meet irene

Public speaker, Master Facilitator,
Communication Coach

But also, Food Engineer, Mother and Marathoner

Workshop

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WHY WORK WITH IRENE

Irene is an

internationally

accredited

ICF Coach

, certified

NLP

Master

Practitioner

(ABNLP), and holds a Master’s in Food Engineering (AgroParisTech). With 16+ years in global Food & Beverage Innovation Director, including leadership roles in Marketing & Operations across Europe and Asia, she brings a unique blend of corporate expertise and coaching mastery to help her clients thrive through change.

Specializing in Effective Communication, Leadership Development and Problem Solving, Irene equips clients with the mindset and tools to succeed in dynamic environments.

Fluent in

English,

French,

and

Vietnamese

, she

bridges

cultural

gaps

and

brings a

global

perspective

to her coaching.

A passionate advocate for impactful communication, Irene is a Division Speaking Contest finalist with Toastmasters International and Vice President of Education at Saigon Toastmasters Club, where she

leads

Public

Speaking

workshops

to empower professionals articulate their ideas and tell compelling stories.

A marathoner and former ballet dancer, Irene embodies resilience, discipline, and mental strength—qualities she integrates into

her

heart-centered

coaching

to inspire meaningful change and

sustainable

success.

That's my mom

Food creation runs in my DNA…

Growing up, I watched my parents run two Vietnamese restaurants in the heart of Paris. “Kim Lien Restaurant“, in the 5th district of Paris became my second home. It was there that I witnessed my parents —and my grandma—creating new dishes daily and interacting with our customers. From a young age, I trained my palate to appreciate a variety of flavors, while also developing a creative mindset and an openness to change.

I learned the importance of innovation in the kitchen but after high school, I faced the big question: what career should I pursue?

- My parents: ”You should be a doctor or a lawyer.”

- Me: ”Hmm, not quite what I had in mind.”

I knew I wanted something dynamic: shorter in terms of years of study, fun, and always hiring. I asked myself, "What do people need in their lives? A home, health, drinks, and... food, of course!", Since I’ve always been fascinated by science, curious about how things are created, and a foodie at heart, I decided to pursue a career as a

Food Engineer.

“GREAT THINGS IN BUSINESS ARE NEVER DONE BY ONE PERSON…BUT BY A TEAM OF PEOPLE.”

I graduated with a Master’s in Food Engineering from AgroParisTech (Paris) and

spent over 10 years working

in Food & Beverage Innovation.

Each year, I led my team in successfully launching more than 40 fruit products yearly, setting new trends for major coffee and tea chains across Southeast Asia, and pushing the boundaries of technology to bring breakthrough innovations to life. Our latest creations are set to launch in 2025… (but I can't reveal too much just yet!)

Through this experience, I learned the true power of teamwork Without connection and empathy, no project can transform into a real product. I came to understand the importance of impactful communication and leadership that inspires the team are essential to bringing ideas into reality. I discovered the courage to speak up, the importance of building trust, and how to motivate others to work toward our common goals.

Of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Often we face conflicts, misunderstandings, and resistance.

I realized that to continue progressing, I needed to develop my skills further. Without that growth, I would feel stuck and frustrated, unable to achieve our shared vision.

" He who does not progress everyday,
moves backward everyday. ”

Food creation runs in my DNA…

Growing up, I watched my parents run two Vietnamese restaurants in the heart of Paris. “Kim Lien Restaurant“, in the 5th district of Paris became my second home. It was there that I witnessed my parents —and my grandma—creating new dishes daily and interacting with our customers. From a young age, I trained my palate to appreciate a variety of flavors, while also developing a creative mindset and an openness to change.

I learned the importance of innovation in the kitchen but after high school, I faced the big question: what career should I pursue?

- My parents: ”You should be a doctor or a lawyer.”

- Me: ”Hmm, not quite what I had in mind.”

I knew I wanted something dynamic: shorter in terms of years of study, fun, and always hiring. I asked myself, "What do people need in their lives? A home, health, drinks, and... food, of course!", Since I’ve always been fascinated by science, curious about how things are created, and a foodie at heart, I decided to pursue a career as a

Food Engineer.

“GREAT THINGS IN BUSINESS ARE NEVER DONE BY ONE PERSON…BUT BY A TEAM OF PEOPLE.”

I graduated with a Master’s in Food Engineering from AgroParisTech (Paris) and

10 years working in

Food &

Beverage

Innovation.

Each year, I led my team in successfully launching more than 40 fruit products, setting new trends for major coffee and tea chains across Southeast Asia, and pushing the boundaries of technology to bring breakthrough innovations to life. Our latest creations are set to launch in 2025… (but I can't reveal too much just yet!)

Through this experience, I learned the true power of teamwork Without connection and empathy, no project can transform into a real product. I came to understand the importance of impactful communication and leadership that inspires the team are essential to bringing ideas into reality. I discovered the courage to speak up, the importance of building trust, and how to motivate others to work toward our common goals.

Of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Every week brought challenges—conflicts, misunderstandings, and resistance.

I realized that to continue progressing, I needed to develop my skills further. Without that growth, I would feel stuck and frustrated, unable to achieve our shared vision.

He who does not progress everyday,
moves backward everyday.”

I began my journey of Growth Mindset

Success at work was no longer my only motivation for personal growth. When I became a mother, I found myself struggling with work-life balance, , torn between my drive to achieve and my desire to spend quality time with my daughter. Growing up in a family that was fully dedicated to work, I often felt disconnected and distant from those around me. I knew I wanted things to be different for my daughter and me.

I also noticed I was repeating some of the behaviors from my upbringing—yelling, nagging, and saying unkind words when I felt frustrated. I knew I need to

break this cycle

After completing my Leadership

Coach accreditation

and becoming a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Master Facilitator,

I gained tools not only to help my team become more productive, motivated, and collaborative but also to
create a positive impact on my own well-being and my relationship with my daughter.

I decided to take a first step

After seeing the positive impact of my growth on my professional career, I spent the past three years deep diving into understanding how we develop new skills, traits, and attributes that drives success, both in life and within organizations.

Putting this knowledge into practice, I embarked on a journey to master the art of public speaking and influence. In 2024, I discovered Toastmasters International, and in my first year, I became a

finalist in the Division Contest,

surpassing over 100 contestants in Vietnam. This achievement is just the beginning... I’m committed to continue to practice, learn, and challenge myself to see how far I can go.

Taking that first step into public speaking opened the door to a new passion: the study of human behavior, high performance, and creating practical tools to help people improve in their careers—tools I wish I had access to earlier in my own journey.

“ You don’t have to be great to start.
But you have to start to be great ”

I began my journey of Growth Mindset

Success at work was no longer my only motivation for personal growth. When I became a mother, I found myself struggling with work-life balance, , torn between my drive to achieve and my desire to spend quality time with my daughter. Growing up in a family that was fully dedicated to work, I often felt disconnected and distant from those around me. I knew I wanted things to be different for my daughter and me.

I also noticed I was repeating some of the behaviors from my upbringing—yelling, nagging, and saying unkind words when I felt frustrated. I knew I needed to break this cycle.

I also noticed I was repeating some of the behaviors from my upbringing—yelling, nagging, and saying unkind words when I felt frustrated. I knew I need to

break this cycle

After completing my Leadership

Coach

accreditation

and becoming a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Master

Facilitator

, I gained tools not only to help my team become more productive, motivated, and collaborative but also to create a positive impact on my own well-being and my relationship with my daughter.

I decided to take a first step

After seeing the positive impact of my growth on my professional career, I spent the past three years deep diving into understanding how we develop new skills, traits, and attributes that drives success, both in life and within organizations.

Putting this knowledge into practice, I embarked on a journey to master the art of public speaking and influence. In 2024, I discovered Toastmasters International, and in my first year, I became a

finalist in

the Division

Contest,

surpassing over 100 contestants in Vietnam. This achievement is just the beginning... I’m committed to continue to practice, learn, and challenge myself to see how far I can go.

Taking that first step into public speaking opened the door to a new passion: the study of human behavior, high performance, and creating practical tools to help people improve in their careers—tools I wish I had access to earlier in my own journey.

“ You don’t have to be great to start.
But you have to start to be great”

Now you’ll find me

Developing my activity and putting my expertise into giving workshops not only to boost communication skills but also to help individual and companies to overcome challenges and support the team growth and development.

Today, I work as a

1:1 Coach

and

Master

Facilitator

I may be a bit different from other coaches out there. My passion isn’t focused on social media, well-edited YouTube videos, or perfectly curated Instagram feeds.

My passion is creating better leaders.

My mission is to equip leaders and organizations with the mindset and tools needed to navigate change and communicate effectively.

And most importantly,

I want to help you move in the right direction.

NOW HERE IS MY PERSONAL TRUTH…

My energy drink? It’s water.

While most people kickstart their mornings with a cup of coffee or tea, I’m one of the rare ones who doesn’t drink either. For me, water is my go-to fuel throughout the day, I don’t need any caffeine! Water is the drink that keeps me energized and ready to take on whatever comes my way.

I spent the first 20 years of my life dancing ballet

For two decades, ballet was more than just a hobby—it was a passion that shaped who I am. Though I wasn't a professional dancer, the discipline, artistry, and focus I learned through ballet have stayed with me. It taught me how to move with grace, perfect my angles and lines, and develop resilience. I also loved the beauty of the costumes and the sense of teamwork and synchronization that went into creating a harmonious performance. One of the fun things I discovered was that no matter where I danced, the ballet steps are always in French!

I then discovered new forms of dance

When I moved to Vietnam, ballet wasn't as popular, and I wanted to immerse myself in a more social dancing community. That's when I discovered Latino social dances like Salsa and Bachata, and I instantly fell in love with the vibrant energy and connection they offered. Wanting to stay in shape while also using my ballet skills in a different way, I turned to lyrical pole dancing. It allows me to express myself through gracious movements to any kind of music and be creative in crafting my own performances. One of my favorite moments was performing the Black Swan on the pole!

In my next life, I want to come back as an OB-GYN

Becoming a mother was a long and challenging journey for me—it took five years, and along the way, I faced a stillbirth, hemorrhaging, IVF, and high-risk pregnancy. Through these experiences, I’ve met many OB-GYNs in different parts of the world, from France to Vietnam and Thailand. The cultural differences can make the caring approach in a total different way and that was eye-opening, and I developed a deep admiration for the role. If I could choose another path, I would become an OB-GYN—not just one with exceptional medical expertise, but one with genuine empathy and the ability to listen, helping women navigate the emotional challenges of becoming mothers.

Running is not my passion, but I completed my first marathon in 4h42 !

While running wasn't something I initially loved, I discovered its benefits. Not only does it help me burn calories, but it also clears my mind, sparks creativity, and allows me to solve problems. In 2024, marking the start of a new decade, I challenged myself to run a marathon. I stayed disciplined, following a 3-month training plan, running 300 km, and dedicating 31 hours to preparation. During the race, I maintained my pace, but it was in the final 3 km, when exhaustion hit, that my mental strength took over. I kept telling myself: "Keep going, Irene, step by step." Life is like a marathon—not a sprint. Stay consistent, and you’ll reach your finish line.

I’m not a sweet tooth…but I love making pastries for others to enjoy…

I get so much joy from making people happy, and I enjoy "eating with my eyes." During the festive season, I unwind by cooking and baking for my loved ones. Despite not having a sweet tooth myself, I love creating delicious treats for others to indulge in. With my background in food engineering, I enjoy the challenge of crafting sophisticated recipes, turning them into beautiful desserts. One of my favorites? My red fruit pavlova—a perfect balance of fruity, fresh, crunchy, and creamy. It’s an absolute delight!

I cry while watching movies

Most people see me as someone who’s always smiling and full of energy, but there are moments when I’m on a quiet weeknight, watching a movie like Titanic, PS I Love You, or any of the latest releases, and suddenly, I’m crying like a baby. It’s like, wow, That is LOVE.

My little cheerleader

My daughter, Mila, is the true definition of love. She’s always there to cheer me on when I’m at my best, and knows exactly how to comfort me when I’m feeling low. On weekends, you’ll find us chatting on the sofa or enjoying activities together. But what I love most is seeing her smile and hearing her excitedly shout with joy when I come home from work.

TESTIMONIALS | WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

Jim Holt

Head of Program Management at Qarbon Aerospace

"Go and get Insightful Sharing as part of your life!"

"Irene has a really vast and knowledgeable set of coaching skills that allow her to adapt to many customers needs. Irene is a lovely down to earth caring character."

Phen Lam

Head of Credit Risk Vietnam at ANZ

"Irene's workshop on adding melody to speech is pure gold to me."

"Irene is always full of energy, and it easily spreads to the audience."

Yen Ngo

Business Development Manager in Horeca

"Thanks Irene - for creating such a supportive and motivating environment! I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the inspiring training session and the fantastic coaching. The way you engaged with everyone and tailored your guidance made a significant difference."

"The way you engaged with everyone made a significant difference"

"You rock Irene!"

"Thank you for your enthusiasm and energy during the workshop. We got to connect with each other, the event well executed with fun and creative games, it creates such positive source."

From participants of Source of Asia