The Invisible Mentor Interviews Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia Part Two

Interviewee Name: Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia, Founder

Company Name: NORSUN Diversity and Cross-Culture Consulting

Website: http://diversity-and-cross-culture.com/

Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: I am Norwegian, I have lived in Switzerland, Cyprus and the US, now I'm living in France. I am a consultant, trainer and coach – and also mentor on a voluntary basis for the European Professional Women’s Network (EPWN). And I recently started up my company NORSUN Diversity and Cross-Culture Consulting.

Avil Beckford: How do you integrate your personal and professional life?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: As a business owner, it tends to get a bit mixed up. But it is important for me to get a good balance, so I create structures around e.g. computer time. I tend not to use my computer during weekends.

Avil Beckford: What’s a major regret that you’ve had in life?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: I don’t like to think “regrets”, I prefer to think about possibilities. When I look back, I don’t quite understand my choice of education. But then again, I am happy where I have landed in life, which is a result of choices I have made during life.

Avil Beckford: What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia:

1. Be grateful for your life
2. See possibilities, rather than problems
3. Enjoy the things that surround you; a beautiful view, good weather, the dog happy to go for a walk…
4. Keep going when things get tough
5. Don’t listen to the “noise”, do what is right for you

Avil Beckford: When you have some down time, how do you spend it?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: Walking my dog, reading, spending time in our house in the Alps, traveling.

Avil Beckford: What process do you use to generate great ideas?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: It is the ability to NOT think, which often happens when I am walking my dog. It is about getting outdoors and doing something with my body rather than my head

Avil Beckford: What’s your favourite quotation and why?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: There are so many, but I quite like the one I have chosen for my business brochure “what helps people, helps business” by Leo Burnett. I believe that happy people bring great results, which seems to be theory, but not practice many places.

Avil Beckford: How do you define success?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: Success means different things to different people, but for me it is about having done some work that I feel makes a difference and that I believe I have done a good job.

Success is also to live comfortably and have meaningful relationships.

Avil Beckford: In your opinion what’s the formula for success?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: Well; for me it is about getting a career that means something to you. When your job consist of a personal interest, it doesn’t feel like a “job” and I believe you are likely to succeed

Avil Beckford: What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: A mix of being informed, listen, work hard and deliver on promises.

Avil Beckford: What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: Get into networks so that you get a feeling for what is being discussed. Make sure you have the theories in place and stay informed of research and news.

Avil Beckford: If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia:

1. President Barack Obama: “If you could freely decide, what changes would you implement in the USA?”
2. Writer Paulo Coelho: “Let’s have a chat about the meaning of life”
3. Corruption hunter, judge and politician Eva Joly: “If you had the power, means and possibility, how would you stop corruption in e.g. Africa?”
4. Writer Isabel Allende: “Tell me about your inspiration behind your stories”
5. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed: “Tell me about your journey to power, and what are your dreams for Bangladesh and the region (including India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan)?”

Avil Beckford: Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. It describes the evolution of man and how natural resources have influenced our progress. I saw the world differently afterwards and it has helped me in my work.

Avil Beckford: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you and why? Summarize the book in two sentences.

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia:

1. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. It is a historical novel about the cathars in southern France. Gripping story about how they were wiped out by the French king.
2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The voyage of a shepherd, a spiritual as well as a physical journey.
3. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. A true story about a climber who gets lost in Afghanistan and ends up building schools for girls in Afhanistan and laterPakistan.
4. A Corner of Heaven by Chin Y. Lee. It is about love, life and laughter in a Burmese paradise; published in 1959.
5. Marley and Me by John Grogan. A true and funny story about the crazy dog Marley and how he impacts the life of a young family.

Avil Beckford: What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: BEN L’Oncle Soul. Because it gives me energy. I don’t like to see movies again and again, but I could probably see “Ice Age” a few times, it really makes me laugh.

If you cannot view the YouTube Video of BEN L’Oncle Soul click here.

If you cannot view the YouTube trailer of Ice Age click here.

Avil Beckford: What excites you about life?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: The endless possibilities, the beauty of nature, the contact with animals, the enriching conversations with people

Avil Beckford: How do you nurture your soul?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: Reading, being outdoors, being with animals, taking time to think and reflect.

Avil Beckford: If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for? Or, if I gave you a magic wand, what would you use it for?

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: I would stop the need some people have to abuse children.

Avil Beckford: Complete the following, I am happy when…..

Sunniva Heggertveit Aoudia: My husband and I spend time in our 400 year old house in the French Alps.

inks.