Candidate's Name: Wendy Yuan
Candidate's Office: Division Director
Toastmasters member since:2015
Education:
MBA of Tianjin University (2019-2021) Bachelor of Commerce at Tianjin University of Finance and Economic
Toastmasters offices held and terms of service:
Jul. 01,2019-Jun. 30,2020 Treasurer Tianjin Trainers Toastmasters Club
Jul. 01,2017-Jun. 30,2018 Area Director Area 1, Division F
Jul. 01,2016-Dec. 31,2016 President Tianjin Bilingual Toastmasters Club Jan. 01,2016-Jun. 30,2016 Vice President Education Tianjin Bilingual Toastmasters Club
Jul. 01,2015-Dec. 31,2015 Vice President Membership Tianjin Bilingual Toastmasters Club
Toastmasters honors and recognition:
Sponsor of Nankai MBA Toastmasters
Club Sponsor of Joyful Family Bilingual Club
Mentor of T-Top Toastmasters Club
2016 Presidents Distinguished Club President
2017-2018 Select Distinguished Area Area Director
Relevant work experience and how it relates to Toastmasters and your role as a District leader:
Project management experience in a multi-cultural background corporation involved different entities, to close a project within limited time, have served to boost my competency of quick learning and adapting; coordinating different resources to tackle issues effectively, conflict resolution, problem solving and decent interpersonal communication etc. Experience in top Internet Company’s corporate university has reached me with the high-end organization and leadership development method; I believe this could somehow better benefit our members by applying Toastmasters’ centurial learning system into real business world.
What experience do you have in strategic planning?
During past 5 years of serving/leading/building a Toastmasters club's experience, I always keep thinking what's critical or the key outcomes for the whole project, what resources could be used, which comes to play a leverage, while consistently targeting the entire vision goal. Working with team to reach consensus is also very crucial for plan adoption and implementation, I try to build and maintain safe open communication atmosphere, make sure everyone got their voice spoken and heard, effectively facilitating to reach group decision.
What experience do you have in the area of finance?
I am not a finance person, but my past experience in purchasing and project management has offered me access to related financial activities. BTW, I've served our club as treasurer for a year, also my college and current MBA study both set accounting and financial management as compulsory course, and I got excellent scores.
What experience do you have in developing procedures?
As I person whose sign is Virgo, and Gallup top strength is deliberative, I'm good at designing and planning. In my personal life, I build up an annual plan supporting system, from 3 person in the very beginning to 9 in its second year, we keep thinking of and optimizing procedures to better support each other's annual plan execution. This year I normalize some of this intensively supportive learning system's key function and principles, made it open courses to influence others to build up their own supporting system.
What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?
A leader takes people where they want to go, a great leaders takes people where they may not necessarily want to, but ought to be. Care and love your people unconditionally. Leadership starts with yourself, lead by example, live our own value. Being flexible and keep learning. Succeed yourself by succeeding others.
Why do you want to serve as a District leader?
"Benefit yourself then benefit others, this is the golden philosophy to stay longer in Toastmasters." I'm sure my future career will be about organization development and leadership, and leadership needs practice, so I need to find or create myself that opportunity. I've tried many (officers) roles in Toastmasters and perform not bad I would say, but Division Director is totally a new different challenge. Besides, my growth and change- from a person who once almost went faint on the stage because of nervousness, later confidently address in our company's management meeting in English, from a buyer in a manufacturing company to training in Internet company's corporate university, give name walking encyclopedia, gathering 20 charters members within 3 demo meetings, my life principle of helping myself by helping others etc.- I mean, as an example who herself greatly benefit from Toastmasters, I believe I'm able to understand and support our members to achieve their goals better.
In your opinion, what are the District mission’s major objectives and how would you work to achieve them?
I think our District mission could be divided into two parts of tasks, develop new market and serve well current members, and these two are equally important. That is to say, ① Brand positioning and image should be deeply buried into undeveloped emerging market, taken Toastmasters as the first-choice for communication and leadership skills development, then to take full usage of all forms of media, and being easily accessible to new members. ② Focus on club mission, make sure members get best benefit of Pathways program to achieve their personal and professional goals. I think I will mainly take full usage of current popular media to expose Toastmasters brand to the mass, listen to members’ ideas, and connect their needs with Toastmasters values.
Additional information about yourself:
I'm a big fan of music, psychology and outdoor activities.
