Hello folks, my name is Zoe Cross. I feel honored to have been asked to tell my story. It’s a long one, but I’ll try to boil it down to the essence, the essence of being limitless. It’s a topic I personally love, and kudos to the Moebius Syndrome Foundation for thinking up this series. 

This February, it was exactly 50 years ago that I was born in Munich, Germany, to British parents. At first, things seemed bleak. The first pediatrician specialist who saw me was pessimistic and told my Dad that they should try for more children (I was the first of 3 living and thriving children) and put me in an institution. Fortunately, my Dad, who had time on his hands due to temporary unemployment, soon realized that all could not be that bad, and a second opinion already seemed much more optimistic.

I did pretty well at school, and ended up going to university in the UK. I find it hard to admit that I ended up going to one of the oldest universities in England, but it was wonderful, and certainly did no end of good for my self esteem. That said, one of my beliefs and coping mechanisms was over compensating, studying hard and working very hard, to compensate for what I thought was inadequacy in looks.

I studied Japanese language and culture at university, and spent a couple of years in Japan, both as a student and as a young professional. Then, in 1999, I returned to the UK and started working for the Japanese electronics firm Panasonic and soon became established as an environment and sustainability specialist. I did a Masters in EU Law, but a lot of this work is literally learning on the job. Because this field has been growing and evolving, I’m still here, over 20 years later, now back in Germany. 

Things were by no means always this exciting or pleasurable. I remember, at the beginning of my career, people seemed to want to decide for me that it was better that I hide away in a back office, rather than be visible to the public, or, perish the thought, customers! But it seems part of me always secretly felt attracted to the limelight. I persevered, and soon met a new boss who suggested that I might support another colleague at an exhibition, where I had to give a presentation to high-profile customers. I was nervous, but it turns out I was a natural, and from then on, they expected me to give presentations regularly!

Then, around 2009, we had restructuring within the company, and I went through a phase of coping with two socially inept managers. I can say that now because I was, at the time, on the employee rep council and had insight to stuff going on behind the scenes. Nevertheless, those years were very grueling, and damaged my self esteem severely. At several points, I was close to leaving. But I sought help, and was lucky to find it in various places. 

It was around this time, as I was approaching 40, that a Japanese friend of mine asked me why I was single. The truth was, I had focused on my career, because I saw absolutely no chance of finding love or having a family. This amazing friend helped me to start seeing things differently.

And so it was, at the tender age of 41, I met somebody for the first time, and had my first kiss! After that, I soon realized he was not right for me, but I had some catching up to do! In fact, it was only 6 months later that I met the guy who has been my partner now for over 7 years!

As a result of the bullying and back-stabbing I had endured, I started to ask questions about what had really been going on at an emotional and psychological level, and, with my experience of consulting and advising other people on very varied topics, I decided to get a coaching qualification. In 2016, I started out mainly as a dating and relationship coach, but it was only in 2021, just after my TEDx speech on overcoming rejection, that I realized I needed to focus 100% on business coaching. The real reason for this is that I firmly believe that we as people with Moebius should be seen as people with just as much right to fulfilling work and careers (if we want that) as everybody else. And when I left university, my focus was on finding something meaningful to do which would also secure me a good livelihood. It was only as a second priority that I thought I might find a partner. I guess I was pretty independent!

So today, besides my part-time “day job” at Panasonic, I am now building a career in coaching and some speaking, supporting unique, goal-oriented professionals and business owners to aim high and go after the career or business they always dreamed of having. When I get letters of thanks from people who have worked with me, I often get a lump in my throat, and shivers down my spine. One of the best jobs in the world if you can support others in breaking down what they think are their limits!

Last year, after my TEDx talk was spotted by Human Resources, I was asked if I would do a short corporate branding video, because I had been with Panasonic for over 20 years and was seen as a role model, obviously embodying some element of diversity and inclusion too.

I guess times have changed! There is still so much ignorance out there about Moebius and people with a visible difference, but step by step, with our amazing Moebius community, we can help spread the word and educate the world that we are indeed LIMITLESS.

Love and light to you all, amazing people!Watch Zoe’s TED Talk here https://www.ted.com/talks/zoe_anthea_cross_overcome_rejection_by_smiling_with_your_heart_nov_2021