“Look fabulous, to feel fabulous” is the mantra of Melissa Benevides, Personal Stylist and Personal Shopper for Global Image Group. As a former business banker for CIBC, Melissa has worked with many business professionals from various backgrounds – making her sought out by men and women to impart her fashion and style savvy wardrobe solutions. Her style skills extend from coordinating multiple fashion shows to wardrobe and event planning.
With 5 years of experience and her own unique sense of style, Melissa’s strengths are in personal styling, wardrobe and image evaluation, and personal shopping. Trained and certified by the Sterling Style Academy in New York and San Francisco, she works with men and women to bring out their inner essence through outward expression.
Melissa received a diploma in Business-Accounting and Paralegal Studies from Mohawk College. She currently shares her keen fashion knowledge with stay at home moms to business executives in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Canada.
UK
POOJA KAUSHAL
“It’s all about the outfit” is the mantra of Pooja Kaushal, Personal Stylist and Personal Shopper for Global Image Group. Known for her keen sense of style and fashion, Pooja’s passion lies in helping men and women achieve success through their image and wardrobe. She believes a good image is a “must have,” not an optional extra, and that looking your best will help you achieve the best.
With 6 years of experience in the fashion industry as a fashion buyer for Debenhams, having worked with haute couture designers such as Mathew Williamson and Julien Macdonald, Pooja has a firm footing within the industry. Her unique flair and style contribute to her makeover successes, making her highly sought after by her clientele. She was formally educated as an image and style consultant in New York and San Francisco with the Sterling Style Academy.
Pooja received a Bachelor of Science from Kings College London and certificates from London College of Fashion. She currently resides in London and serves clients throughout the United Kingdom.
MIDDLE EAST
RITA AAD
“How do you tickle a glamorous woman? Gucci, Gucci, Gucci” is the mantra of Rita Aad, Image Consultant and Personal Stylist for Global Image Group. If getting dressed is a chore, relax and let an expert handle it. Rita Aad’s magic touch can transform this daily routine into an exciting experience. An innate artist and renowned stylist, she receives many accolades from her prestigious clients.
With several years of experience and her highly admired style savvy, Rita Aad’s talents extend beyond wardrobe evaluation and personal shopping. Known for her total makeovers, she can envision a person and enhance their image into a well put-together, refined, and cohesive look. She makes the transition a smooth experience.
Rita Aad has a Business Administration degree from The American University of Beirut. Her training with the Sterling Style Academy in New York and San Francisco, as well as previous experiences in graphic design and public relations, make her one of the most sought after image management consultants in the Middle East. She currently resides in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and serves clients throughout the region.
SOUTH AMERICA
JULIANA PASTORE
“The right attire sends the right message” is the mantra of Juliana Pastore, Personal Stylist and Personal Shopper for Global Image Group. Juliana’s professional and results-oriented approach to image consulting enables men and women to discover and enhance their unique personal style.
With several years of experience in the image and style industry, Juliana’s dedication to excellence helps her clients achieve their objectives through the clothing they wear. Trained and certified by the Sterling Style Academy in New York, Juliana has a distinctive edge in understanding and working with the individual needs of business professionals as well as stay-at-home mothers.
Juliana received a BBA in International Hotel Management from Les Roches in Switzerland and has a certificate in Life Coaching from Erickson College in Canada. She currently resides in Brazil and serves clients throughout South America.
JAPAN
YUURI TAKANO
“Look yourself and be yourself” is the mantra of Yuuri Takano, Image Consultant and Personal Shopper for Global Image Group. Through Yuuri’s client interactions in IT sales at NEC in Japan, she noticed that the way you look influenced how others would respond to you. Through cultivating relationships with individuals, Yuuri began advising people about the importance of sending a visual message through your appearance.
Yuuri Takano’s innate interest in people enables her to draw out each client’s appealing sense of style at a glance. Through discussions about the client’s personal coloring, personal style and make-up, combined with a personal shopping trip, Yuuri is able to transform your image into a beautiful work of art. As a result of her client successes, Yuuri has been featured in “weekly SPA,” a well-known business magazine in Japan, as well as in Nikkei Shinbun, a Japanese newspaper.
Yuuri Takano has an English Literature degree from Meijigakuin University and received a certificate from Best College in image consulting in Tokyo. Her training with the Sterling Style Academy in New York combined with her solid styling skills make Yuuri sought out by celebrities, modeling agencies and corporations throughout Tokyo and Japan.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION COACH
LEEAUNDRA TEMESCU
LeeAundra Temescu is an executive communication coach specializing in public speaking, political rhetoric, effective business presentation training and executive presence. She is the author of The Contrary Public Speaker: A Break-the-Rules Approach to Breakthrough Presentations and the forthcoming "POTUS Flubs: What Everybody Needs to Learn from the Ten Not-So-Greatest Moments of Presidential Rhetoric." LeeAundra has over fifteen years experience in public speaking, coaching, and business and leadership dynamics.
As a nationally ranked public speaker and speechwriter, LeeAundra was a speechwriter and aide to former Under Secretary of State G. Mennen Williams and served in the Speakers Bureau in former Michigan Governor James Blanchard's administration. She taught public speaking and interpersonal communications courses at Seton Hall University and developed and taught modules in public speaking, cross-cultural competency and business communications for Florida Atlantic University’s Executive MBA program. LeeAundra also spent five years as an officer with U. S. Trust Company of New York in Sales and Marketing.
LeeAundra published numerous articles on public speaking in on-line journals and provided expert commentary and analysis on public speaking and debate for KABC-TV News and KCAL-9 TV News in Los Angeles and Bloomberg Radio in New York. LeeAundra has been quoted in several publications including the New York Times, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, My Business, SmartMoney and The Economist.
LeeAundra received a Master’s of Arts from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.
