About Cynthia

Cynthia W. Lett  CPP,CEP,CTP

Respected worldwide as one of the top mavens of proper etiquette and recognized expert in international protocol, Cynthia Lett is one of the few Certified Etiquette Professionals (CEP) and Certified Protocol Professionals (CPP) earned by examination through the International Society of Protocol & Etiquette Professionals (www.ispep.org).

Ms. Lett has been the principal of The Lett Group since 1983 when she began training professionals in Business & Social Etiquette, Business & Social Entertaining, International Protocol and Executive Communications Skills. She has been a program speaker and coach around the world – teaching and advising on these subjects. Currently she consults with companies of all sizes, international and regional associations, universities and professionals at all levels of the corporate ladder interested in reaching higher.  There are many Federal and State government offices which have turned to Cynthia Lett for advice and training.  She also enjoys working with the offices of protocol for the United States, South Africa, Columbia, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Denmark, Finland, United Arab Emerites and Canada,  From 1992-1995, Ms. Lett served as Manager of Corporate Events and Chief of Protocol for MCI Telecommunications Corporation.  Additionally for nine years she has been an adjunct professor at The Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University, teaching the course in Business Protocol at the Masters’ level. She also offers private and corporate consultation and programs on the power skills necessary to compete in the international business arena..   She has trained and mentors 257 professional etiquette teachers worldwide.

Ms. Lett maintains a blog – It’s Apropos! – Proper Etiquette & Uncouth Behavior (itsapropos.wordpress.com).  Her popular tele-seminar series – The Savvy Professional covers advanced topics of proper etiquette.  Her next book, Lett’s Talk – Etiquette Dilemmas and How to Handle Them is due out April, 2010. Released in July, 2009, That’s So Annoying – An Etiquette Expert on the World’s Most Irritating Habits and What To Do About Them (Skyhorse Publishing) is available in bookstores and online.  Mission Possible with Brian Tracy and Stephen R. Covey (Inscape Publishing) was released in 2006 and is available directly from Ms. Lett or through her website, www.lettgroup.com.

There are 17 universities which currently use Ms. Lett’s curriculum and text for their course on Business Etiquette. Ms. Lett holds a Master of Legal Studies degree from Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C. and undergraduate degrees in Restaurant, Hotel, & Institutional Management and Public Relations from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. She also earned a certificate in Adult Learning Techniques from The George Washington University.  In September, 2007, Ms. Lett was honored by Purdue University Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management as a Distinguished Darden Professor and Fellow.

Ms. Lett is the founder of and serves as Executive Director of the International Society of Protocol & Etiquette Professionals headquartered in Washington, DC. She is an active member of the National Speakers Association, American Society for Training and Development; Women Business Owners; Professional Convention Management Association; and past member of the American Society of Association Executives; Foundation for International Meetings (Board of Governors 1986-1987).

Ms. Lett was elected into Who’s Who of American Women; Who’s Who of Advertising Executives; 2000-2009 Notable American Women; Who’s Who of the World’s Women; Who’s Who of U.S. Executives and Who’s Who of the World. She has been featured and quoted in publications such as USAToday,  Newsweek, Newsweek (Japan edition), Successful Meetings, Meetings and Conventions, Meeting News, Business Travel News, Washington Business Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Regardies Magazine, Wall Street Journal, The Robb Report, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Harvard Business Review, Ohio Business Review, Training and Development Journal, CIO Magazine and many others. During 1990, Ms. Lett planned and executed a series of Business Exchange meetings in the Soviet Union for entrepreneurs from the United States who wished to learn about joint ventures with the Soviets in many different fields. Some of her clients through her international meeting planning company, Creative Planning International, have included Wall Street Journal, A. T. & T., MCI Telecommunications Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, U.S. Department of State, McKinsey and Company, Duracell International, Security Pacific among others. She is featured in the PBS special – Pioneer Living – as the protocol expert. Ms. Lett is also anetiquette expert for the Fine Living Channel and currently featured in Survival Guide – Office Etiquette. She is also a frequent on air expert on etiquette issues for Fox Cable News, Fox Business Channel, MSNBC, ABC News, and numerous radio shows nationwide.