About Me

“So, do you do bi-to-bi or bi-to-si?”

The man in the marketing agency looked at me skeptically over his black glasses. My head was spinning.
What does he mean? What is he saying? Is that German?

My first business meeting shortly before the company was founded didn't go smoothly at all. I could barely answer the agency's questions about branding and returned to my hotel room in Düsseldorf, somewhat shaken, with my business plan under my arm.

It was 2001 and I had been commissioned to set up a GmbH in the sports and toys sector in Germany on behalf of a Swedish investment company.

I had just completed my Master's degree in business administration at Stockholm University and an exchange year at a university in Switzerland. But to be honest, I didn't know much about the real world of business. Luckily, I didn't realize how little I actually knew - otherwise I probably wouldn't have dared to do it in the first place.

So I approached the matter with an optimistic, youthful (I was ONLY 28 years old – haha!) and open attitude and accepted the challenge.

The start-up phase was not easy: 16 trips to the authorities and seven months later the GmbH was finally up and running. At the same time, I started marketing and implementing the business idea.

The company grew over the years and I gained a lot of valuable experience: I hired staff, developed marketing campaigns, flew to China and bought goods by the container, and built a company that eventually supplied 7.000 retailers across Europe.

It was fun - especially because I stood behind the products and was completely convinced of them. The customers noticed that too. And what could be better than selling products that motivate children to get some exercise in the fresh air?

In 2014, however, I felt the desire for change. After more than twelve years of managing a company, it was time to try something new. After careful consideration, parts of the company were sold and I was able to reorient myself.

In the same year I began training to become a Systemic Business Coach (SBC). After my certification, I became self-employed as a life coach with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

The logical step later was to move into business coaching – specifically for women. This change of niche was confusing at first, but ultimately it was exactly the right thing to do.

Why do I focus on women?

Because after twelve years as an entrepreneur, I want to help other women so that they have an easier life than I had back then. So that they don't feel so alone - with all the thoughts, decisions and challenges where you often don't know how to proceed at the beginning - that was all in the days before ChatGPT & Co.

So that they have someone who listens, encourages and supports them when self-doubt arises and the question “Will I really be able to do it?” arises.

And so that women who have a dream and a vision don't have to start from scratch, but can benefit from my now over 25 years of experience and knowledge.

I support you with topics such as positioning, target group analysis, trade fairs, websites, branding, events, logistics, online marketing, employee management, sales and negotiations, supplier relations, customer acquisition and everything that goes with building a company.

I also focus on women because they have enormous potential that they often underestimate or hide – for fear of being judged or condemned.

Dear independent woman, let your light shine.

Show your charisma to all the people who can learn from your knowledge and experience.

Show it to the people who can lead a better life through your success.

And above all: let the fire burn within you to unfold your true potential and power.

Because that is exactly why YOU are here.

No matter whether B2B or B2C – or wherever you find your calling.

With love,

Heléne

Detailed CV

This is me
Passionate, optimistic, organized, reliable, warm, protagonist (according to Jung/Meyer-Briggs), enthusiastic, cook, doer, empathetic, former footballer, Buddhist, extroverted, curious, leader, nature lover, vegetarian, speaker, family person, loyal, "do-er", good listener, authentic, lioness, loves interior design and a good book (no Swedish crime novels), quickly gets the overview, understands complex connections, body language reader, rarely judges people for their behavior (everyone has their reasons for it), time optimist, loves to travel.

Apprenticeship

  • Training as a “Systemic Business Coach”, Munich Academy for Business Coaching (2014–2015)
  • Master of Science BA, Stockholm University, major in Management and Organization (Business Administration) (1997–2001)
  • ERASMUS exchange student in business administration, FH Baden, Switzerland (1995–2000)
  • Training at the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce as an “Industrial Clerk” (1992–1997)
  • Abitur with a focus on natural sciences, Östersund, Sweden

Work experience

independence

Heléne Rhodin-Shillingford Coaching & Consulting, Willich, Germany
Shillingford Communications GmbH, Agency for Marketing and Communication (2015–present)

 

  • business consulting and coaching on marketing strategies
  • Development, creation and implementation of sales and (online) marketing concepts and advertising campaigns for lead generation
  • Development and creation of websites in WordPress with on-page and basic SEO optimization, optimized for customer journey
  • development of corporate identity design
  • Creation of editorial content for social media channels (including videos, articles, stories, storytelling)
  • Writing a notebook for office organization: “MY BEAUTY INSTITUTE” available on Amazon
  • Development of online courses, online training and digital products
  • Establishment of an online training academy plus Facebook community with sales and marketing support for 2200 cosmetic and beauty institutes
  • Maintaining additional communities through Facebook groups
  • Development of book launch campaigns for authors
  • Creation of Facebook/Instagram Ads campaigns
  • Building sales and marketing funnels with email marketing (newsletter distribution)
  • Design and distribution of your own business calendar
  • Planning, organisation, implementation and moderation of events, e.g. in coordination with the Women's Entrepreneurship Day (WED) at the UNITED NATIONS, New York
  • Event organization for WED 2017 (Industrieclub Düsseldorf) and WED 2018 (Steigenberger Hotel, Düsseldorf)
  • Planning, organization and moderation of workshops
  • process and workflow optimization for customers
  • Writing sales texts for websites, catalogs and flyers including storytelling
  • Online training on online marketing for brands such as Belico and SkinThings

 

Lecturer EBC (European Business College)
Düsseldorf, Germany (2016–2021)

  • Lecturer in the subjects: Selling & Negotiation, Rhetoric & Presentation, International Negotiation, Mediation & Moderation, Team Management

founder and managing director of Spring Fun GmbH
Düsseldorf, Germany (2002–2014)

  • import and sale of sports and games products
  • Founding and establishing the company without a tax advisor
  • Sourcing products and negotiating with Chinese manufacturers
  • recruitment of 10-20 employees
  • Establishment of a dealer network with up to 7000 dealers (including Intersport Germany)
  • Setting up an online shop for B2B and B2C
  • Preparation and implementation of trade fair appearances (ISPO, FIBO)
  • Cooperations with IKEA Germany for marketing events

Other activities:

  • Management and Organization Analyst, BHV, Beirut, Lebanon (2000)
  • Marketing and Advertising Assistant, Centillion Digital Systems, Indianapolis, USA (1999)
  • Customer Service, Banco Fund Management, Stockholm, Sweden (1998–2000)

software and other skills

  • Microsoft Office
  • Active Campaign (CMS)
  • FLUX (graphic creation with AI)
  • Asana / Slack (project management)
  • Canva (graphic design)
  • Filmora Wondershare, Wave (video editing)
  • WordPress, WooCommerce, WIX, Jimdo
  • Evernote (organization)
  • Elopage (platform for digital products)
  • Easywebinar, GoToWebinar, Zoom
  • Facebook Ads Manager
  • Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
  • speaker, trainer
  • Presenting / Giving Lectures

Other

  • 2017–2019: Ambassador for Women's Entrepreneurship Day (WED), events in cooperation with WED at the United Nations
  • 2016–2018: Lecturer at VHS Wesel, Swedish lessons
  • 2012–2019: Chairwoman of the Swedish Society in Düsseldorf
  • Leisure: Reading, meditation, spinning, family

My husband Keith and I at the wedding in Sweden 2017

My parents, Keith, me and my siblings with children in Spain 2019 (little Hanna joined us in 2020)