Providing bespoke international matchmaking, personal branding, and coaching services—The Communication Studio

Many of us have made a poor choice or two on the quest for everlasting love. And heated debates about which dating apps or websites to use often comes down to differences in cost and not the quality of available singles. Other parameters—such as success rate, time frame to match, the accuracy of matches to preferences, security, and confidentiality—are reasons people switch from apps to professional matchmaking services.

Receiving a bespoke service tailored to you and your specific needs will always give you a better chance of getting what you want. Do you want to spend 30 minutes filling out an online questionnaire or a couple of hours with a matchmaker trained to ask you the important questions and understand you as an individual? We’re used to doing everything online these days, giving us a false sense of efficiency where there is none. A matchmaker only presents you in your best and most natural light, but can also filter and select suitable dates, so you have one less chore. The Communication Studio has officially partnered with Elite Connections International to promote the service and match successful single ladies and gentlemen seeking love and adventure worldwide through its main offices in FL, CA, and NYC.

In conversation with Claudia Duran, the Chief Strategist at The Communication Studio

Q. What motivated you to step up and become a leader in the organization?

It was a gradual evolution for me of stepping up. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I think I was wired for leadership since I was a kid. I remember feeling curious, creative, adventurous, and driven to learn and experiment. The day I was awarded a plaque in 6th grade for the “Outstanding Leadership Award as Class President,” no one was as shocked as I was, although my parents were pretty happy. They came to the U.S. from Bolivia as adults and always told my sister and me that we were privy to opportunities they never had.

In my early career, I worked with knowledgeable, driven, visionary professionals at a global management consulting firm in D.C., and I was intensely encouraged and mentored.At Playboy T.V. International in Miami, I was exposed to all types of people worldwide, alongside a small group of entrepreneurially spirited professionals who Hugh Hefner and Cisneros Group had assembled to create and distribute new content for a global market. We worked across cultures and time zones, and everyone was not only encouraged to keep up but to “make things happen.”

When I left the entertainment industry, I went to work for a small Italian-owned start-up in the hotel business, where we had so much fun building the company into a significant player in the hospitality industry over six years. We grew from a small office of about 6-8 people to a global corporation with over 50 employees in four cities. I had a team of direct reports and a few interns and remember thinking, “I have to know what I am talking about because they are counting on me!”

Over the years, I have become clearer and more intuitive from both experience and healthy living. I don’t drink or smoke and have a daily meditation and gratitude practice. My ability to read people and situations depends on my gut to steer me in the right direction. Self-trust is an essential ingredient of leadership because that’s the secret sauce to motivating and inspiring people to follow you.

Is your leadership style different from your male counterparts? Describe your leadership style and how you “lead” others.

I don’t see leadership in terms of females and males. Everyone has their leadership style, and most of us bring a blend of masculine and feminine energy to the table. Of course, women and men think differently. Women who emerge as leaders have an innate drive, ambition, and the power to influence and motivate others— often regarded as “masculine” energy. So, perhaps we are wired to have more masculine energy than managers or assistants.

I’m fortunate that I am in a unique profession that allows me to celebrate my femininity and the differences between women and men. But even if you are in law or accounting, I feel it’s essential for women to shine with the qualities innate to us more than our male counterparts, such as communication, collaboration, and compassion.

My leadership style believes in transparency, accountability, and positive reinforcement with the people I work with. I have never been a micromanager; I believe in finding the right people who are intrinsically motivated and talented in their area and giving them the resources and support to let them work and contribute in their voice. I once had a former manager who told me that she loved the way I led because I guided her to the right resources, and the expectation was “do it, or we are screwed.”

Q. What benefits have you received from your leadership experience?

Nothing teaches you more about leadership than managing a team. You realize that everything you say gets amplified 10X, and that can be a good thing or a bad thing, so you have to be more careful and mindful.

Mentoring other women, both professionally and in my personal life, has been tremendously fulfilling. Some of the women I have worked with have started their own companies, pursued projects they were very passionate about or helped other women do the same, and that has been a total life game-changer.

Q. If you have to advise women looking to grow either their own business or within the company they work for, what would it be?

Connections are currency! Value every connection you make. Keep and nurture a rich social network because nothing can ever be achieved alone. Help other people get to where they want to go without expecting a return. When we focus on connecting and helping others, others join and help us. Fasten your seat belt, enjoy the ride, and have fun!

Meet the enigmatic leader of The Communication Studio

Claudia Duran is the Chief Strategist at The Communication Studio. After 20 years of experience in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C., marketing global brands, including Playboy TV International and Hallmark Channel, and successfully launching hospitality and private aviation start-ups, she discovered luxury matchmaking and coaching.

She loves brands, and she loves people.