Lilian Shaftacola, DTM

Member Since: 2000
Home Region: 10
Home District: 109
Supporting Districts: 59, 71, 91, 95, 107, 108, 109, 110

Toastmasters offices held and terms of service (international, region and District level):

• 2022-2023 Immediate Past District Director
• 2021-2022 District Director
• 2020-2021 Program Quality Director

Toastmasters honors and recognition:

• 2020-2021 Excellence in Program Quality Award

What is your understanding of the Region Advisor role and how does your experience relate to the role?

Region Advisors provide guidance and training to the District leaders, they help them to lead and achieve their goals by operating effectively. My time as a District Director during a difficult period demonstrated to me the importance of having a well-thought out success plan from the start and revising it at regular intervals. I also gained experience at leading teams effectively and managing the inevitable conflicts. I have already begun coaching other leaders to success.

What is your experience with coaching individuals and/or teams?

Professionally - Young people were assigned to me when I was a manager, and I would coach them to be leaders.

Toastmasters - As noted above, I have been mentoring members in different countries for around 20 years now. I am proud that my mentees are now mentors in their own right and have held leadership positions. In the past few years, I am focusing on coaching ADs and DivDs who wish to develop themselves further as leaders.

Why are you interested in serving as Region Advisor?

Having supported my District for a number of years, I would like to continue giving back to the organization that has helped me develop my skills so much in the past 23 years of membership. Serving as a Region Advisor will allow me to do so while encouraging me to spread my own wings and grow further. I am already working on projects for the entire region as I really enjoy spending time with fellow Toastmasters and supporting them to achieve their goals.