Building Confidence Through Etiquette

Special guest Orchids Campbell brings a rare combination of international etiquette expertise, luxury hospitality experience, and cross-cultural insight to this episode of Live, Learn, Teach, Inspire.

As the founder of Etiquette For Everyone in the UAE, Orchids has dedicated her career to helping both children and adults develop confidence, communication skills, modern manners, and cultural awareness in today’s global world.

Certified in etiquette and protocol through the Protocol Bureau of the Netherlands and The British School of Excellence, Orchids also holds a Level 5 qualification in Learning and Development recognised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Her professional background spans aviation, hospitality, healthcare, wellness, modelling schools, and luxury service environments.

With more than twelve years’ experience as a purser and cabin crew trainer for Emirates Airlines, Orchids has worked with people from over 180 nationalities and travelled extensively across 94 countries. Her approach combines professionalism, warmth, emotional intelligence, and practical real-world experience.

In this inspiring conversation, Orchids shares her insights on modern etiquette, cultural intelligence, professional presence, confidence-building, and the importance of respectful communication in both personal and professional life.

Follow Orchids on her website:
https://etiquette4everyone.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

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SPEAKER_01 1:12

It gives me huge and great pleasure to introduce a formidable, wonderful young lady who not that long ago attended our Train the Trainer program. Her name is Orcas Roy. She is based out of Dubai and has been living there for 14 years. Not only that, this amazing woman has traveled to more and well over half of the countries around the world. And I'm sure Orchids will correct me, but I have a feeling from memory it's 93 different countries. We are so delighted to welcome Orchids into the studio and give her the opportunity to share her journey with you. So a very, very warm welcome, Orchids.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Hello, Felix.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

How are you?

SPEAKER_02 1:57

I'm very well. Thank you so much for having me here. It's an honor and privilege to be one of your guests on this show.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

I I would I repeat that an absolutely honor to have you. Thank you for making the time. Just for our wonderful audience, I met Orchids in person for the first time yesterday, and I have to say, you're a wonderful woman, but you're more beautiful in person because the camera doesn't do you justice, although you are obviously very gorgeous and really wonderful to have connected with you and met you and your lovely, amazing husband. So it was a joy. I was able to physically shake your hand, and we handed over some amazing certificates, we exchanged some wonderful conversation, and you gifted me some incredible, wonderful, uh world-renowned dates with the most wonderful uh ingredients in them, along with pistachios and dried pineapple. And it was that I just absolutely can't thank you enough for making the effort. And today, Orchids is about you and your journey into where you are right now. I would love you to please share where did this where did this drive come from initially for you to sort of give up a very, very dynamic opportunity. You were working in the airline industry, coaching and training people, you jumped out of an aeroplane and you built your parachute on the way down. What was the push? What was the shove?

SPEAKER_02 3:21

Yes, thank you. So before I answer that, I'm glad that you like the present that um I gifted you yesterday. It's so hard to think of um, you know, um a present from a certain country where you know you have to think, okay, which one do you think this person would like? But I'm very glad that you loved it and you appreciate the gift. So going back to your question, um what inspired me to jump in that parachute on that airplane and start this new journey of being an etiquette coach? It started because um I wanted to leverage my experience as a cabin crew as well as a cabin crew trainer into something that um I'm really passionate about. So I can leverage my experience as a cabin crew trainer where I teach uh more on social etiquette and image and grooming, and also I would like to do something that I really enjoy, which is training, teaching. So that is the reason, those are the reasons that inspired me into becoming an etiquette coach, and then I started researching um for institutions where I can have this certification or train the trainer course, and I happen to bump into your website, and that's where the journey started.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Wonderful, and I am so grateful. We as an organization are so grateful the journey started with us because this is this incredible opportunity to make a change in this world, and you really gifted me not only those beautiful, amazing dates, but you gifted me, and I get goosebumps sharing this. You gifted me with a beautiful thank you card, which the words you know, they jumped out at me, and I just it yeah, it made my eyes twirl up with pride, um, swell up with pride, and I'm just so grateful that you chose the British School of Excellence. And I truly, uh, we here at the organization are just so proud of you and so in awe of what you've done in such a short space of time. And I think that really is is sort of tribute to how fastidious you are. You you you come you drove us completely nuts on train the train, and I'm that's I'm tongue-in-cheek, but you were phenomenal, you wanted this detail, that detail, and everything was all about getting as much information as you could you could obtain, and then we obviously kept in communication, we gave you some guidance and steering with some business guide, and then all of a sudden you jumped again and you launched your first coaching session. So tell us about this incredible the stepping stones you took in order to to sort of launch the first program.

SPEAKER_02 6:07

Yes, definitely. So when I was thinking about launching my company, I was thinking about who would be my audience, my students. So I have to be very, very particular of who is going to be my audience. So I've been teaching adult learners as a as a trainer for an airline. So I want to do something um different this time. Um, I have, you know, I have taught my daughter about certain skills and etiquette. So I was thinking, how about sharing my knowledge to um to children, to um to kids. So at first I was hesitant because I'm not really a preschool teacher or certified to teach kids, but I said, okay, teaching etiquette or social etiquette, regardless if it's an adult or children, the foundation is still the same. So um I jump into conducting my first workshop for children, and then I actually enjoyed it very much. At first, I was hesitant that maybe the kids will not be engaged. So I try to make sure that my workshop has a lot of activities involved, lots of um role-playing to get them engaged. And I was surprised on my first session, two of the parents messaged me and said, Orchids, I was really, really impressed because my son shook hands with his new football um football coach after attending your workshop, and they were actually upset that I enrolled them to two of these boys attended their brothers, uh yes, brother brothers, they attended my workshop and they were at first very upset of their mom for enrolling them to my program. And then after yes, after the first session, going to third session, the mom messaged me again and said, they are now looking forward to come to your workshop. And I was, you know, I'm I'm really, really happy that they enjoyed your workshop and now they look forward to coming. So that inspired me and actually told myself, right, this is working now. I don't have to worry about whether the kids are engaged and they enjoy my workshop. So that's what inspired me to have another idea for adults. And now I was thinking, what can I do for adults? Because now I have a classroom setting for children, and for adults, I don't think I can actually um ask them to come to a classroom setting on a weekend. I um specifically for adults, you want more of an experience type of learning. So for me to incorporate the fine dining etiquette or the fine dining um masterclass, I have to think of something unique that adult learners can um engage and actually enjoy the experience because everyone now loves the experience. So I thought of incorporating the fine dining etiquette workshop to a supper club, and supper clubs are now getting popularity in Dubai, and there's a lot of chefs all around the world who are moving to Dubai because our tourism is growing, a lot of people are migrating to Dubai because of work opportunities. So I collaborated with a lot of up-and-coming chefs or new chefs coming to Dubai who wants to have their own mark and their name, you know, um, shown to the stage of Dubai. So I started researching again, going through my Instagram of who I can collaborate with. So I started with this French chef who happened to be new in Dubai, only a year in Dubai, and he's already doing supper clubs in his apartment. So I messaged him on Instagram. I said, Hey, look, I am an etiquette coach and I'm planning to launch my art of dining event. Would you like to collaborate with me? And immediately after a few hours, he responded to my message, and then the following day I went to his apartment. We had a meeting, we went through my idea of how I'm gonna run the fine dining um workshop, and of course, we discussed about the menu that we're gonna offer the guest, and yeah, it was a success. That was my first supper club, and then another one came the following month, which was just um in April. That was my um second Supper Club event, and I collaborated with another chef, so yeah, I was so happy that it was such a click. Um, I think everyone loved the experience because you get the the theme of Supper Club is you go there as strangers and you live as friends, and on top of that, you'll gain something, you learn something through a you know fine dining masterclass. So I think it's such a great um idea of incorporating an etiquette um etiquette workshop for something that is unique. So for any etiquette uh coaches out there who think of you know ways of how they're going to incorporate their workshops, I would recommend having it in a um supper club. Yeah. I cannot hear you, Philip.

SPEAKER_01 11:59

I just love your creativity. I absolutely love your creativity, and this just goes to show we can sexify this amazing opportunity, we can make it so wonderful, and I bet you, and I know for a fact, because I've spoken to you, the feedback has been exponential. It really and truly has. It's been unbelievable, people are engaging, and and you know what the beautiful thing about this whole thing is is I love the word friends and friendships. We're bringing people together, and it goes back to that one amazing sentence we all share as etiquette coaches and trainers: one person, one opportunity can change your life for the rest of your life. And I bet you there will be not only friendships born, but business opportunities and connections for life. So I know that um our our producer's got two pictures I'd love to share with the audience. The first one, please, uh, if we could share that lovely, gorgeous picture of you with your chef. There we go. Isn't that just the most wonderful example? Beautiful chef in his whites, there you are, as polished as ever, and an amazing, amazing table setting. And then we have uh the next picture which I love to share is with you, with your actual diners, which is just gorgeous. You're giving this amazing instruction, what a beautiful setting, and what's so beautiful about this is it's natural, it doesn't have to be a posh five-star hotel dining room, blah blah blah. You're using your uh your your your tools that are at your fingertips, and you can see the engagement, and and I just love that. So huge congratulations on on taking this incredible step forward. And one thing I wanted to ask you obviously, I would imagine knowing you, you were very well prepared, but also I'm sure quite nervous before the first one. Is that correct?

SPEAKER_02 13:43

Oh, absolutely. I was very, very nervous. Um, the fact that some of them were already my friends who went there to support me on my first um fine dining masterclass. But as with any first timer, of course, you'd be I was very, very nervous, and um, I was trying not to um drip the wine when I was serving them with the wine, but of course, there's a few accidents of dripping because I forgot to to bring the the uh the napkin um together with the wine. But um I'll tell you, Philip. So one of my guests there was also in hospitality, and I got this really, really good feedback from her because she said, orchids, you know, um I thought that my etiquette knowledge is up there, but after attending your workshop, I was like, oh wow, there's so much facts involved in your workshop because what um I made for this workshop, I incorporated a lot of cultural etiquette as well. So not just the European style of dining or knowing the etiquette, but also I incorporated a lot of Asian way of eating and the proper way of dining in an Asian way. So this first etiquette uh fine dining or the art of dining, um, the food, the food that we offer, the dishes that we offer to our guests is from Asia to Europe. So it's like a culinary journey from Asia to Europe. So for our first two starters, we we offered um Asian dishes, so one Asian soup and um a gyoza from Japan. So, of course, how are we going to eat gyuza? So, by using the chopsticks, so I showed them how to use the chopsticks and also the different placements of chopsticks, the difference between Chinese style or Korean style and also the Japanese way of setting the chopsticks, and then for um the the two main courses, so we went to Italy by serving the uh by serving them pasta, how to eat pasta the Italian way, and also for the French, uh for the um the other main course, we had a fish dish because the chef is French, so he went and demonstrated how to actually um fill it, not fill it, um like slice the fish from a whole fish and how you're going to remove them out from the from the bone. So he demonstrated that and then we offered our guests each with a whole fish so that they can practice, and then for dessert, because majority of them are um from the UK, so we gave them one of um Queen Elizabeth's um favorite or Queen Victoria's um favorite cake, which is the Victoria's Sponge Cake, and I spoke about the history of the sponge cake and the history about afternoon tea, just a brief um history, how it came about. So it was a lot of storytelling, not just all about the etiquette, but a lot of storytelling as well, and um yeah, a lot of cultural um etiquette awareness.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

I love that. I I love the fact that you you've really brought in the cultural side of things because everyone, when when one talks about dining, they think immediately all British style dining, they think all crumbs, it's all knife and forks. And you am I correct? It's 93 countries that you've traveled to. That's correct. I mean, this is where you've got such an amazing um power behind you, so to speak, in the sense of all that experience you bring to the table and understanding that Asia is a massive country, for example, but the styles are so different in incorporating the chopsticks for a start. Secondly, there are big superstitions in the various countries. So one needs to be very in tune with the importance of dining etiquette wherever we go. Would you agree with me on that?

SPEAKER_02 17:56

Oh, absolutely, absolutely. So when um well before before my passion for traveling actually started at a very young age because my dad worked in a cargo ship. So he was an engineer in a cargo ship. So when I was eight years old, he traveled. I only get to see him once a year. So whenever every time he comes home, he would tell me stories about his travels where they're where their ship docks and you know the food that he ate, um, the things that he's seen. So that was um the time where I had this desire of seeing the world. So um, of course, the reason why I want to see the world is I want to see all these sites that my father have seen. And then when I started traveling, that's when I discovered the love for food. And I realized that you know, all cultures, they're so proud of their food and how you know the preparation. So even if in our interaction, when we meet someone, so the food is such a great um I call it icebreaker. So just like when you go out on a date as well, Philip, you don't get go on a date. So you say to the guy, so do you like me? No. So when you meet each other, you say, Oh, would you like something to drink first? Yeah, before you go to the actual dinner. So it's such a great um icebreaker for food. So that's the um one of the reasons that it shifted from sightseeing to actually love food. And then when I um started getting to, you know, I need to try this when I go to, let's say, for example, when I went to Peru, I tried their guinea pig. And then I realized, oh my god, how am I going to eat this? Because the server served me the entire guinea pig in front of me. I was like, how am I gonna eat this? And then that's when the curiosity about how to eat certain foods, and then on the flight for you know, from our different destinations, I love watching people how they eat. So, for example, I've never eaten um well, I've eaten Indian food back in the Philippines, but I never really um had that experience of oh, so for this biryani, for example, you can mix it with yogurt and some mango chutney, and then the mixture of this flavor would really create it's almost like for me, like a circus going on in my mouth. But I never had that because I never had it when I was in the Philippines eating biryani because no one taught me that this is how you're supposed to eat it. But a colleague of mine on the flight, I was watching him eat the biryani and mixing all of these condiments. I was like, Oh wow, is that is that how you eat biryani? He said, Yeah, yeah, this is how you eat, and it tastes different. And then I tried it, it's like, oh yeah, so again, my love of food now shifted to my curiosity of how people eat certain food. So it's like a how do you call it, like a journey of my curiosity, and that's also what led me to become an etiquette coach after being in aviation for 12 years, and I said, right, this is something that I really want to pursue in my life as a new chapter in my career, because I have gained a lot of knowledge, experiences of different things from my cultural interactions with different people from different backgrounds, so I can share this knowledge not just to like my adult learners, but also especially to young children. So when they you know start traveling or start interacting, especially in a place Dubai, where it's such a melting pot of different culture, this is the best time for me to share my knowledge and experiences with them.

SPEAKER_01 22:01

What a wonderfully well put uh put sort of introduction into where this all comes from. And I totally agree with you, it's that know-how. And when we do know-how, it obviously gives us that incredible confidence in any given situation. And something that I know you and I absolutely agree on, along with all our sort of fellow colleagues and and and people that we uh engage with, is when you do know what to do, then your mind is is totally in them in the room and in the moment. You're not concerned, am I going to do something wrong? Am I going to make a mistake? You because it will just come naturally, and when that does happen, it gives you that amazing feeling of just calmness, presence, and I can give you all my attention. I'm not concerned, or how do I eat this condiment, or where do I put this knife, where do I put this fork? And and I know this is something, as you said, your friend who you regard and respect, who's in the hospitality sector, was really blown away by your wonderful delivery and the knowledge you shared on the various ways of how to go about handling yourself with different food types. And I think that's phenomenal. And what's wonderful is every single one of us out there can always learn something new, especially when it comes to dining etiquette. Because, as you and I agree with, you know, you've got no place to hide when it comes to dining, for example. You either know what you're doing or you don't, and and if you've got a uh uh we've always used as an example, and I don't want to take up too much of your wonderful time. I want to go back to you shortly, but that example of a CV or resume, you can put a whole lot of nonsense and and porcupies on that resume and hand it to someone and they employ you because it sounds impressive, and a month down the line they find out that you're actually not telling the truth. Whereas the moment you pick up a pair of chopsticks or you eat with the wrong hand, in let's say a country that only eats with the right hand, or you handle your chopstick differently, or you chew with your mouth open, or you just behave in a way that is not uh customary to that that sort of culture, you're gonna trip yourself up.

SPEAKER_02 24:01

Absolutely. I agree with you, Philip.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

It is, and and tell me what else that you've been focusing on, but before you tell me what else you've been focusing on, this wonderful title you've come up with, Etiquette for Everyone. Where did that idea come from? Because it is really it's a clever uh because again, as you and I share, and I get goosebumps sharing this. This beautiful picture, I love your logo, it's simple, it's catching, is etiquette for everyone, because this is what this is about. Is it's not for posh people, it's not for middle class people, it's not for poor, it's for everybody. So, where did you come up with a beautiful title?

SPEAKER_02 24:36

Yes, yes, absolutely. That's what you've said. So I wanted to have my business name that sounds um inclusivity, has um has to be inclusive. Um, I don't want my organization or my company to sound like a very academia type. So I was thinking, okay, I want something like inclusive where whether you're a boy or a girl, um, old, young, rich, poor, from all backgrounds, different backgrounds, can actually come and um come and join us and you know participate in our learning. So I want that um, I want the the name of the company to sound inclusive. So that's the reason why I thought about um having it as etiquette for everyone. And for the color pink, again, when I was researching what is the color of etiquette. So when you think about etiquette, what's the color that associates with it? So it says that something light, pastel, color pink. So again, I incorporated that, and um yeah, there's there was a lot of brainstorming happening when I came up with that um with the name. Actually, when I was going through the train the trainer course, I was also in the process of you know um thinking of my brand, the brand name. And as I've said earlier, um there were a lot of considerations that was put into in coming up with this um brand name or company name. So, yeah, inclusivity, that's um the idea behind etiquette for everyone. So I want everyone from different backgrounds to come and join us and learn about etiquette, having good manners, and especially for children, that's yeah, that's the aim, that children from different backgrounds will have the opportunity to learn of everything from table manners, their interaction, their communication skills, how to create a great first impression, because I believe that these are basic and foundational skills that they need to learn in order for them to be the best version of themselves. And when they grow up, they are confident and already have that foundation and basic skills for them to use and equip them.

SPEAKER_01 27:12

I just love that, and actually, I think there's a strapline you've got to actually add to to your to your branding, and that is inclusive, not exclusive. I love that. I just that is so wonderful, and and I think there's a wonderful caption you just created for yourself, inclusive, not exclusive. And this is the key, you know, it's something it's something that I've been discussing with uh various people within the organization, is there are so many people who are arrogant but have zero substance, and actually, what we really need to be creating is people who've got substance with no arrogance, and there's too many, there are too many arrogant people in this world who don't they pontificate and they think they know it all and they behave in a certain way, but there's there's no real depth to that individual, there's no proper sort of it they don't put people at ease, they put people make them feel very uncomfortable. And I just love this inclusive, not exclusive. And I know with your beautiful character and nature, you definitely put people at ease in a very short space of time, which is an art, and that's wonderful, it really and truly is. What I'd love to ask you is uh with your coaching and training, you mentioned with the children that you bring a lot of role plays, you keep them motivated, you keep them inspired, you keep them active. Would you mind sharing one or two uh role plays that you introduce during a course?

SPEAKER_02 28:30

Sure. Okay, so um one of the role plays that I do for them is um a restaurant setting, which they really enjoyed. So I will have two diners. Sometimes we prepare, we uh pretend boyfriend and girlfriend, and then I have one hostess and um the server, another server, and a match day. So they get to practice and they love it because um I told them, okay, so when someone uh so we started from getting into the restaurant, meeting the host. So the host will ask, good morning, welcome to let's say orchids restaurant. Do you have any reservation? And then the couple or the uh pretend customers will say, Yes, we do have a Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and then check on the computer, they come. So I said, Okay, so when you um assist your customer to enter the restaurant, what would you do? So, of course, offer the seat again. If you're in your house, make sure that you offer a seat to elderly or to your mother. If you're a man or a boy, always offer the seat, and then the match they would come, introduce yourself. So we all we all role-play this, and when they take the order, they have to use may I please thank you, which we call the magical words, and then they have to do eye contact when they place the order, and then after that, you know, the the um when the server comes to place the meal, again we say, okay, which side you're gonna place the meal, and then when you clear the plate on which side, so the kids really enjoy that the role-playing. That's one of the role-playing. We also do role-playing on telephone manners. So when they answer the phone, for example, on behalf of their parents, let's say the mom, the mom is busy, so the mom asks them to um answer the phone, so we also role-play that. Um, we also role-play communication skills. So when they're meeting someone for the first time, let's say a new classmate for the new school year coming up, and then there's a new girl in their class, and then how they're going to approach them, introduce themselves, so we also do role-playing for that. When it comes to table settings, so I ask them to um have the activity, um, which is also part of role playing. So let's say I pretend I'm the mom. Okay, I say, Philip, can you please um set the table? And then they have to ask me, okay, mom, what type of setting do you want? Casual or formal? And I would say formal. Okay, so what will be the next question? Okay, mom, how many dishes are we serving today? We will be serving five-course meal. So they have to think, okay, five-course meal, mom. Okay, so what starter are we having? Are we having soup, salad? So they would know exactly what cutlery took place. Is it a soup spoon or they're gonna put a salad and knife fork? So this role-playing as well, I incorporate to um yeah, to my workshops.

SPEAKER_01 31:49

Yeah, that is just wonderful. And and it just goes to share with everyone that this is so deeper than this is so much deeper than just sitting someone at a table and showing them how to hold a knife and fork or showing them how to hold chopsticks or a soup spoon or uh whatever the implements are that we utilize to eat. So, for example, obviously a fork for the pasta and so forth, or a spoon with curry and rice for certain cultures. I love this because you're giving them communication skills, which is, as we know, has become a dying, a dying thing amongst a lot of people, not just children, amongst people in general. Our communication has dropped really, really, really badly. Our concentration levels have dropped immensely. Um, I love the idea, you know, you share those tidy hands, you're inviting someone to table with beautiful hands and beautiful body language. That is just gorgeous, and so that's sharing how important the body language is, and then the idea of listening firstly and repeating the order, and then using those wonderful polished language skills. May I may I offer you? Uh, may I suggest? Um, all of those sorts of language skills that again I think have been lost through through for various reasons. Can I offer you a glass of water? Can I take your order? Those are questions, but they're not formal or professional. So just everything, and and and and something you shared is that power of the eye contact, and there's just so much more than just teaching someone about dining etiquette. And then I just love what how how clear you are about this journey that you're taking your students on.

SPEAKER_02 33:25

Yes, um, because I think um a lot of people nowadays they would say, Oh, the kids nowadays uh have no manners, you know, because of um their own personal, you know, iPad, personal electronic devices, and they're just you know on the on the screen, not making eye contact, which is true, you know, they're so distracted. But then if you give them these tools for them to, you know, to learn, send them to an etiquette workshop, and then they realize, oh yeah, actually what I'm doing is not really good. Um, so this will give them an opportunity to actually practice these skills or apply these skills because now they've learned it's not because um they're being rude, but because they don't know. Um, I think a lot of kids now you have to, well, majority of them, you have to spoon fit them with information, especially where information nowadays are so easy to um to source, because you have the internet, you don't have to go to the library to know all these things. You go to the internet and get all the details, but the delivery, how you're going to um share this knowledge and skills to to your kids is very important if you think that it's been challenging for you to teach your kids with manners and etiquette. There are people like us, Philip, with which you know we can help parents to instill these practices and knowledge and skills that are really, really important for children. And what I do for kids before they come to my workshop, because it's five sessions, they have to shake my hands before they enter the classroom. We practice it, I give them feedback, so web to web, and then I give them feedback with you know the how strong the grip is. So I'll say, okay, make it stronger a little bit, and then they know that they have to make an eye contact with me when they shake the hands and then smile. So it's always been, you know, from the day one, we practice that up until day five, and then they mastered, even on day session number three, day three, they already mastered because they knew already before entering the classroom and before leaving the classroom, they have to shake my hands, make eye contact, and smile, and of course, have a positive phrase of thank you for today, or it was lovely to be here in your workshop before they leave, and of course, before coming to the classroom.

SPEAKER_01 36:02

That is just fantastic. Again, so I'm just smiling from within and outwardly as well. It's it's really interesting that you know, as you and I um through the program, we discuss this that that handshake, whether it, you know, it's always obviously subject to whether the person wants to shake hands or not. But let's talk about for the purpose of people shaking hands. That firm handshake it must never be underestimated, as you know, and and it's something that uh one of our coaches who's done a huge amount of study into people connecting with one another, uh, a good handshake, as you know, and I know, is the the equivalent of three hours of rapport building. No one's ever gonna remember that wet fish style handshake for sure. And and Orchids, tell me something with regard to um the the routine that you bring into play. I think where you got you've really opened up such an amazing opportunity is that a lot of families do not eat together. You know, it could be that parents are traveling for work uh or parents are busy still in the office, or the children eat early and the parents eat later. And I I I I truly feel that there's a huge disconnect in the fact that there's there's that wonderful phrase in life, families who eat together tend to stay together. Um, and would you, you know, I'd love your view on that firstly, and secondly, that's where I think that the art of sharing with our children on how to handle themselves at the table or handle themselves in communication, conversation has been lost. I'd love your your your opinion and views on that, please.

SPEAKER_02 37:36

Yes, um that's something that I'm really, really um not worried, but I understand where this situation is coming from. As a working mom myself, especially before where I fly everywhere, that sometimes I don't see my family for five days. I understand why the situation is so different nowadays than before. Before I remember growing up, I always have dinner with my family. But again, times have changed. Yeah, um, I don't blame families where you know they let their kids eat first because maybe the husband would come at eight. So that's when it's like a meet time for um like parents time, so adult time and the kids time. I don't um I don't really I have to phrase this very, very carefully because um everyone has you know their own setup at home. I would say like it's bad, but I have to say that as a working parent myself, it is very, very important that when the children eat separately from the parents because of some reason or work reason, you still have to instill the you know the correct manners. Maybe you can ask your house help to keep an eye on how the kids are behaving at the table to make sure that you know they're eating with their cutlery or you know, like the small things, like to make sure that their mouth is not open when when they're chewing, because it will become a habit if you let it pass and like oh no, it's okay, it will become a habit, and then after that, like you know, when they get old, they they still do the same thing. So I think it's very important to have someone there, like to keep an eye, or not really supervise, but okay, supervise or to keep an eye on children whether if one of the parents is not available, I would say. But I will not judge any family where the setting is, you know, um, doing the separate dining um way, but make sure that if you have the opportunity, maybe over the weekends where parents are not working, to have a meal together and you can have a conversation and to actually um assess if that's the word, or see how your kids are behaving on the table. Is there a need for your intervention to actually tell them, okay, that is not the way we eat, or that's not how you know, all the things that um we you know we talk about in our workshop about dining etiquette. So that would be my view, Philip.

SPEAKER_01 40:39

What a great answer and what a great, great uh set of thoughts and ideas you just shared there. And again, I know you would never point your finger at anybody, they they've there everyone's got different circumstances, but I do absolutely agree with you, you know, for the parents out there engaging in in this uh Live, Learn, Teach, Inspire program, is if we cannot from Monday to Friday spend time sitting at a table with our children in the evening, is at least put the weekends aside to at least have lunch or breakfast and dinner or try and do all the meals together. And something that again we would always encourage is to encourage conversation. And one of the tools that I love sharing is saying to you and to your spouse, you know, what was good about your day, what did you find challenging in your day, and what are you looking forward to? You know, encourage this amazing conversation, and I think gratefulness, gratitude is something that is is so fundamental to implement, especially around the table, and just say literally say thank you for the food that we are eating, because as you and I know, we've we've traveled the world a lot, and you more than me, but we've seen extreme poverty where people don't have uh anything to eat for a few days, and and if they do have something to eat, it's often rotten or it's it's it's not fresh. And we just need to understand to share. There is so much, you know. I call it the boardroom, the family boardroom table, really. There's so much we can instill, there's so much we can share, there's so much knowledge we can impart around that amazing uh thing called the dining room table, and and it's done through food and and connection conversation, and something again I'd love to sort of um ask you, what what's what's in there, what's on the agenda? I know you've obviously got things that are going on over due over July and August, but what are your what are your plans come September for for your wonderful organization, etiquette for everyone? What are some of the ideas that you've got uh that you are planning?

SPEAKER_02 42:31

So for children, I am going to have my second um workshop, which is again a five five-week youth etiquette workshop, so that that that would still be ongoing, and um I am collaborating with two other beautiful ladies during the first term break. Um one lady used to compete for Miss World, so she will talk about how to create a great first impression, and then another lady who was previously um a school teacher and speaks four languages, so she will be talking about communication skills among children. So the three of us will be collaborating and we will do this um one-day workshop for uh during the term break. So for those kids who cannot attend the five-week youth etiquette workshop, we will give them an opportunity to come and join us during the term break and do a one day event with us. So that is the plan that is for October. And for adult, again, I would still continue with my supper club. So I have um ideas of collaborating with different chefs to actually let my guests try different dishes. Because I want them to come and um yes, and enjoy this experience or even give this to someone they know they love to come and enjoy, you know, delicious, delicious dishes. And at the same time, they get something out of it, learning the fine dining etiquette. So this will be the plan for adult. So I will be bringing, I will be bringing in other chefs with different dishes to offer. So that's the plan for adult.

SPEAKER_01 44:33

How wonderful is that? And I would love to sort of just share a bit of input there. Is there is so much more that you are doing than just guiding and steering people. You you're opening up doors for people, you are giving exposure to incredible up-and-coming chefs, you you're connecting people to it's almost you know, it's something that people want experience in life. It's it they're not really that interested in a one-off, they want experience, they want to walk away and make and and and the fact that you're making it so memorable. Uh if you were to say to any of your students, be it a youngster or be it an adult, what was something you remembered about the year of 2023? Wow, I had the privilege or opportunity to experience etiquette for everyone with orchids, Roy, and this amazing dining experience where we learned not only to set the table accordingly, but how to serve wine, how to sit and engage in conversation, how to handle a particular cuisine, or and I just love that. And and again, I know for a fact that you're going to be inundated with people interested in what you have to share on this journey that you've created. I love the idea that you're really collaborating with people because this is what life's about is who can we collaborate with? We you know it's something that I'm I'm so um proud of you, but B also very um what's the word in awe of the fact that you've you you want to share your beautiful knowledge with people, you're not keeping it to yourself, and that is just phenomenal. It it really and truly is. And every single one of us has the opportunity to guide and steer people, and you're doing it in such a wonderful way and making it such fun and and so enjoyable. And and I know while I'm talking, I've got Dr. Dr. Jacqueline, our producer, who I'd love her to, or Dr. Jacqueline, to please share some of these amazing photographs that you that you've had curated. So there you are, you know, beautifully presenting a gorgeous table and obviously a gorgeous picture of yourself and and then some of your audience that that have been sitting at the table, uh that I know we've got a wonderful array of pictures there. You're just making that attention to detail, that fineness of how to set something up beautifully.

SPEAKER_02 46:46

Thank you, thank you. So I was laughing there because I tried to make it as engaging as possible, not as stiff, like, oh, this is etiquette, I have to act this way. Actually, one one of my um guests um told his wife, like, oh, I don't want to go to an etiquette, fine-dining etiquette course. I, you know, I've been to a boarding school, I don't want to attend something like that. And she's like, No, you're gonna enjoy it. And true enough, he's the one who actually clapped his hands and made a speech. Guys, let's congratulate Orchids for his for her first supper club. And he actually enjoyed it. And he said to me, You know, orchids, what I like about this, aside from the delicious food and all the facts that we share, is that you never corrected us. I was like, Oh, yeah, because it's supposed to be a fun experience. I'm not here to correct you, I'm here sharing what is the right way, and if you follow, I'd be happy. But if you don't follow, but you know, I've shared information. So, yeah, it's really, really pleasant to hear that you know, a lot of my guests really enjoyed it and uh with different inputs. So I took that into consideration because I'm bringing them in to experience something fun, not for them to be embarrassed because I was correcting them on how to eat properly. So, yeah, uh, it's all about fun, letting them experience a new way of learning etiquette in a fun and engaging way at the same time enjoying food. Because, as I've said earlier, food is such a great way of bringing in people, a great way to break the ice, and um also a great way of learning.

SPEAKER_01 48:44

And are you strict about mobile technology at the table?

SPEAKER_02 48:50

Well, if people are having fun, they will forget about the mobile phone. And I was actually surprised that no one is you know taking photos of their food. But I understand in some actually I got that as a question on my third supper club about taking photos in fine dining restaurant. So I said definitely you can do that. Um, restaurants nowadays, well, all organizations dealing with food and beverage, they actually want their customers to start taking photos of not just the facility, but also the food. That's why they pay highly with their plating, how the food looks like. They want it to be very Instagrammable because once the customer starts taking photos and start posting it on their social media, that's already free advertisement and free marketing for that restaurant. So, yes, don't worry about taking photos of your food, but make sure after you take the photo to you know keep your phones away, don't place them on the table and just put it um inside your purse. But that's fine. But um if your guests are having fun, I doubt they'll be taking out their photos, so which happened in um my workshop. So a lot of people were very engaged, you know, they they chat among each other because Supper Club is such a great way of bringing in people, um, yeah, to chat, chat with each other because yeah, there's only 10 of you. You cannot say, like, oh, I don't want to chat, like you know, you're you're there and you're enjoying the food, and yeah, what a better setting to actually go and meet new friends than in a supper club with the art of dining masterclass.

SPEAKER_01 50:48

That is just wonderful, absolutely wonderful, and something that I think I'd love to sort of, I suppose, put into play here. And I I've shared this story with you in the past, but you and I know this, but for some of the viewers' benefit out there, I know Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Car, was fastidious about the final interview of uh people that he was going to take into a senior position. And there's a story about him having two of his young recruits uh come to a restaurant at one of his favorite restaurants in Detroit, and they are literally observed from the moment they enter the restaurant. And at the end of this one meal, he tells the one young man, I'm going to hire you. And he says to the other one young man, I'm I'm not going to be taking you further on in the journey with your uh employment opportunity. And this youngster turns around to Mr. Ford and says, Mr. Ford, may I ask why? Uh, because I I'm really flawed, I'm I'm a better candidate than that person. He said, Well, firstly, you were you didn't acknowledge the waiting team, you were rude, you spoke mainly about yourself, you didn't make good small talk, you were also um, you know, very dismissive of people, and and and the main thing is that not only that, but you also put salt on your food before tasting it. And he said, That to me is a bad decision maker. And and again, just for the the the the the benefit of your audience uh today, Aukus, is that there is so much more to dining etiquette and table manners than anyone can really understand, and unless you go on this journey, and this is not teaching people etiquette and manners, this is helping you build your confidence. Would you would you absolutely uh mirror the those that that those words uh and and and agree with me?

SPEAKER_02 52:33

Absolutely, absolutely, yeah. Building how to, you know, um learning the proper way of eating, being mindful of others when you're in the dining, it's very important to learn. As you said, you you've never, you know, you you will never judge the proper way of eating uh or take it for granted because it is such it's it is a very, very important skill where you can apply it in um different um areas of your life. You might think, oh, really, like you know, like um I eat this way, so what? So it actually reflects, as what you said earlier, it actually reflects on how you are personally, how you deal with people, your decision-making skills. If you're not particular in how you um, I don't know, let's say for example, on how you um hold your cutlery, your your placement, it actually shows um how you are in your personal dealings, I must say. Um, just like um what Henry Ford um does when he interviews executive position. So it actually shows you know um your decision-making skills, you're putting salt before even tasting it. So it reflects how you are as an individual. So I totally agree to um what you have said, Philip. So again, everything, you know, um any hard work, fine dining setting, I know it's hard work, but again, any hard work pays off when you are you know used to eating that way, and it will become a habit for you, again, it will reflect um basically a good uh an a good image of yourself on how you presented yourself to the world, even though you say, um, this is not really important, but it is it is very, very important because no one would present yourself to the world, it's you, so it's very important about how you present what image you're going to present to the world, and no one can do that except yourself. So I totally agree to what you have said.

SPEAKER_01 55:00

That is so true, that is so true, and we do, you know, everyone else is taken, so be unique and but but find the right skill sets to put your best foot forward. One thing that I loved uh hearing earlier is this collaboration, and I know we've we've haven't got huge amounts of time left, but with the collaboration, just from your own insight and experience, just share with the audience how important it is to think about planning your wardrobe and and how to sort of present yourself in a really wonderful way.

SPEAKER_02 55:32

Okay, so for a startup like me, it's very, very important to collaborate, be open to collaboration because it takes a village to build a brand, and you need help from people. And as a startup, you also need to learn from other people about how they became successful. So, as I've said, it takes a village for your business to grow, so collaboration is very, very important. Reach out to people who have um special set of skills and do something together. So I've yes, that's why I do a lot of um collaborations, also networking. Again, I attend a lot of networking to reach out to people and spread awareness about what I do, what we do in etiquette for everyone. Again, it's very important to go out there and be present and let people know of what you are doing. So, collaboration and networking for me is very, very important as a startup.

SPEAKER_01 56:45

Excellent, excellent. And this is very exciting times right now. The world has changed very fast. We were just talking yesterday that in the last 15-20 years, the world has almost been put on a sort of a I don't know if it's a rocket, but there's just so much that has shifted and changed in the last 20 years through technology, artificial intelligence, and what people uh are able to do with that technology and how we can get results very quickly. But the power of what we do, what you do, is it gives people these quintessential human tools to absolutely connect and engage, and that's something technology machines can't do. And I would just love to um ask you when is your website going to be launched? Well, that's that's obviously our we would love to sort of support you and launch helping you launch your website. When is the website coming? And what other sort of events and ideas have you got up your sleeve?

SPEAKER_02 57:42

Actually, my website is already um. Okay, uh, there is still a small um work in progress, so but it's already on, so I invite everyone to come and um check my website, but I'm very active on my social media, I consistently post in there. So if you go to my Instagram account, Etiquette for Everyone, one word, um you can find me there and you can engage with me and find out more about what we're doing in Etiquette for Everyone at the moment in Dubai, and hopefully in the future, um, I can reach out to the Philippines and where I can share my knowledge as well to my um fellow Filipinos who are eager to learn and join my workshop.

SPEAKER_01 58:39

That is just wonderful, and I know this is just the start of great things to come. You and I discussed you um entering into the corporate world at some stage as well, because this etiquette and manners, as you said, the it's in your title, etiquette for everyone, and everyone needs this, and that is the power and and the amazing, amazing um investment you've made into this, and it's already paying off, it's already showing uh from the feedback that you've had from both the children, the parents, the fact that children want to come back, they're looking forward to it, just says it all, doesn't it? And I just want to salute you from the British School of Excellence. It's been such a privilege and pleasure having you uh as our guest on Live, Learn, Teach, Inspire. And I can't wait to watch your journey continue uh uh unfolding and for you to sail and soar as far as you want to go.

SPEAKER_02 59:34

Thank you so much, Philip. Thank you for having me. Thank you for this platform for everyone to know what I am doing now, and we are for uh etiquette for everyone, and I hope the viewers will come and check me out on my socials and my website. Thank you so much for everything, Philip. I'm very grateful.

SPEAKER_01 59:55

Thank you, and have a great rest of your wonderful journey, and I look forward to seeing you very soon.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:00

And same to you.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:02

Take care, bye-bye.