Taylor Elizabeth Perramond is a passionate wife and a mother, with one daughter and four step-children. She has three dogs and one cat, and resides with her husband and Daughter in Dubai.
She is an award-winning etiquette and image advisor, and holds a professional Etiquette and Protocol diploma, an MBA in International Business, and a Master of the Arts in International Affairs. Recently, she has followed her passion for becoming a certified and licensed Life Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach, and NLP Practitioner. As an expert in personal branding, her unique approach leverages soft skills such as etiquette, effective communications, deportment, and image to empower teams and individuals to develop themselves to be the best version of themselves.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before the venture/ corporate journey?
I grew up in a small idyllic seaside town in Massachusetts, USA. Growing up there afforded me many opportunities, shaping who I am today.
I was exposed to many cultures and places worldwide, which sparked my passion for travel and my love of all cultures!
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business/initiative? What motivated you within to say “YES, go for it!”
I have found in my 13-plus years working in 22 different countries what connects all of us is our humanity, sense of generosity, and hospitality.
Etiquette is an essential tool in our interactions but I felt it needed to be ‘rebranded’. Instead of learning Etiquette being elitist or intimidating, I wanted to help people understand what a helpful tool etiquette is. I wanted them to know that they could feel comfortable in social settings with a little preparation. I view etiquette as a tool for empowerment, and I want to help others feel the same way.
I founded The Elegance Advisor Consultancy because I believe that etiquette is a simple yet profound tool for everyone. It is the foundation of building relationships and creating connections, it is the value of being kind and generous and we can all use a little more of this in our lives.
Etiquette is also an essential tool for professional success, which is often not traditionally considered. As The Elegance Advisor, I have taken etiquette a step further and integrated it with personal branding, effective communications, and personal development. The development of these soft skills goes hand in hand, and they have helped my clients immensely.
The ultimate goal of The Elegance Advisor Consultancy is to help empower others to be the best version of themselves by connecting them with their self development journey in a meaningful way: enhancing their understanding of etiquette, how it can be used together with effective communications to build and grow one’s personal brand.
The study of etiquette has sparked my curiosity and led me through my own personal journey in elegance and I have loved taking my clients along on the journey with me to grow and develop in elegance together.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
Through my social media presence, website, and personal & professional advising services I was inspired to create a comprehensive personal development mentorship program that is accessible to anyone no matter where they are in the world.
The Pathway to Elegance is an online subscription-based mentorship program where participants receive weekly lessons, and monthly mentorship coaching sessions live with me!
Where other online subscription programs are focused on one area of personal development or growth, The Pathway to Elegance focuses on your mindset, your personal brand and image, and your communication and soft skills. It is an all encompassing program that helps you think deeper about your personal development and it is for personal and professional growth!
The best part is that anyone can access, participate and grow from this online program. I myself have personally witnessed how this mentorship has changed the lives of so many people and contributed to their success.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
Here are some of my most cherished achievements:
- International award winning Etiquette and Personal Development Advisor and coach
- Worked on 5 continents in 22 different markets with heads of state, Fortune 500 executives, diplomats, and industry leaders in a career spanning over a decade.
- Through certifications, degrees and diplomas, and international experience, I have cultivated the skills and perspective necessary to successfully guide individuals to gain self-awareness and develop the soft skills needed to achieve their personal and professional goals and to set them apart in their personal and professional lives.
Some of my Awards and Recognitions:
- MumzWorld Expert on Etiquette
- The International Award of Inspirational Leadership, TLGSEF
- The Award of Global Business Excellence in Social Impact, The GUIDE
- Expo 2020 Dubai Speaker at the Women’s Pavilion, USA Pavilion and Philippines Pavilion
- Mentor, UN Women
- Crea Global Award, 2022
- Most inspiring UAE Women Entrepreneurs of 2023, The Gulf Entrepreneur
Here’s my Areas of Expertise:
- Social etiquette ( Continental European, British and American)
- Business etiquette
- Personal Branding
- Effective Communications
- Cross-cultural communications and cultural sensitivity
- Image consulting
- Public Speaking
- Life Coaching
- Emotional Intelligence Coaching
- NLP Practitioner
I’d also like to mention my educational background, which helped me become the person I’m today:
- Diploma in International Etiquette and Protocol, Institut Villa Pierrefeu, Glion Switzerland
- MBA International Business, The George Washington University, Washington DC USA
- Masters in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, The Elliott School of International Affairs, Washington DC
- Certificates in Personal Fashion Styling, London College of Fashion and FAD Institute for Luxury Fashion and Style, Dubai
- Life Coach IFC License and Certification. Coach Transformation Academy
- Emotional Intelligence Coaching Certification. Coach Transformation Academy
- NLP Practitioner Coaching Certification. Coach Transformation Academy
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I want women entrepreneurs to embrace the strength in their femininity!
Our skills are essential to the world, and when we believe in them and develop them to work in our favor, we can help create change. Women don’t need to ‘be like men’ to be successful, and we definitely do not need to be shy or compliant in order to ‘be tolerated/accepted’. We can embrace our natural talents and abilities and be just who we are and bring value and talent to any professional landscape.
As a woman entrepreneur myself, I see us as an essential ingredient in a world accustomed to overlooking our talents. I believe, through etiquette and soft skills training, there is a way to assert ourselves so that we can be heard, respected, and seen as valuable in those landscapes.
I believe that by following these principles and leaning into what you value as your personal brand you can uphold your attributes and skills, nurture your mindset, and your personal desire to be who you want to be.
I believe that kindness, consideration, and respect are essential for human happiness and global success. If we could encourage more mutual respect in our interactions in person and online, the world would be a very different place. I try to encourage everyone to start small, because kindness and consideration multiplies and respect grows!
What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
The world is evolving, and there is a need for influential and effective leadership roles to be filled by women. Women have proven themselves to be an important part of the workforce and it is important to remember that we make up half of the population so it really is just a matter of time.
If you shift your mindset to understanding and embracing the mindset that your faults are your opportunities for growth and your femininity is your strength – you will go very, very far in your personal and professional life!
