Catherine DeVrye
Business Leader, Author & Keynote Speaker
Best-selling author, thought leader, and former IBM executive specialising in leadership, communication, and organisational development. Catherine DeVrye is also recognised as a keynote speaker and corporate strategist bridging generational insight with executive experience.
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Catherine DeVrye is a twice-awarded Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year, Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), best-selling author, and thought leader, renowned for delivering insights that bridge generations and inspire action.
A former university lecturer, Catherine has spoken at local and international conferences across five continents, sharing stages with Prime Ministers and Presidents. She is the author of nine best-selling books, translated into over a dozen languages, and has also written corporate histories.
Catherine’s corporate experience spans over a decade at IBM, where she held roles in sales, marketing, communication, and management development, including two years in Tokyo as Asia Pacific Headquarters Human Resource Manager. She returned to Australia as Customer Education Manager for Asia/South Pacific, delivering high-potential leadership programs while gaining a deep understanding of regional cultural differences and leadership challenges.
Earlier in her career, Catherine served as a Sales and Marketing Representative, Employee Communications and Special Events Manager, and CEO of Junior Achievement Australia, forging stronger links between business and education. She has also served as speechwriter and press secretary to Ministers of Consumer Affairs and Education, contributed to national fitness campaigns such as “Life Be In It,” authored a book on sports marketing, and was an independent board member of the world’s third-largest police service.
Catherine holds a Master of Science degree, has attended executive programs at Harvard University, Melbourne Business School, and IMD Switzerland, and lectured at Mt. Eliza Business School. With a rare combination of intellect, corporate experience, and relatable storytelling, she empowers audiences by connecting head and heart to shift attitudes and inspire action.
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Conquering the Challenge of Change
Incorporating material from her top selling books, ‘A Guide to Living & Working in Japan’ and ‘Hot Lemon & Honey…Reflections for Success in Times of Change’, with jacket endorsements from the late Sir Edmund Hillary who says ‘information in this book can lead you on the road to success’ and Jack Canfield, co-author of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’, who comments: ‘full of vitamins for the mind’…your team will appreciate that:
- Many different individual roles create one united team
- Change/disruption is inevitable. Learning from disruption/change is optional
- The 7 most expensive words in business are…’We have always done it that way’
- If you treat your people like numbers, you won’t make your numbers
- Environmental can also be economical. Eliminate waste to stimulate value
- Winners become victors from change-rather than victims of change
- As stakeholder expectations change, differentiate between adding value or adding cost
- Turn common sense into common practice
Shift Happens-Resilience to Turn Obstacles to Opportunities with Humour-Attitude-Action
From her later releases, Who Says I Can’t? and ‘Hope Happens! Words of Encouragement for Tough Times’ and The Gift of Nature-Inspiring Hope & Resilience, Catherine shares an inspirational personal story, which can be applied to our working lives. Her newt book has lessons from Mother Nature to help human nature better cope and bounce back from setbacks.
From early days in an orphanage in Canada-to an education in the USA-to her parents dying of cancer the year she graduated from university-to arriving in Australia jobless and near penniless-to an international career with IBM in Japan-to carrying the Olympic torch, the former Australian Executive Woman of the Year and cancer survivor outlines:
- You can’t take care of customers, staff or family if you don’t take care of yourself
- We can’t always control circumstances, but we can always control our attitude
- Focus on what you can do rather than waste energy on what you can’t do
- Focus on the positive to produce professional and personal success
- Dreams take detours-and it’s never too late to re-set yours on the journey
Always in search of unique new material and Incorporating analogies from working with street kids in Vietnam, trekking to Timbuktu, cycling over the Andes, swimming from Europe to Asia, sailing to the Antarctic and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and beyond Everest Base Camp, participants are reminded not to make mountains out of molehills! Catherine is also a co-author of the official Sydney 2000 Games Report for the IOC, has attended 5 Olympics, and carried the Olympic torch on the day of the opening ceremonies-so can weave an Olympic theme, with a powerful business message, into any presentation.
Good Service is Good Business
From the #1 international best seller of the same name and ‘Paperclips Don’t Grow on Trees’, endorsed by Dr Edward De Bono, your team will learn how to:
- Boost your bottom line without increasing cost
- Use service to differentiate you from your competition
- Gain market share through exceeding customer expectations
- Fight complacency…. Success today does not equal success tomorrow
- Increase brand loyalty by turning complaints into opportunities
- Combine the high tech with the high touch of people management for top results
- Make minor improvements for major impacts
- Create Customers for Life-and a life for yourself
Leadership: Timeless Wisdom in Times of Change (some repetitive)
- Are you a leader, a manager or a follower?
- The 7 most expensive words in the world are: ‘We have always done it that way’
- Leaders fight complacency…. Success today does not equal success tomorrow
- Leaders recognise diverse individual talents are needed for one united team
- Whether male or female leaders, it’s not easy but every obstacle has hidden opportunity
- Change/disruption is inevitable. Learning from change/disruption is optional
- Leaders become victors from change-rather than victims of change
- With risk comes reward
- Environmental can also be economical. Eliminate waste to stimulate value
- We can’t always control circumstances, but we can always control our attitude
- Focus on what you can do rather than waste energy on what you can’t do
- Be more positive to produce professional and personal success
- Dreams take detours-and it’s never too late to re-set yours
- Organisational leadership starts with personal leadership choices
- Leaders are resilient to bounce back from setbacks
- A leader is a dealer in hope
- Leaders are of service to their customers, their team and their community
- You can make a difference, or you can make excuses-but you can’t do both
- Leadership is rewarding but not easy.
