Dorota Walters is an executive coach and trainer with leadership development Strategic Human Resources experience from global corporations in 19 countries
She switched from corporate to entrepreneurial life after many years of international assignments with Sheraton, Pepsi, Citibank, Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Hilti and Shell, where she built new structures or managed challenging projects.
The international career in HR and Leadership Development equipped her with tools and an ability to create solutions for various challenges that entrepreneurs, business owners and corporate leaders face everyday. Living and working in so many countries also allowed her to build a strong network of friends and business partners who share her passion.
Born and raised in Poland. She collected her Masters degree in Sinlogy from University of Warsaw and continued her postgraduate education in Tong Ji University in Shanghai.
Her professional education includes executive courses of INSEAD and Harvard Business Schools.
Dorota speaks Polish, English, Russian, Mandarin and a little bit of Spanish, since she moved to Monte Pego in Spain with her husband and two lovely rescue dogs.
MY SHORT STORY
I was born and raised in Poland. When I was a teenager trying to decide which university and future career to choose I was advised to give up hope, because no matter what major I chose I would end up teaching or working in a post office. Both jobs at those dark times, were associated with misery. We even have a curse in Polish: ” May you end up teaching other people’s kids”. This is what I called toxic leadership. I decided to try to set myself up for the exciting and wonderful life I had seen in the movies. I went to University to study languages with the hope that linguistics would lift the “iron curtain” and let me see the world. I was right, and very lucky . In the next six to seven years I studied abroad with an international scholarship, travelled around the world and ended up working for Fortune 500 corporations. Soon I also realized that bad leadership is everywhere.
BUT there was good news!
I learned that leadership can be learnt and mastered. When I was given my first management responsibility in a 5-star hotel I went right ahead and made every possible mistake. It did hurt, but later my management skills practiced under truly inspirational leaders in Pepsi and Citibank taught me wonderful lessons for life.
The Human Resources jobs I held in Poland, UK, Belgium, Stockholm and Dubai with global businesses, and the variety of leaders, have taught me the difference between managing and leading, and that there is no finish line in the leadership learning journey. There are many paths to take while you try, and it is worth trying as many of them as you can.
This is why I decided to work with aspiring leaders, business owners and corporate managers who believe their success depends on their leadership and who are willing to devote some time and effort to grow.
I live and work in Spain and I love working with leaders across borders, cultures and time zones.
