Getting to know Rebekah Ockens

I was so excited about this, I even got myself a new suitcase. I was a training associate for a fast food chain, my first real job. I trained the new franchise owner’s team on SOPs and work ethics. I also learned how to make some delicious crêpes.

I conducted competency-based interviews and Personality workshops for oil platform executives, chemical engineers and geologists. My formal dress was deemed improper for a lady due to cultural differences. I learnt the importance of these differences in workplace attire. Despite the wardrobe mal-function incident, I adored being invited to dinner by clients and their hospitality was impeccable.

Conducted a series of interview and assessor workshops for Pipe Coating Engineers, Chemical Engineers, and Geologists. Ate copious amounts of Kolo Mee!

Designed and delivered assessment centres for middle managers in the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturing, aviation, oil and gas, whilst staring at a skyline so dense with great talent, prominence and opportunities.

The beginning of my consulting career, learnt the fundamentals of talent management consulting practices. Designed and delivered scholarship programmes, assessment and development centres, leadership frameworks and competency modules for local and international clients. Currently, I am coaching the investment and fund managers for the Malaysian National Sovereign fund. Yes, Malaysia has its own Wendy Rhoades.

Worked with geologists, chemical engineers, pipe engineers, I trained them to conduct and deliver assessment centres. To recuperate from the long days, I visited spas frequently for massages.

Delivered assessor training and workshops for Shell managers. I noticed a client had his car full of canned food. When I discovered why, I joined him to visit and distribute the canned food to underprivileged villages.

Designed a readiness assessment for young graduates entering the workforce. I also conducted job profiling for an Oil and Gas company there. It was fun learning the technical aspects of the upstream and downstream field. Whenever in Hong Kong, I indulge in dim sum while enjoying the skyline.

Got to recognize first-hand the efficiency and productivity of Chinese culture. Whilst working with clients such as Bayer, Henkel, my favourite aircraft manufacturer, and Metro Group on their senior talent assessments. In Shanghai and only in Shanghai, I love falling asleep with my curtains open so I can watch the skyline.

Assessed and coached pharmacists, vaccine researchers, aviation engineers, sales managers, and department leaders. I fell for a cashmere jacket on a trip. The mall cashier system had shut down and I was leaving the next day. The two lovely ladies that minded that store purchased me the jacket the next day with their own money and kept it for 3 months until I returned to Beijing for another business trip!

Coached and assessed senior leaders whilst learning so much about the remarkable culture. On a visit to a bamboo plantation, I was taught that bamboo shoots take 3 years before they sprout. In the 4th year, they grow up to 80 feet in six weeks. I found this story incredibly inspiring and use it in my workshops and coaching sessions until today!

Still conducting executive coaching (almost two years) for a client who has achieved so much in our time working together – a promotion and a senior leadership position in a new company.  My favourite German city, Hamburg, has the nicest German accent. They also have Franzbrötchen, a cinnamon and raisin pastry that tastes divine, and that you can only get in this part of Germany.

Amidst conducting coaching sessions and delivering assessment centres for clients, I enjoy exploring the Christmas markets as well as creating snow angels and building a snowman during winter in Germany! It is also my second home.

Designed and delivered a global high potential workshop and assessment centre involving participants from 18 countries where development plans were officially laid. Got a chance to impress my Italian clients with how much I know about football, especially Italian football.

Every year between 2015 and 2020, I would spend 7 and 10 months of my time living in and working in Toulouse, assessing senior leaders for an aircraft manufacturing company. During this time I explored the streets hunting for the best pastries which required more time on the yoga mat. I now continue to work for this client virtually, allowing me to continue to work with some of the most amazing minds without expanding my waist line.

Realised English could be spoken in so many different native ways!  Truly enjoyed meeting such a diverse group of people when conducting recruitment assessments for an aircraft manufacturing company.

Spent the days working with senior leaders in the semiconductor industry. Discovered that squirrels in Austin were friendly, some even posed for a picture. I also met a lovely local designer who makes beautiful dresses that I still order from.

Delivered intense one-day assessment centres for C-suite leaders. Humbled to be one of the few trusted consultants flown in from Asia. San Francisco’s non-judgmental, warm people won me over – I even got a free tram ride.