Elevator Pitch: Yamilette Cano Leads Entrepreneurial Dialogue with ‘LOUDER’

In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, more have come to recognise professional development, personal growth, and wellbeing balance as the key to a successful work-life integration. The industry’s continued expansion suggests that the coaching industry is no longer a peripheral aspect of professional development; it’s an essential component to many lives and careers.

According to a report by Forbes, the coaching industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.6%, reaching an estimated value of US$27.5 billion by 2026. The evidence that supports coaching efficacy is nothing to scoff at either, with research from the Harvard Business Review finding that coaching can boost productivity by 44%.

This opportunity was not lost on Yamilette Cano, an entrepreneur herself. As a multilingual speaker, coach, and events professional, Yamilette founded her coaching business "LOUDER Global" as a means to support budding entrepreneurs and speakers to succeed in their endeavours.

Offering a wide variety of services from personalised coaching, to speaking services, corporate branding, and event consulting; her events and networking brand "LOUDER Connect" leads the charge in turning up the volume on tough conversations within the entrepreneurial community.

This November, LOUDER Connect will host its first event, which will explore the relationship between female-led businesses and gender-biased investment culture – with featured speakers Anna Wong, May Chow, and Victoria Tang-Owen, among others.

The Beat Asia spoke to Yamilette about her venture, how she was inspired to start the brand, and what lessons she’s learned along the way. 

What’s your ‘story’? What led you to build LOUDER Global?

From ballet to international forums, my path has been a colourful mix of passions. As a young girl in ballet, I discovered the power of non-verbal communication—how a simple move can tell a story. When my ballet days were over, I moved into International Relations to gain a better understanding of how the world works.

Even then, I missed the energy of being on stage. So, I made my way back, this time as a public speaker and events emcee. The excitement was different but just as electric.

Building on that, my partner and I lead our own events company. We poured our hearts and souls into it, until it gained the attention of a major corporation who acquired the business for a strategic presence in Asia.

The next step for me, was to leverage all my skills and experiences into my new project, this is how LOUDER Global came to life as a place where the elegance of ballet meets the influence of effective speaking, where a broad understanding of the world meets clear and strong communication.

At LOUDER Global, we do more than teach skills. We're creating a choreography of confidence, setting the stage for impactful conversations, and amplifying the unique qualities that make you extraordinary. We're here to help you find your voice, your style, and your influence. Because the world deserves to hear you—LOUDER and clearer than ever before.

Who is LOUDER Global’s clientele?

At LOUDER Global, we cater to anyone who has a story they want to share with the world.

Whether you're a student overcoming stage fright, a corporate executive aiming to sharpen your presentation skills, or a community leader wanting to make a larger impact, we're here to help. We're passionate about giving you the tools you need to elevate your voice and your message.

Our platform is not about who you should be; it's about refining and amplifying who you already are. From personal growth to professional development, LOUDER Global is designed for those who desire to communicate more powerfully and authentically. Your story matters, and we're here to help you tell it—LOUD and clear.

What pain point is the LOUDER Connect event, ‘RADICAL DEBATES’, (but also LOUDER Global), out to solve in modern-day entrepreneurship?

LOUDER Connect, and by extension LOUDER Global, is designed to confront the glaring yet often unspoken disparities in entrepreneurial opportunity, particularly for women. This year’s LOUDER Connect focus is on the funding gap that female-led businesses face. While the problem may seem like a financial issue on the surface, it's actually a complex interplay of social, cultural, and psychological barriers.

This year's LOUDER Connect event highlights that exact point. Why are women less funded than their male counterparts? Is it the bias in investment culture? Or perhaps a more systemic issue affecting the confidence of female entrepreneurs? Our summit aims to do more than just pose questions, we strive to be an accelerant for change.

We're taking discourse to a new level through Radical Debates™, letting voices from varying perspectives clash, collaborate, and crystallize insights that could be the key to levelling the playing field. Additionally, our 'What Did I Do Wrong?' Round Table provides a haven for constructive, open dialogue around the issues that usually stay in the boardroom or get swept under the rug.

Above all, LOUDER Connect is a call to action, urging women to show up and speak up. The event is about empowering women to ask those tough questions, shed their inhibitions, and step boldly into arenas they might otherwise shy away from. And it all ties back to LOUDER Global’s overarching mission—to give individuals the tools they need to communicate with confidence, secure that funding, and most importantly, to be unapologetically themselves.

So, in essence, we're not just solving a 'business' problem; we're challenging an ingrained mindset and encouraging a seismic shift in the entrepreneurial landscape. 

Can you share a story about a mistake you made starting LOUDER Global? What lessons did you take away from this?

While navigating the intricacies of launching LOUDER Global, expanding its operations, and juggling personal life events like pregnancy and childbirth, I took my focus off the accounting aspect of the business. I assumed a third-party provider would handle it effectively. However, that wasn't the case. Errors were made and resolving them consumed a lot of time and energy, leading to several moments of stress and anxiety.

The lesson I learned was the importance of staying on top of the accounting process no matter what. If accounting is something that tends to be left at the end of your priorities, it's beneficial to consult with an expert or a trusted friend who can support you and guide you in asking the right questions and choosing the right professional for the job.

This experience was a wake-up call, teaching me the invaluable lesson that while delegation is essential for scaling a business, a leader should never be too far removed from any part of their operation. It's especially true for areas that can significantly affect the company's well-being, like legal matters and financials.

It's not just about hiring talented people. It's also about empowering them while maintaining an informed oversight. It showed me the power of 'knowledgeable delegation.' Understanding the basics of each operational area not only helps in selecting the right team but also ensures that you can engage in meaningful conversations with them.

This balance has been pivotal in reclaiming my peace of mind and trust in business processes, allowing me to focus on growth while also being an involved mom. Now, I find that I can lean into both my professional and personal roles with greater confidence, sure in the knowledge that I'm building a legacy my child can be proud of. 

Who have been some of your biggest mentors? Can you share a time when they made an impact or helped you with the direction of LOUDER Global?

My biggest mentor, without a doubt, has been my mother. As a professor, she had an innate ability to bring out the best in her students, guiding them towards unlocking their own potentials—a quality that significantly shaped my own approach to personal and professional development. From a very young age, she emphasized the power and importance of effective communication, not just as a tool for self-expression but as a fundamental skill that could open doors and transform lives.

When the idea for LOUDER Global was still a concept in my mind, she was the sounding board that helped me shape it into something tangible. We spent hours dissecting what the core mission should be, who it should serve, and how it could genuinely make a difference. Her ability to ask thought-provoking questions pushed me to refine the idea further, ensuring it was not just another personal development venture but a platform that could genuinely amplify people's self-worth and skills.

But more than her wisdom and guidance, it was her unwavering support for my dreams that has had the most profound impact. In the world of entrepreneurship, where the highs are euphoric and the lows can be soul-crushing, having someone who believes in you—sometimes more than you believe in yourself—can make all the difference.

So, in every success that LOUDER Global celebrates, in every life that we manage to touch, there's a part of my mother's teachings and her unyielding spirit. She didn't just teach me how to communicate; she taught me the value of empowering others to find their voice. And that is a lesson I intend to pass on through every facet of LOUDER Global.

Can you share three best pieces of advice that you’ve collected throughout your career and why they matter to you?

1. Feel Your Emotions, Don't Suppress Them: Early in my career, I learned how important it is to let myself fully experience my emotions instead of ignoring them. Emotions aren't a sign of weakness, they're powerful guides that show us what really matters to us. By embracing my emotions, I've been able to bring genuine energy and passion into LOUDER Global as a brand.

2. Motion Creates Emotion: This idea has always resonated with me, especially as someone with a background in ballet. In dance and in business, how we move physically, impacts how we feel emotionally. It's the same with communication, the way we use our bodies, our gestures, and our posture is like a performance that can make our message even stronger. Movement doesn't just generate emotion, it enhances how we communicate.

3. Fearlessness in Branding: Don't hold back when it comes to shaping your brand. Your brand reflects your values, your mission, and the promises you're making to your clients. So go big and be bold. At the end of the day, you are your brand, and the more fearless you are, the more you'll connect with the people you're trying to reach.

In essence, these guiding principles—emotional intelligence, the transformative power of movement, and the courage to be uniquely yourself—form the foundation of LOUDER Global.

This is why our tagline, "Communication with MOTION, EMOTION, and IMPACT™," resonates so deeply with me and defines our approach. It serves as a constant reminder and challenge to ourselves and to those we serve: to communicate more authentically, to move more purposefully, and to make a meaningful impact.

How are you planning to shake things up next?

When we talk about shaking things up at LOUDER Global, it's more than just words. It's the core principle that drives everything we do. We excel at pushing boundaries, not merely to disrupt but to instigate meaningful change that leaves a lasting impact within communities and industries. Our next big step, LOUDER Connect, embodies this mission.

First, we're pushing the envelope by fearlessly tackling conversations many choose to avoid. We're not just highlighting the problem; we're gathering stakeholders from various fields to collaborate on practical, actionable solutions. We're committed to challenging the conventional attitudes that have been barriers for women in the business sector, pinpointing the obstacles that perpetuate these inequities.

Second, we're initiating challenging conversations through our RADICAL DEBATES™ platform. This isn't just a venue for surface-level talk; it's a platform designed to incite deep thoughts and questioning, where entrenched viewpoints are dissected and scrutinized, leading to a more thorough understanding of the issues at hand.

Third, the influence of our actions extends far beyond the event itself. From our dynamic round table discussions to our empowering networking sessions, every aspect of the event aims to leave a lasting impression on attendees, who in turn affect the communities they are part of.

Let's not forget our unique approach to communication—every interaction is filled with motion, emotion, and impact. We see communication as a dynamic act, similar to a dance. Through body language, tone, and timing, we teach individuals how to captivate their audience, not just with words, but with their whole selves. This way, they can amplify their messages and make a genuine impact, one conversation at a time.

So, what's next for LOUDER Global? We're committed to transformative change through strong, impactful conversations and actions. We're setting the stage for everyone to not just speak louder, but to speak in a way that resonates and instigates meaningful change. And that's what LOUDER Global is all about.

Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous Elevator Pitch profiles here.