Katrin J. Yuan is an entrepreneur, expert and speaker on financial investment, technology and transformation. She speaks six languages, is the Chair of the Highly Gifted Association for Switzerland, holds a Master of Business Administration and several postgraduate certificates in business and IT. She has years of leadership experience in technology consulting, executive management and strategy, and has led complex business transformation for some of the world’s most prestigious brands.
Katrin J. Yuan in interview:
1. What are the core subjects of your keynote speeches?
Brilliant speakers are storytellers, connecting the dots uniquely shaped to the respective audience. I am thankful to bridge the connecting dots between leadership, technology, data and people. My two passions I stand for are tech and finance, with the bridge of being an entrepreneur with an entrepreneurial mindset. I talk about AI tech, finance and leadership, based on scientific data. I talk about science like the science of luck and why lucky people are more successful, mindset, mindfulness, fintech and how I reached financial independence as female frugalist.
Becoming an outstanding public speaker goes hand in hand with constantly reflecting, constantly learning, becoming better and developing extraordinary leadership skills. I am open-minded, curious and passionate. When I am the storyteller I dive into the moment together with you. A great public speaker attains the power to motivate the audience and take you on a journey with a lasting impression.
2. Which audience or which branch do you reach with your speech?
I am full of curiosity and grow together with my audience. I am grateful that my visibility allows me to bring a high reach for my client and a wide audience (social media reach>60k). I have had the privilege of working for some of the world’s most prestigious brands throughout Switzerland as well as internationally, speaking in front of great audiences. Whether it is for Richmondsevents, IT or Directors Financial Forum, whether it is for one of the top four IT Enterprise Clients, whether it is for Vodafone Enterprise Plenum or a venerable SME, whether it is for a renowned international festival in front of thousands of people or whether it is for the World Economic Forum as it will be soon, it is an honor for me to work for you.
3. Are you a PREMIUM SPEAKER? Where do you get your insights from?
As a young female entrepreneur, board member, speaker, and university lecturer, I am connecting the corporate, conference, and academia world and spot the most important drivers of business today from various perspectives. This is super interesting to me and I feel grateful and humble and learn with my audience every day. These are: rapidly advancing digitalization and transformation, New work – new forms of leadership, and interconnection between data, tools, and people.
Being privileged to serve on boards and having worked in eight countries, I know the insights out in the international corporate world, as well as in the startup world, as a female founder, entrepreneur and investor. I may share the hypothesis that the biggest challenge is not the technology, but winning people, defining new standards, getting everyone on board, and creating a grow-mindset corporate culture. Not the strongest, biggest, oldest, and most established but the ones with the ability to adapt, innovate, and reinvent will outperform the others, survive, and sustain. It is of utmost relevance to me to join forces for the good cause and to use my position in a responsible way to drive positive impact in this world, to make the world a better place than I found it before.
4. What will be in the future? Does «time» play an important role in your work?
Time is an ultimate factor in success. This is a lesson I learnt in early years. Even if you are the right person, it is not enough about the if and what, but also about the when. Sometimes you need to be patient to wait for the right timing. And when time comes, you need to be ready and quick when the door opens. Who tells you that you cannot do something except yourself. The sky is the limit and anything is possible if you are willing and consequential to go your path. Inspiration over time comes in many forms and has many faces.
Stay curious, stay open, and grow with every experience you make. Condition your mind, open up. Be an inspiration to others, and get inspired by others. Surround yourself with an extraordinary environment where you can live up to the version of yourself you want to become over time. Not the strongest, biggest, oldest, and most established but the ones with the ability to adapt, innovate, and reinvent will outperform the others, survive, and sustain.
5. Tell us your life motto? What do you want to give your listeners to take with them?
“You are the ultimate producer of your life. Stay committed to find your path and it will lead you to greatness. Great freedom comes with great responsibility. Dare to ask for more and most of all: Believe in yourself as if nobody else does. Don’t try to blend in. Be yourself and be exceptional.”