SARAH DESBOIS - PANDIA
SARAH DESBOIS - PANDIA
Creative Entrepreneur
Welcome and thanks for visiting my site! I invite you to take a moment and look around.
This page is about me, the Blueberry Ventures and the Kiskeya Ventures; a group of companies encompassing
different business projects I've created.
To learn more about my background, experience, skills, projects and how we could potentially work together, simply contact me.
ABOUT ME
I was born in Haiti, raised in different places, and went on to travel the globe in 50 countries. I also lived in 10 countries respectively. As a result, I'm multicultural and multilingual.
I inherited a sturdy entrepreneurial spirit from my father, and an equally creative sensibility from my mother.
I believe that my atypical upbringing and unconventional career path are my biggest assets and what differentiate me and my businesses. In this time of global and cultural awareness, I'm grateful to be able to call myself a self-made independent woman.
My love for travel, languages, as well as my insatiable curiosity have been the backbone of my career. With over fifteen years of international experience in business and project management I can successfully run very different but related aspects of a business.
I have relevant experience living and working in developing countries, managing internationalisation, enhanced by a knowledge of culture and custom that is integral to the success of such work.
My organisational skills continuously evolve, with experience in both large-scale business and per-project management.
My sharp analytic and critical-thinking skills allow me to dissect any situation and make intelligent, informed decisions. I'm committed to excellence in all aspects of my work, and consistently develop innovative processes, tracking KPI tools to automate tasks and increase efficiency.
I have excellent computer, research, summarising and communication skills. And a clear ability to lead and work effectively in teams.
My experience extends into multiple industries, with particularly deep exposure to telecommunications, real estate, design, marketing, digital media and tourism.
Lastly, I'm ambitious and energetic, I thrive in complex, challenging and multicultural environments.
THE BLUEBERRY VENTURES & THE KISKEYA VENTURES
My Road to Creative Entrepreneurship
After a twelve-year corporate ascension, in 2015 I chose to settle down in Romania to start a family, and decided I wanted to go into business, independently. Little did I know I would become a serial entrepreneur. I created the Blueberry Ventures and went from project to project testing the market, understanding my limitations, and figuring out what kind of entreprise would better suit my profile and lifestyle.
I owned an Italian restaurant with my husband in the city center, launched a contemporary fashion jewellery brand online for my mother, and became a full time marketing & communications consultant for a multinational.
Unfortunately, none of these projects brought me enough fulfilment nor profitability in the long run. But I decided to keep on trying, rather than considering going back to formal employment.
I had to reassess the reasons behind my failures and came to the conclusion I was deliberately keeping an important factor out of the equation: my own multipotentiality, creativity and passions. According to hard-wired biases that such things aren't lucrative, I was solely focused on the formal business aspect of my projects and not so much on giving in to the things that would motivate me enough to persevere in my endeavours.
So, in parallel with a joint venture in property management that has taken off well in Romania's current dynamic economy, I created Sarah The Digital GypSea, a Personal Travel & Lifestyle Blog in accordance with my passion for writing. I write about self-discovery through travel, motherhood, lifestyle, entrepreneurship and adversity.
Last but not least, as of Spring 2021, I relocated to the Dominican Republic with my family where I'm now in the process of launching
the Kiskeya Ventures which will combine several other businesses in the real estate, marine, eco-tourism, and lifestyle industries!
Stay tuned for more... I hope you will enjoy viewing these projects as much as I've enjoyed creating them!
The Blueberry Ventures were founded in 2015 with the aim to bring startups to the dynamic Bucharest-Ilfov region of Romania.
Today it employs a little over 20 people and caters services internationally with 2 distinct business lines:
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Property Management Services
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Personal, Travel & Lifestyle Blog
QUEST REAL ESTATE
Property Management Services
The Kiskeya Ventures were founded in 2020 with the aim to bring innovative startups and services to the developing market of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
It caters services locally with 3 different business lines:
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Real Estate Brokerage, Property Management, Construction & Interior Design
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Personal, Travel & Lifestyle Blog & Business Women Network
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Sailing Charters
Creativity and entrepreneurship being at the heart of each project, the services offered are carefully tailored according to each client's needs.
MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I am a full-time independent creative entrepreneur since 2015.
Prior to this, I had a very rich and dynamic career, working my way all the way up the corporate ladder.
January 2014 - July 2015, Myanmar
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
@ CAMUSAT
January 2012 - January 2014, Vanuatu, New Caledonia & French Polynesia
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & REGIONAL PACIFIC DIRECTOR @ CAMUSAT
January 2010 - December 2011, France
SOUTH WEST REGIONAL COMMERCIAL MANAGER @ TDF
January 2009 - December 2009, France
INTERNATIONAL EVENT PLANNER
@ CARPE DIEM CREATIONS
May 2008 - December 2008, Bulgaria
BRANCH SETUP MANAGER @ CAMUSAT
June 2007 - May 2008, Moldova
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER @ CAMUSAT
January 2005 - June 2007, Haiti
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
@ CAMUSAT
January 2004 - December 2004, Dominican Republic
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
@ TELECENTRIK
January 2003 - December 2003, Dominican Republic
OFFICE ASSISTANT & RECEPTIONIST
@ CAMUSAT
January 2002 - December 2002, USA & Dominican Republic
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ATTENDANT
@ TRANSMERIDIAN AIRLINES
& AIR SANTO DOMINGO
EDUCATION & VOCATIONAL TRAININGS
MORTGAGE INTELLIGENCE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP @JAHAIRA DOBLE
2021, Dominican Republic
ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR BASIC STEPS LEVEL 1 TRAINING CERTIFICATE @ ZUMBA
2018, Romania
PRACTICAL SAILING COURSE - DAY SKIPPER @ ROYAL YACHTING ACADEMY (RYA)
2015, Greece
INTERIOR DESIGN PRACTICAL COURSE CERTIFICATE @ CALEA VICTORIEI FOUNDATION
2015, Romania
MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP TRAINING DIPLOMA @ ABITIO
2014, Myanmar
OPEN WATER DIVER CERTIFICATION @ PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DIVING INSTRUCTORS (PADI)
2021, Vanuatu
BUSINESS STARTUP & MANAGEMENT TRAINING DIPLOMA @ REGIONAL MIDI-PYRÉNÉES COUNCIL
2008, France
2008, Romania
ROMANIAN LANGUAGE COURSE @ ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TRAINING CERTIFICATION @ BRAINSTORM INSTITUTE
2003, Dominican Republic
CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING CERTIFICATION @ INFOTEP
2003, Dominican Republic
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TRAINING CERTIFICATION @ FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AEROSPACE TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
2003, USA
FRENCH BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA @ LYÇÉE ALEXANDRE DUMAS
1995 – 2002, Haiti
This is probably the most atypical part of my resume, but I chose to list all of my educational and vocational trainings in the most transparent way, to honour the multipotential person that I am. Over the years, my travels and insatiable curiosity have led me to explore an infinite number of subjects, whether for my career, or for leisure.
INTERESTS & HOBBIES
As a multipotentialite and an avid traveller, the possibilities for my interests and hobbies are endless.
Here are the ones I come back to on a regular basis.
[Click on the gallery for details]
ENDORSEMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR THE POSITION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT CAMUSAT VANUATU
"During my appointment as CEO of the Orange subsidiary in Vanuatu, I have worked with Sarah who was implementing
the roll out of our mobile network. She has completed the ambitious plan we had for this small and difficult country. In 7
months she has deployed 39 sites, keeping the deadlines I gave her, finding solutions when problems were occurring
and always enhancing the already good Relationship we had. The technical team as well as the commercial team has
worked in very efficient and cost effective manners with her. I highly recommend Sarah as a great manager and a true
Professional, very adaptable and ethical.” — Catherine Rumillat / CEO Orange Vanuatu
"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."
Pele
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