Just before the start of the Christmas holidays, when we hopefully have some time to ourselves, reflect on the year that is coming to an end and make plans for the year ahead, I would like to introduce you to Dorothy. She is a marketing spirit with a wealth of experience as business professional at Microsoft. That was not enough, so she started her own company. Read more about it in the following member profile.

Who is Dorothy Kohl?
A loving Mom, proud sister, and loyal friend in a constant strive to combine the best of both cultural worlds in which I was born and raised in (Florida, USA, and Zürich).

My career path was as crooked as can be, aspiring to be a doctor, then a lawyer and finally -coincidently or maybe not- becoming a business professional in one of the world’s most fascinating companies: Microsoft. Setbacks combined with success (in that order) have helped me find out what my true passions and values in life and business are.

Two and a half years ago, I made the decision to start my own business for strategic marketing consulting. I currently work and advise an array of fascinating Start-Up clients as well as established companies and institutions.

Who or what shaped you the most for your professional career?
Without any doubt, my Dad.

His influence was 360 and he was adamant that a woman must be independent, especially of a husband! He was a Doctor and an Engineer and therefore only left us three sisters with few options to study, claiming that everything besides Medicine, Engineering and Law were -in his opinion- “Luftgeschäfte”, or generously translated: “for the birds”. His influence did work, as I have both a doctor and a lawyer sister…

Of course, working for Microsoft for more than a decade in the 90’s on the management board of Switzerland and Austria has largely influenced my way of strategic thinking and pragmatic hands-on approach. Also, having had the opportunity to work internationally and learn from so many incredibly talented people has both benefited and humbled me. And finally, happy to have experienced that fun and work do not exclude each other.

Why are you a bwomen member?
I have always supported and valued women as friends as well as in the workplace. In my view women bring so many important qualities “to the table” and to the corporate world, such as intellectual stimulation, inspiration, setting expectations and rewards and especially important, participatory decision making.

bwomen is an interesting, interactive platform with an exciting group of highly qualified women and I look forward to meeting and interacting with you.

On which topics can other members contact you and where?
Any topics basically, the more the merrier! I consider myself an all-rounder, with a Marketing brain. I love dissecting problems and giving an outside view. But hey, I am interested in everything YOU would like to share. You can reach me dorothy@kohl-mps.ch