - training video - Engela Minshull http://engelaminshull.com

Delivering the keynote speech for International Women's Day at Carnegie Room. (photo - worklondonstyle)

With Aprils Dawn and Dr. Diepiriye Kuku-Siemons (photo - worklondonstyle)

A Winter of Travel: Freedom, Business, Lifestyle

Having just returned from my recent visit to Australia I was reflecting on how my life has changed in the last two years. It started with a decision to combine my years of diverse experience and study to serve women entrepreneurs all over the world, teaching them to combine Business and Lifestyle through my coaching.

Soaking up the sun with Carol at Bondi beach in Sydney, Australia. (photo - worklondonstyle)

En route to the Sydney Opera House for a performance of Madame Butterfly (photo - worklondonstyle)

Speaking to an international audience on Personal Branding and Style at the Shangri-La hotel in Sydney, Australia.

Sunset walk in Sydney harbour (photo - worklondonstyle)

Celebrating with friends at a Sydney Soirée. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Lunch at Moo Cafe Bondi beach with Lorna Sophocleous and Tracy Neely (photo - worklondonstyle)

Hosting an Intensive with a client at Hotel Carlton Lyon, France (photo - worklondonstyle)

Shopping in Lyon, France (photo - worklondonstyle)

Back in London. Enjoying the freedom lifestyle 'workinglondonstyle' from anywhere. At Bill's in Richmond with a view of the Thames. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Breakfast meeting at Bill's in Richmond in London. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Next time I will see these ladies - second week in May in Paris, France. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Nothing To Wear - Find Your Signature Style

An impression is formed of you within the first 45 seconds of meeting. Your style defines your life. You feel the way you look. Is your style holding you back? Does it influence your self confidence, costing you promotions, money and love?

Change Your Look, Change Your Life. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Two things make you different: how you see the world and how the world sees you.

I know how going though the different phases of life can erode your sense of style. Having worked as a television news anchor, university lecturer and senior corporate manager, I now spend my time helping women succeed in their own businesses and careers. I teach my clients to take the doubt out of dressing by learning style strategies.

Owning Oxford Street. (photo - worklondonstyle)

My clients continue to inspire me as I help them look slimmer, taller and younger. Style is about self-knowledge and attainable aspirations, investment and return.

Attending a conference in Kensington, London. (photo - worklondonstyle)

I believe we are born with an innate sense of style but sometimes life gets in the way. Your busy schedule and the many roles you play leave little time for strategy planning on the image front. Every wardrobe contains it's fair share of fashion mistakes, clashing colours and styles, impulse buys and disappointments.

Invest in yourself. When you do, you will wake up ready to conquer the world each day.

“Change Your Look, Change Your Life”

— Engela du Toit Suquet

You Are The Brand!

Start Your Own Business

You just spent another December tied to your desk and January is not turning out quite the way you had envisaged? Are you sharing all your best business ideas with your friends and frustrated that you just don't know how to start? Get started now!

MASTER THE BASICS

1. Test The Waters
Use your social network to find 10 potential clients. Posting in facebook groups can help you learn more about the best fit for your ideas. A small test run will reveal what your ideal client is looking for.

Start an Etsy store to do a small product launch. You'll quickly see whether the market is ready for your product offer.

Write Your Business Plan (photo - worklondonstyle)

2. Hatch A Plan
Employ the Business Model Canvas tool to assist in writing a one page business plan. Ideally your plan will include an assessment of your ideal client(target market), your price points and packages, your marketing plan,  the competition and points of differentiation.

Create a Life You Don't Need a Vacation From (photo - worklondonstyle)

3. Give To Get
Create some free offers to build a list of potential customers. Give away your best stuff. Nobody is going to buy if the sample is not irresistible. When you honour your potential customer in this way, they will assume that what they will be buying is even better that what you are offering for free.

4. Get Visible
Step away from your laptop. Get your first client. Nobody is in business until someone buys something.

You need feedback from your target market. If needed, run a special offer to test your assumptions about your ideal service or product.

Speak to your tribe on Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest. Start a vlog.

5. Tools Of The Trade
Don't break the bank. Limit your start-up costs. Build a website on WordPress or Squarespace. Manage your mailing list with Aweber or MailChimp.

Use free online tools like Canva and Monogram It to design a logo and pictures with product info.

Get registered with one of many shopping-cart tools like PayPal. Google analytics will let you monitor traffic to see what's working on your site.

6. Manage The Money
Open a separate business account to help you keep on top of your budget and revenue. Celebrate your success.

Read More www.engelaminshull.com

Walk With Me - I Walk Alone.

On any given day I will set out on a walk, regardless of the weather. I have done this in many cities around the world from Cape Town to Vancouver. It restores harmony with nature, clears the mind, provides aerobic excercise and puts you in touch with the local community.

The past few years my walk takes me along the Thames. I cover about 12 miles passing by historic buildings, ancient battlegrounds and breathtaking scenery; immortalised in famous paintings.

As I walk in any circumstances, I draw inspiration from the words of the great South African leader, Nelson Mandela; 'I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.'

Walk with me - I walk alone.

The All Saints Church in Isleworth dates back to the 14th Century. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Two famous pubs need sidestepping if one is to reach your destination; the London Apprentice followed shortly by friendly greetings of the locals at The Town Wharf. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Twickenham footbridge provides beautiful vistas down the river and a panoramic view onto Richmond. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Catching up on local news from one of the regulars. (photo - worklondonstyle)

The view from Richmond Hill; the subject of many famous paintings. (photo - worklondonstyle)

The Gloriana used at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, passing under Twickenham Bridge. (photo - worklondonstyle)

The return journey past The London Apprentice adjacent to Syon House and Syon Park. The Thames now at high tide. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Solvitur ambulando -- "it is solved by walking." For entertaining and insightful further reading see this link to The Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/hemingway-thoreau-jeffers_b_3837002.html

A Summer of Travel: Business and Pleasure.

I was recently asked whether my upcoming trip to Sydney was business or pleasure. "Isn't that the same thing?" I asked.

My role as Transformational Coach and Professional Speaker sees me working with clients around the globe. This Summer I was privileged to coach in South-Africa, France, Prague, London and Miami.

IDRAC School of Business in Lyon, France. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Musee Des Beaux Arts de Lyon. (photo - worklondonstyle)

St. Remy de Provence, France. (photo - worklondonstyle)

Prague (photo - Marissa Loewen)

Mentoring is fun in luxurious surroundings. With Jean Thompson in Prague (photo - worklondonstyle)

Time to say goodbye. Ready for the flight back to London. (photo - worklondonstyle)

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Miami midnight munchies (photo - worklondonstyle)

Working London Style at the Corinthia Hotel in London (photo - worklondonstyle)

Fabulous At Forty: Diane Von Furstenberg

Following on from her "Journey of a Dress" retrospective in Los Angeles, Diane Von Furstenberg continued celebrating four decades of her iconic wrap dress by taking over 12 windows and the main entrance at Galeries Lafayette's Paris Flagship store from September 3 to 30. She presented a capsule collection of 12 dresses in 6 heritage prints as well as bags and a selection of small leather goods.

Diane in her office situated in the famous meat packing district in New York

From 25th of August, Diane featured in an advertising campaign shot by Jean-Paul Goude. She attended an event at the store in late September to coincide with Paris Fashion Week.

Diane and Oprah

Diane launched her first line at 22 and the wrap dress based on a ballerina wrap at 26. She was motivated by the drive for independence and said, "I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to be."

Diane modelling the iconic wrap dress.

Her dresses have been worn by the rich and famous for their style, iconic prints and comfort and are favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge. A dress from her 1975-1976 collection has been immortalised at The Costume Institute and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Duchess of Cambridge in DvF. (photo - Getty)

An early adopter of new technology, Von Furstenberg has designed a range of eyewear for Google Glass.

Diane Von Furstenberg for Google Glass.

Diane had her term as President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America extended through to 2016. CFDA CEO Steven Kolb said, "The board's unanimous decision to ask Diane to stay on as president is testament to the great growth the CFDA has had under her leadership."

Autumn/Winter 2014 (photo - Getty)

Autumn/Winter 2014 (photo - Getty)

Michael Hertz who previously worked with Bally, has been hired as Artistic Director to assist in promotion and design of ready-to-wear, accessories, aesthetic of stores and advertising campaigns.

Michael Hertz, Artistic Director at DvF  (photo - Getty)

Diane von Furstenberg and the models celebrate the 40th anniversary of the DvF wrap dress. (photo - Getty)

Her book "The Woman I Wanted to Be" is available now at all major booksellers.

Victoria Beckham - Pretty Powerful

Victoria Beckham has firmly established herself as one of the most powerful women in fashion in only a few short years. Named the most talked about designer on Twitter during New York Fashion Week in September 2012, she has been recognised as the most pinned celebrity for 2013 on Pinterest, according to The Telegraph.

Victoria Beckham at New York Fashion Week. (photo - GoRunway)

In 2007 Beckham won two Glamour Magazine Awards, one for 'Entrepreneur of the Year' for her fashion achievements and another for 'Woman of the Year.' Victoria was named 'Designer of the Year' at the British Fashion Awards in November 2011.

Fashion week with Natalie Massenet, Diane von Furstenburg and Donatella Versace. (photo - Rex Features)

Known for popularising Roland Mouret's fitted dresses, Victoria launched her own collection at New York Fashion Week at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in 2008.

Victoria posed with Karl Lagerfeld for a photoshoot for French Elle at legendary designer Coco Chanel's home. Here she appears with Karl at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Former footballer, husband David with daughter Harper and American Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, September 2013. (photo - Reuters)

Simple monochrome designs featured heavily in her Spring/ Summer 2014 collection. Victoria looked crisp in a white shirt, tucked into cropped black trousers worn with heels.

Victoria's signature smokey-eye make up.

January 2014 saw VB collaborating with Skype to give us an inside look into her business. The Skype team said, "From the spark that launched her business, the innovation, collaboration, entrepreneurialism and her embracing of technology to empower creativity and to run her business from around the globe, the story of the Victoria Beckham label will be told in a previously unseen way."

One of her most copied by the high street looks for last Winter; the cropped polo neck and trouser. (photo - Rex Features)

Carine Roitfeld - Starting Over In Style: Vogue to Harper's Bazaar

Starting over is seldom easy and success is never guaranteed. Carine Roitfeld, 60 shows the way by doing it in style. Self belief and drawing on every bit of past experience is key.

Roitfeld started out as model and erstwhile stylist for French Elle. Work with Mario Testino lead to a very successful partnership as muse and stylist to Tom Ford at Gucci.

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Carine Roitfeld ([photo - Getty)

She became the controversial editor of French Vogue in 2001 and made an acrimonious departure on 31 January 2011. Her new found 'freedom' lead to several highly successful projects and collaborations.

In 2011 she published the large format book Irreverent with Rizzoli and styled two collections for Chanel. She worked with Lagerfeld starring as Coco Chanel in The Little Black Jacket project.

In 2012 she launched CR Fashion Book, a biannual style magazine, of which the fifth edition has just launched. The first issue was titled Rebirth, a reference to her new career and in anticipation of the birth of her first grandchild.

CR Fashion Book Issue 1 Rebirth.

The same year also saw her launch her own exciting make-up line with MAC. CR Fashion Book lead to Mademoiselle C, a film by Fabien Constant, which documents the making of the launch issue of the magazine. It follows the format of the Vogue September Issue film. It documents Carine's everyday life, work and family; including a lesson in classical ballet, her favourite way of staying in shape. Carine says it is a film about friendship: "I think after this film, people will understand that you can work in fashion [and] be a real person, not to be so selfish, to be a hard worker, to have a family, and to have friends."

Carine as Coco Chanel in The Little Black Jacket project with Lagerfeld.

At the end of 2012 Duncan Edwards, President and CEO of Hearst Magazines announced the appointment of Carine Roitfeld as Global Fashion Director for all 26 international issues of Harpers Bazaar. Carine had made the very successful journey from their well known rival Conde Nast.

Guardian named Carine as one of their 50 Best-Dressed in March 2013.

Mademoiselle C was on limited release in art cinemas and is available on Blu-Ray and DVD.