I advise leaders who need honest feedback and clear thinking to unpick brand, strategy and communications problems.
I learned my craft running campaigns at the UK Dept of Health, rebranding BBC Radio 4, and leading digital and communications agencies. I was also founder and CEO of a spectacularly unsuccessful tech startup.
• Asking the right questions, listening to the answers
• Identifying themes and dynamics
• Questioning assumptions and speaking truth to power
• Looking at the big picture, thinking deeply
• Explaining things simply and finding the right words
• Politics, game playing or toeing the line
• Detailed planning / reporting
• Operations or governance
• Early or long meetings
• Organised fun
I asked some clients how they’d describe what I do and what they value most about my work.
Here’s what they said.
In the spirit of show, don’t tell (and showing off), here’s a few current and recent projects.
Most people call me when they’re at a crossroads – growing, merging or changing direction.
Vision/mission/purpose/values/promise. These foundational elements can all-too-often sound tired, bland or hollow. I can help you make them meaningful and embed them across everything you do.
Your brand and positioning are out of step with who you are and where you want to be. You get bored when describing what you do and hate looking at your website.
You know what you want to do – more or less – but you need to crystallise your thinking and find the right words to make everyone sit up and take notice.
Language creates your culture and shapes how people perceive and experience you. You need to align what you say and how you say it with your values, ways of working and ambitions. It sounds simple. It’s not.
From taking the temperature of your people and buyers of your services through to setting up participatory design/co-production, I will listen, make sense of the signals and tell you what you need to hear.
As a leader, every word you say matters. From all staff emails to interviews, keynotes and videos, I can make sure your communications connect and resonate with everyone.
Of course I’m going to tell you I’m great. So here’s some quotes from people like you.