Veronica Llorca-Smith 🍋

Veronica Llorca-Smith

🎙Public Speaking: My focus is on helping organizations build inclusive, high-performing teams with the power of DEI and cultural agility. 

I create customized presentations and workshops for organizations and events. My content leverages my 15-year corporate experience (Apple, Estée Lauder) as well as my personal experience as a triathlete and an author. My content is based on storytelling and actionable frameworks.

🎓 Topics:

- Cultural agility as a competitive advantage in the workplace

- Inclusive leadership: mindset, behavior and processes

- Inclusive language as a catalyst for inclusion 

- An athlete's mindset: mental frameworks to get results

- DEI Fundamentals: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 
 
- Maximizing your influence with a personal brand

Languages available: English, Spanish, French, Italian & Portuguese

Professional Speaker & Author (Penguin Random House): DEI, Cultural Agility & Growth Mindset

Leaders for Good

Leaders for Good are Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) & Culture Change Specialists.

We believe DEI is a vital part of business strategy and we work with leaders and organisations to embed DEI into the fabric of their organisations. 

We work with all scales of organisations in APAC, from large corporations to government departments and NFPs. We work with leaders and organisations in three key areas:

DEI Strategy
DEI Training & Development 
DEI Consulting & Advisory 

Our purpose is to unlock the tremendous power of organisations to create a more equitable world. We don’t just say it, we put 50% of our profit to equity causes. Learn more about our impact strategy here leadersforgood.org/our-impact.

As a Project Director, I support the growth of the business through international expansion, particularly in the APAC Region. Our goal is to grow in a sustainable way so that we can scale our impact and continue to give back to the community.

I support the business from a 360 perspective: from the DEI assessment and strategy, to the design of our programs and the facilitation.

Asia-Pacific Director - DEI (Diversity, Inclusion & Equity)

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Lead the Retail development of Clinique in APAC, driving sales growth and profitability while developing high performance teams. Implement standard business, operations and talent processes to operate consistently across 14 affiliates. Lead channel diversification through online acceleration.  
Training & Talent development of APAC Retail Teams (2,000+ staff). Key markets: Australia, Japan, South East Asia. Responsible for Retail Sales 400M US$ (FY20)
Retail Strategy & Operations: 
-Lead Retail Teams (16 National Sales & Education Managers & 2,000+ staff) to deliver high performance, drive growth, client acquisition and customer experience. Support  affiliates in local Go-to-Market strategy.
-Drive efficiency and productivity through distribution diversification, online acceleration, NOP optimisation. Increased online MOB from 6% to 20% in FY20. 
-Lead sales strategy in APAC: investment in top 20 Flaghip Stores, accelerate SMC channels, decrease dependency on Brick& Mortar, pivot to online. Grew +2% YOY in FY21 in Retail Sales in spite of the pandemic. 
-Work closely with business partners to reach monthly & annual targets. Key APAC partners: SMC: Sephora, Mecca, Eve&Boy, Olive Young // DS: David Jones, MYERS
-Implement standard processes & drive retail digitalisation across APAC: NPS, omni-retail programs, digital learning tools, retail technology
-Partner with senior cross-functional teams: new product launch strategy, implementation of retail technology, CRM program execution, COVID retail response
Training:
-Design a holistic Talent & Training strategy to develop current and future leadership 
-Optimize Talent development through digital tools: digital PDP, leadership development programs, LinkedIn Learning
-Monitor employee engagement & satisfaction (eNPS) and build action plans
-Lead leadership on-boarding, Talent Assessment  & Succession Plan
-Partner with Compensation Team to create a cohesive people engagement strategy to increase

Senior Director of Retail Operations and Training APAC

Apple

Drive the Retail Business B2B strategy, execution and talent development across the market (7 Apple Flagship Stores). Hire, lead  & develop the Business teams (leadership and field team of 60) to grow sales and deliver excellent customer service. Drive penetration of Apple ecosystem across SMC and MNC. Retail Sales 100MUS$ (FY2018)
Strategy & operations:
-Lead and implement B2B strategy in HK in partnership with Senior stake-holders 
-Implement Global Strategy “Business @ Apple” Programs with local relevance
-Lead rollout and adoption of new CRM (Apple CRM, 2018) for business customers 
Sales and Business Development:
-New Business: design and execute plans to generate new business through inbound/ outbound lead campaigns and excellence in pipeline management. 
-Repeat Business: lead Briefing strategy in partnership with Solutions Engineer and Account Managers to offer holistic business solutions to business customers (Apple hardware, software and services) increasing Apple footprint in B2B
People Development
-Hiring and development of Business Team of 60 staff (Business Managers, AM’s)
-Lead Talent Assessment and Development of Business Team (digital PDP) 
Retail customer experience:
-Drive Customer satisfaction strategy to achieve excellent customer service in Business Retail (responsible for Apple Business NPS results in the market)

Head of Business Hong Kong & Macau

Lead & inspire a team of 9 to provide exceptional customer service (in store/ phone) and offer IT business solutions
Develop & execute innovative strategies to build long-lasting business relationships with corporate customers in HK
Drive performance across new/ repeat customers by focusing on effective account & pipeline management
Develop & implement effective business plans to achieve performance goals
Lead & support internal training about business services
Coach & develop Business Team and individuals for career development (Lominger system)
Inform leadership on business priorities and strategies (strong verbal & written communication skills)
Conduct weekly meetings with General Manager to review performance & develop future strategies

Business Manager

European Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong

Supervise Chamber’s financials (P&L, accounting), operations and team (2 staff)
Discuss and agree on annual budget with the European Commission and present budget to Chamber’s Board 
General Management of the Chamber (taxes, reporting, audit)
Supervise events organization (fairs in HK and Macau, forums, seminars) to ensure successful attendance & profit
Partnership with third parties to host joint-events (HKTDC, Chambers, Asia Society, Government,EU..)
Host industry roundtables with main European companies in HK (IT, Retail, Taxation, Finance, Intellectual Property)
Prepare weekly newsletters reporting the Chamber’s activities and update corporate website
Elaborate comprehensive reports to the EU with details of the various events and financial breakdown
Main spokesperson of the Chamber in public events, meetings, media

Director

GTS GROUP (currently Alfaparf)

Management of Hong Kong Regional Office 
Sales management of key markets: Greater China, Japan, Singapore & Malaysia
Business Development in Asia: commercial expansion to new markets (Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka)
B2B negotiation with regional distributors: fix target, sales strategies
Define pricing positioning and strategy
Lead marketing and PR activities (fairs, promotions, press release)
Lead training activity in the area: trainings, seminars, launching events
Supervise operations: forecasts, orders follow-up, payment conditions

Asia Pacific Manager

Operasia Forwarding Ltd

Establish and manage Shanghai Representative office (10 staff)
Supervise opening of China Regional offices (Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen)
Lead local sales force to increase European clients portfolio
B2B negotiation with local agents in China and new partnerships
Supervise logistic operations to ensure customers' satisfaction
Customer service support to European clients: visit to factories, fairs, support for inspections, advice on export regulation.

Asia Business Development Manager

Spanish Trade Commission in Shanghai

Provide commercial support to Spanish companies willing to enter the Chinese market via distributors, franchises or direct investment. 
Develop the network within the retail channels (departments stores, mall, importers, etc).
Participate in trade fairs of fashion &amp; cosmetics in China
Organize brands launching events with marketing and PR support
Market analysis and extensive reports on fashion &amp; cosmetics

Trade Consultant for Fashion & Cosmetics

Want to find a speaker for your next leadership event?

I design customized keynotes and workshops to motivate and build high-performing teams and help develop new leadership skills.

Blending my 20-year corporate experience (Apple, Estée Lauder), my personal experience living in 9 countries and my journey as an amateur triathlete, I create engaging sessions that bring both inspiration and actionable frameworks. 

Topics:

DEI:
DEI Fundamentals
Inclusive leadership
Unconscious Bias
Cultural Agility
Inclusive Language
Allyship

Growth Mindset: 
An Athlete's Mindset
Becoming Your Best Ambassador

Previous clients: UBS, ManpowerGroup, BioRad, Native Union, UK Cabinet, Michael Page, DASh...

Motivational Speaker & Author: DEI & growth mindset

🎙Public Speaking: I create customized presentations and workshops for organizations and events. My content leverages my 15-year corporate experience (Apple, Estée Lauder) as well as my personal experience as a triathlete and an author. 

🎓 Topics:

- Cultural agility as a competitive advantage in the workplace

- Inclusive leadership: mindset, behavior and processes

- Inclusive language as a catalyst for inclusion 

- An athlete's mindset: mental frameworks to get results 
  
- Thriving as a woman in the workplace

- Maximizing your influence with a personal brand

Languages available: English, Spanish, French, Italian & Portuguese

Merry Christmas from Hong Kong 🎅🏽

This year I have a little gift for the members of my community 🎁

Check out what's under the (lemon) tree 🎄👇🏽

https://lnkd.in/ggp_vaxA

International Keynote Speaker: Inclusion, Cultural Agility and Growth Mindset (DEI) & Award-winning Author| Triathlete (Ironman) | 6 languages | CEM (Chief Executive Mom)

This how I was discovered by the world’s top publisher:

I wasn’t. 

I had a dream 
Pitched an idea
And gave it a shot 

More like a dozen shots.

It sounded crazy.

And it was. 

But having a dream and never taking a shot is just as crazy.

So pick your crazy and take that shot.

The first copy arrived today ❤️

Ready to kiss procrastination goodbye? 😉


🏁 The Anti-Procrastinator

🚀 Penguin Random House 

🔥 25 January 2025

Personal growth happens quietly in the background.

It’s the little steps you take every day when no one’s watching. 

A silent and mindful walk toward the better version of yourself. 

The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋

A community where writers and creators lift each other up👇🏽

So...I didn’t reach most of my 2024 goals.

But in the process, I became better: 

I didn’t speak at a TEDX:

↳ But was inspired by 10 speakers who are 1 step ahead

I didn’t sell as many books as I wanted to:

↳ But I signed a deal with the world's top publisher

I didn’t earn as much as I did in my corporate job:

↳ But I added a new income stream as a coach 

I didn’t get as many clients as I expected:

↳ But I created new collaborations and partnerships

I didn’t get as many public speaking gigs as I planned:

↳ But I had 600+ audiences and became a better speaker 

I didn’t reach 10,000 subscribers in my newsletter:

↳ But I published 100+ articles and launched the Spanish version 

I didn’t generate tons of money:

↳ But I traveled with my family
↳ Did a  triathlon with my husband 
↳ Discovered a new country (Croatia)
↳ Spent one month with my family in Spain
↳ Took my daughters skiing for the first time

Success is not about reaching a target but growing as a person:

Taking risks
Developing skills
Learning new lessons
Having new experiences
And finding joy in what you do 

So remember:

Look back to see how far you have gone 
And look ahead to see how much remains ahead 💫

The Lemon Tree Mindset in Australia 🌳🍋 🇦🇺

Join my community of 7,000+ writers, creators and solopreneurs to turn your passion into your lifestyle:

https://lnkd.in/guuE6ggr

My biggest wins this year have nothing to do with numbers:

Developing new skills. 

Growing my community. 

Investing in a career I love.

Working from different continents. 

Collaborating with incredible people. 

Helping organizations be more inclusive. 

Keeping fit and doing triathlons in my 40s.

Traveling around the world with my little tribe.

Turning my passion for writing into my lifestyle.

Oh, and I sold a couple of books and keynotes too! 

To a wonderful new year where success is bigger than numbers ❤️

Everything is a big deal until you do it and then…

It’s not a big deal anymore:

Moving countries
Publishing a book 
Starting a business 
Learning a new skill 
Overcoming depression
Running your first marathon
Getting fit after having a baby

You take for granted what you’ve already done/ learned.

But remember, it’s still a big deal for someone else.

And that’s the person you should be talking to.

Your ideal client is not ahead of you.

They are a couple of steps behind. 

So, yeah, it is a big deal.

PS: if you are a writer/ creator who wants to turn your passion into your lifestyle, I have a gift for you 🎁👇🏽

The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋

Accountability kills procrastination 

Struggling to get things done? 
Start a new project?
Go to the gym? 

The answer is *accountability*

If you have 1 month to write a report, you do it in 1 month.
If you have 1 week, you do it in 1 week. 
If you have 1 day, you do it in 1 day. 

High accountability = low procrastination

Try this: 

📌 Find an accountability buddy

📌 Build in public: peer pressure is great 

📌 Eliminate “ASAP”: it doesn’t mean anything 

📌 Remove “one day”: it’s a euphemism for never 

📌 Shorten the timeframes: create a sense of urgency

📌 Put money on the table: sign up for a coach, gym, race...

So, what do you want us to keep you accountable for? 😉

1 month for the launch of my new book:

📙 The Anti-Procrastinator 
🔥 Penguin Random House 
🗓️ 25 January 2025

It’s totally NOT ok to brag here but…

I just ran my first 5km Park Run with my 2 daughters! 

Giving them wings to run fast, fly high and break ceilings 💕

Gold Coast, Australia 🇦🇺 

#ProudMum

How he went from zero to 460K+ followers on Linkedin:

“I’m obsessed with how to be useful to people.”

I’m talking about Ruben Hassid, the creator who's revolutionizing social media with AI. 

His vision and bio in one line: 

"Master AI before it masters you."

The topic of my community in January is INNOVATION and Ruben is my first guest of 2025 🔥

Find out more about his journey:

✔️ From zero to becoming the go-to-person for AI on social media

✔️ How he turned his passion into an obsession 

✔️ and his obsession into a thriving business 

✔️ His magic formula for personal brand

✔️ How his AI tool EasyGen is revolutionizing LinkedIn with 32K+ users (with a live demo) 

Check out the clip and subscribe to get the FULL video 👇🏽 

The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋 
Where writers & creators push each other to reach new heights.

I used to avoid speaking in public because English is not my first language. 

Many people in your team feel the same way.

When you work in a second language, speaking in public is a hurdle.

👉🏽 It’s intimidating
👉🏽 You feel less confident
👉🏽 You are more self-conscious 
👉🏽 You can hesitate before speaking up
👉🏽 You might be afraid of using the wrong word 
👉🏽 Or not being understood because of your accent 

As a result, companies are not hearing from everyone in the room.

And this has a cost of opportunity: 

↓ Less innovation 
↓ Less teamwork 
↓ Lower business performance 

﻿Language can be a barrier in the workplace.

But it doesn’t have to be.

These are some actions teams can take to drive linguistic inclusion:

✔️ Use simple language: avoid sophisticated terms, slang and acronyms

✔️ Provide training on unconscious bias to raise awareness of linguistic diversity

✔️ Encourage people to slow down when they are speaking

✔️ Add short breaks or reflection moments to allow participants to take notes and digest the information
 
✔️ Give enough time to warm up during Q&A (silence doesn’t have to be awkward)

✔️ Enable different communication channels: chat, direct feedback

✔️ Create small group discussions when possible (breakout rooms, panels...)

✔️ Encourage participation and acknowledge and celebrate diversity 

✔️ Provide resources and training: English for business, presentation skills training…
 
✔️ Make meetings more accessible: clear agenda, captions for virtual meetings/ videos, meeting minutes 

Best practice 💡

One of my clients, Manpower Group promotes inclusion by sharing videos from their employees in their native language with English translations.

This fosters inclusion, curiosity about languages and empathy toward colleagues who are working in a second language. 

———

Hi,

I’m Veronica and I work with global organizations and Fortune 500 to help build inclusive, high-performing teams with customized workshops and keynotes.
 
My focus is on cultural agility and inclusive leadership. 

You can check my previous work on my website or send me a DM 📩

https://lnkd.in/gjJBiFq7

1,660km of gratitude: My tank is empty but my cup is full.

Last year I didn’t win any races or beat any records.

But that’s not the point.

You show up, and that’s what matters.

Some days you feel great.

Some days you feel crap.

Some you even bail.

But you show up *most days*.

Because it matters to you.

And by doing the things that matter to you, one little step at a time, you quietly become a better version of yourself.

Last run of the year in the stunning Hong Kong Harbour ❤️

PS: I signed up for my first HYROX ever and I'm terrified.

What big goals do you have for 2025?

Selling books is easy…

Said no one ever.

I’m planning the launch of my new book, The Anti-Procrastinator

This is the work I'm doing behind the scenes:

1. Create a Book Launch Squad

2. Seek reviews on Amazon & Goodreads

3. Create buzz on my newsletter through Posts & Notes

4. Speak at book fairs: India, Hong Kong and Singapore!

5. Pitch to podcasts & interviews

6. Launch paid ads (Amazon/ FB)

7. Host a book signing event

8. Pitch to book clubs and literary events

9. Promote it across all social media platforms

10. Seek editorial reviews and media exposure 

11. Book Launch Party for my Paid Subscribers 😎 

Is it hard? Absolutely

Is it daunting? 100% 

But remember:

No one is going to chase your dream for you.

PS: Penang, Malaysia (looks Iike I’m procrastinating)

Penguin Random House SEA

"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Goodbye Australia 🇦🇺💕

There's no shame in starting small.

2 months ago I started writing in Spanish to build my community of writers and creators.

This is my first time writing in public in Spanish.

EVER.

In my 40s. 

Starting from zero. 

1,000 US$ doesn't sound like a lot but this is what the beginnings look like:

A big dream
A lot of effort
And baby steps 

So celebrate your wins, no matter how small. 

That's what a winner's mindset is all about.

The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋
El Limonero 🌳🍋

https://lnkd.in/gGV_z8A2

He went from zero to 460k+ followers in 2 years.

Published a 6-figure AI course on Gumroad.

Created AI software EasyGen with 32K+ users.
 
And he has his own recipe for doing social media.

We can all learn a thing or 2 from Ruben Hassid 👇🏼

His vision: "Master AI before it masters you."

Check out the interview now 👇🏽

“You got this.”

4 years ago I was going through a burnout.

3 years ago I was unemployed in a new country.

2 years ago I started a new path writing and speaking.

1 year ago I started to call myself a writer and give it all. 

Today I’m about to launch book #5 with Penguin Random House.

If only I could tell my younger self, 

“You got this”

🚀 Countdown for The Anti-Procrastinator

Taplio

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