I came, I saw, and I stayed

There could hardly be a greater divide than that between corporate Asia and business Germany, if one considers the difference in customs and rituals: Germans who are straight to the point, some would say brusque, and Asians who are indirect, some would say oblique. “Think again, it’s not a problem,” says Yaamuna Aldragen, “here in Frankfurt difference is an opportunity!”

Yet again, at first glance there could hardly be a greater difference between a highly qualified hardcore engineer like Yaamuna, and a soft-skilled personal coach and foreign trade advisor, either. A very remote likelihood of those two worlds ever meeting. “Not true,” says Yaamuna, “look at me”.

She is right, because over the last five-plus years she has made a real business out of merging these seemingly incompatible realms. And what better place to do it than Frankfurt? Where international and multicultural are not labels, but a lived practice.

Having embarked on a career in the semiconductor industry in Malaysia, she relocated to ams OSRAM in Regensburg, Germany. Five years on, she moved north to Frankfurt and switched from semiconductors to chemicals, heading up the EMEAI Quality Team at Dow. And put down roots. Because at the same time, Yaamuna was busy building a business of her own: Yaamuna Aldragen Coaching and Consultancy, based in Frankfurt. It was a perfect fit, as she had realized early on that she had a talent for bringing people and cultures together, and what better way than through international business development. Hardly surprisingly, she was soon hired as an advisor on foreign trade by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE). Another natural fit, because as she say: “I am a Malaysian and I am deeply connected to Malaysian businesses, I help Malaysian business owners to get connected to new opportunities and investments in Germany, as well as provide advisory in German way of work and official requirements.”

Yaamuna has never looked back. Her portfolio now includes numerous clients, whereby her emphasis is on the automotive, engineering, health, and manufacturing industries, providing services on both intercultural issues and all aspects of business development abroad. Logically, as the business has grown, so, too, has its reach, and her Frankfurt company is busy establishing subsidiaries in Indonesia, Korea, and Singapore, for example. It would seem there’s no stopping Yaamuna. One reason may be the fact that she speaks no less than six languages, another the fact that she feels completely at ease in Frankfurt. “I love the hustle and bustle, and to meet people from different parts of the world, and there’s always so much to do in Frankfurt all the time. Frankfurt has provided me with great business opportunities, great networking events and a wonderful avenue to grow as an individual. I have truly adopted Frankfurt – and Frankfurt has truly adopted me,” she concludes with a smile.

Contact

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