Filipina-Canadian author returns to Vancouver

The No. 1 book on Amazon’s Parenting and Adult-Child Relationships category was written by a Filipina-Canadian-American who enjoys juggling her thriving career and growing family, fundraising for Filipino community events and promoting work-family balance for women.

Marie Claire Lim Moore is a Filipina-Canadian-American working mother and author of Don’t Forget the Soap. After spending the early part of her childhood in Vancouver, Claire moved to New York City and attended the United Nations International School. She went on to study at Yale, climb the corporate ladder at Citi and travel around the world. She met her husband, Alex, while working in Sao Paulo, Brazil and they married in Manila, Philippines shortly before moving to Singapore. Now Mom to Carlos and Isabel (and expecting her third child later this year), Claire also manages the Global Client business for Citi in Asia.

Lim Moore will be in Vancouver for a “Don’t Forget the Soap” book launch and signing on August 6, 2014, at Chapters Metrotown.

From someone who is one of the highest-ranking Filipina-North Americans in global consumer banking, comes a book – not about the steps to take at the corporate ladder, or the tips to note to get the corner office, or get admitted in Yale, but a memoir of how her mother, Lenore Lim, an early education teacher and artist, taught her the importance of balance – in work and in love, in academics and socials, and in time and money.

Combining her Filipino upbringing, United Nations exposure, Ivy League education, and reminders from her mother, this Global Filipina banking executive was able to climb the corporate ladder while keeping her feet on the ground. In “Don’t Forget the Soap,” new author, daughter, wife, mother and corporate leader Marie Claire Lim Moore shares how she was able to travel and work around the world, while keeping her ego in place, and her heart at home.

Lim Moore released her ebook on Amazon last fall, and within 24 hours of its launch, it catapulted to the top spot in Parenting and Relationships and #11 in Women’s Biographies.

About the Author

Marie Claire Lim Moore is Asia Pacific Regional Director of Global Client Banking at Citi where she is responsible for the retail bank’s global services across 14 countries. Claire is also author of Amazon.com best seller Don’t Forget the Soap (And Other Reminders from My Fabulous Filipina Mother) and is frequently invited to speak at conferences and events about her experiences pursuing a successful career, a passionate dream, and a fulfilling family life.

Claire has over 15 years of extensive international experience managing global consumer banking and payment products. She started her career at American Express in New York City where she managed strategic relationships with the company’s largest travel partners including Delta Air Lines and Ritz Carlton Hotels & Resorts. She joined Citi in 2001 to grow the US Cards American Airlines portfolio and lead the shift from traditional to online marketing. In 2005 she began her series of overseas assignments in Latin America and Asia. Since then she has held various senior level positions throughout the Global Retail Bank.

Claire is regularly ranked among leaders in the Asian-American professional community and her experiences have been written about in The New York Times, USA Today, Smart Parenting, Good Housekeeping and People Asia. Claire is passionate about promoting career-family balance for women through her talks as well as her writing.

About the Book

At the center of many good stories – inspiring, entertaining and admittedly corny – is Marie Claire Lim Moore. Ask her about the time she and her family sat down with former Philippine President Corazon Aquino. Or the time she built houses in Mexico alongside former American President Jimmy Carter. Equally engaging are her every day experiences and perspective on life. You will be interested to hear what she thinks is a relationship “deal breaker” or why Christmas should be regulated or why kids shouldn’t say, “I’m bored”.

After spending the early part of her childhood in Vancouver growing up with ‘80s sitcoms and Philippine People Power demonstrations, Claire moved to New York City at the age of twelve and attended the United Nations International School where she sang on stage with Debbie Gibson and received her high school diploma from Kofi Annan. She went on to study at Yale, climb the corporate ladder at Citi and jet set around the world.

Don’t Forget the Soap is a collection of anecdotes from different points in Claire’s life: stories from the tight-knit Filipino community in Vancouver mix with memories of her move to New York, experiences at Yale and travels as a young executive. Underlying this narrative is the story of a global citizen who does not want to forget the fundamental values that come along with the “immigrant experience” as she and her husband raise their children in the increasingly glitzy expat bubble of Singapore. Her parents continue to remain a big influence in her life and her mother’s reminders a grounding force. These stories will warm the heart and resonate with people of any culture.