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:

• Website: https://www.fctstrategiesllc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fct_strategies_llc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fctstrategiesllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fct-strategies-llc