Coaching Testimonials:
Am really pleased and proud to say that I have just chaired a meeting which, when it ended, two people came up to me and said ‘great meeting’. I asked mainly questions, summarised where possible, drew opinions out of reticent people and was aware of people in the room. So different to my previous meetings and all thanks to our last session – so thank you very much for that.
Editor - Publishing
I’m still amazed at the progress we made in a relatively short period of time. I really enjoyed the whole experience and in particular your coaching style that doesn’t involve any ready-made solutions or recipes but is really tailored to the client’s needs and own style. This was really important in the success of the process for me. Interestingly I have also noted some changes in my behaviour outside the work place and the spontaneous feedback I got back from family and friends shows that in this area there is also significant improvement. I’m really convinced the changes and improvement I’ve achieved have a much more significant business and personal impact than any training I have been on and have a much better chance of being sustained. I’d really like to thank you for your help and support during this coaching journey. It’s clear that your coaching expertise and style made a real measurable difference.
Director, Global Regulatory Policy & Intelligence -Pharmaceutical
Your coaching is a gift. You coach by looking at and generously challenging who I am being. For you the enquiry into the inhibitors is about energy and passion and courage and inspiration. Your way is inspiring because it implies a trust that I can sort out the actions and get the job done if I can just tap into the source of my power. And you do all this without judgement. It is a remarkable experience, being coached by you. And we’ve only just begun. Thank you.
Law firm Partner
Since working with Sara, people I work with have commented that I have become more focused and dynamic in my approach to marketing and I have benefited from better prioritisation of my time.
Senior Associate, Law firm
Sara's combination of interpersonal and business acumen is at the heart of her appeal to me as a coach. She understands that success breeds success. I used her for a recent conference speech and she gave me the tools to plan in advance, to operate under pressure on the day and advice/stimulation on structuring and content.
FD Media firm
500% better than it would’ve been without your support.
Partners City Law firm
Because you insisted we use the camera I got an immediate sense of my shortcomings in this area. Who would have thought mindset was such a key player in approaching these interactions?
CEO Global advertising agency
Your formidable ability as a coach, from which I feel I have benefited enormously, helped me achieve partnership. You are inspiring and I now have a real sense of how to achieve my goals over the next year.
Senior Assistant City Law Firm
The opportunity to work with you on this video conference presentation made a crucial difference to my ability in managing and pre-empting the various ‘live” audience reactions.
FD of Multi-National Mining Company
Sara, there was plenty of informal feedback following my presentation all of which was extremely positive. The highlights were: "You changed the perception of finance with that speech. You established yourself as a human being. Fantastique!
FD Media company
Have now significantly changed my approach with my team. I am now less controlling and as a consequence created more time to be innovative and impact the business in the way we manage risk. Thank you.
Director of Operations, Accountancy Firm
Since my sessions with Sara I have recaptured the original enthusiasm I had for my job. I feel happy, in control and clear-sighted about what I can contribute and what I should delegate. I can focus on what I do best and feel confident that this is appreciated, and in the process of delegating other responsibilities I’ve been able to help develop other people’s roles within the company.
Editor Publishing
In 2006 the Company made a strategic decision to focus more on the operational side of it's business recognising a real need to strengthen this previously under resourced and increasingly key area. They asked me to take on the role of Operations Director to lead a senior team. This was a new role and a new team and to be honest a group of people with very disparate roles and responsibilities who felt under valued and had little understanding of why they had been brought together.
Working with Sara I turned this group of disparate senior managers into one of the most effective valued and respected teams in Penguin. Operations now leads the change agenda and is responsible for major projects delivering millions of pounds of savings and changing the way the business works, both in terms of it's physical space (we took the businesses into an open plan environment)and it's system landscape ( persuading the business to invest heavily in new technology to under take a 4 year programme to replace 20 year old legacy systems)
Sara's style and approach have enabled me to realise my vision of leadership and helped me to harness my passion positively and effectively. Working with her has given me the confidence to take risks I did not feel I was able to before, to believe in myself and my style. Her ability to energise, inspire build confidence and respect with me as a leader and my team is a real talent that so many coaches promise but never deliver. This coupled with her commercial awareness and innate understanding of our business is a powerful combination.
I have had more positive feedback from the business in terms of my leadership since working with Sara than any other time in my career, other senior managers in the business are now following in our footsteps.
Director of Operations
Workshops:
What a wonderful 2 days. They were the best I’ve ever done with a group our size. And that was down to you. Your approach is brilliant. So, yes, lots of celebrations - we have announced Freeview+ passing its millionth home. Nearly all the mini groups have had their first meeting and are downloading at tomorrow’s team meeting. And, most importantly, TWO in-office aerobics sessions have now happened…
Digital Company
I have now read the evaluation forms and they are nothing short of outstanding. Several delegates here are still saying that the course has had a huge impact upon them and has changed their approach fundamentally. Not bad for a 2 day course! Thanks again for a great job.
City Accountancy Firm
Thank you for the past two days. It will probably count as a watershed moment in my career. Applied some of the techniques today – very practically: energising routine, breathing, spoke slower and used less words. Result: I got approval for the strategy. It was a breakthrough.
Global Mining Firm
I was intrigued with the way the course worked on several different levels. On a micro level it gave you very specific physical tools to tackle challenges around presenting and connecting in the business. These were the nuts and bolts of the course, The macro learning was more about the realisation that we WERE senior leaders, that we could call on each other for assistance and that we should have the confidence to make calls commensurate with senior leader status.
Publishing Company
Sara’s coaching sessions in impact and classroom Presence have made a significant difference to the way in which they work in the classroom. She encourages open dialogue and explores practical and positive solutions without being judgemental or prescriptive. She inspires and motivates teachers without ever compromising on high standards.
Principal of the Isaac Newton Centre for Continuing Professional Development. Kensington & Chelsea.
The two days last week were without doubt the best course I've ever been on. And I suspect will, even in isolation, have a big influence on whatever happens to me here over the next few years. Thanks once again.
Publishing
Sara worked with us for 2 days, helping us improve our delivery in presenting to clients. Sara managed a group of ‘sceptical’ men with a focused and upbeat energy. We were challenged and yet managed to have fun which was a great combination. I feel that my business will be influenced beyond belief.”
Financial Consulting Firm
She came across as very professional and highly skilled on the subject being delivered and indeed stretched the participants out of their comfort zone throughout. It was clear at the end of the session, that there were particular participants who had transformed in their style and impact from attending the session. I would highly recommend both Sara and the programme she delivered for me and would hope to use her again within the business”
Human Resources Department, Global Oil Company
A perceptive and intuitive facilitator of impact in the classroom - encouraging reflective practice to develop teaching styles in the classroom. Her work has had a dynamic and instant effect on the teaching styles of NQTs and Teach Firsts teachers.
Vice Principal of City Academy.
Sara has helped countless numbers of our people to become more confident and more in control of their impact on others. She possesses an extraordinary mix of empathy, instinct and talent to facilitate positive change in our people allowing them to become even more effective in their roles. I cannot think of one personal development programme we would initiate that I would not discuss with her first.
People Partner, Advertising Agency
I've had to give several big presentations and really enjoy connecting with the audience (no longer cardboard cut-outs !!).
FD
We got the job! I couldn't have done it or even contemplated it without your help. Thanks again for your inspiration.
Partner Director - Firm of Architects
Away Day Facilitation:
She brings passion, knowledge and impact in equal measure.
CEO -Advertising Agency
We are a team of very intelligent specialists all ploughing our own furrows in different directions. We wanted a facilitator who would help us all stand back from our day-to-day routines and think about fresh approaches to our work and, especially, how we relate to people outside our own particular specialities. Sara proved to be perfect in this regard. Over two days a group of managers who, in some cases, hardly knew each other started to gel as a group and generated an enormous amount of energy that has carried through into the weeks since. We have talked to our teams and started a process that I expect to have a noticeable impact on our output and the value we can bring to the rest of the company.
CFO Publishing
What a wonderful 2 days. They were the best I’ve ever done with a group our size. And that was down to you. Your approach is brilliant.
Digital TV Company
The away day was fantastic, everyone is saying it’s the best one they've ever been to. You did a brilliant job, I'm still on a high!
Publishing Company
What a fantastic day we had yesterday, and I want to thank you sincerely for making it work so effectively and beyond my expectation in terms of building a spirit and understanding between the team.
Marketing Company
Conference Testimonials:
I wanted to send you this brief note to say a personal thank you for all your help in making Tuesday a great success overall and for keeping the faith and helping Jim and I look good on stage for our awards piece. Literally every person I spoke to on Tuesday & Wednesday mentioned it and gave gushing feedback – amazing. You were excellent throughout the day and really helped to keep people engaged. Also, your interview with Alan Thomas was superb and the highlight of the day, and I know that that only happened because he bought into you and trusted you following your late night discussion with him on Monday evening. The thanks is for two reasons really as not only did it have a huge motivational impact on the S-P audience, but it also gave Alan something to be enormously proud of and an experience to cherish.
DIRECTOR - SCHERING PLOUGH PHARMACEUTICALS
I just wanted to say a big thank you for doing a great job facilitating the Deloitte event last week. I've heard only positive comments about you and what you were able to bring to the event. It was great to work with you again - I didn't realise how much I'd missed seeing you in action! You kept me going and kept me smiling!
Hopefully we can do more together with Deloitte next year ... especially now they understand what you can bring to the event.
PRODUCER – DELOITTE TAX CONFERENCE
Thank you very much indeed for your sterling work out in Munich this week. You have this marvellous talent for making people feel at ease and a clarity of communication that always connects with the audience. We are very grateful indeed for the work you put into our events and I look forward to seeing you again soon.
DIRECTOR - MICROSOFT EMEA HQ, EMEA EVENTS
I couldn’t let the occasion pass without thanking you most sincerely for your huge contribution towards making the recent kick-off meeting the great success it most certainly was. The feedback from the client has been incredibly positive as has the feedback from the audience, they all appreciated the completely different approach from past years! It was great working with you Chris and I very much look forward to doing so again in the very near future.
PRODUCER – COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY CONFERENCE ORGANISER
You were brilliant and it was really great having you on board as I knew exactly what I could load on you.
PRODUCER - TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY CONFERENCE
As you can see everyone is very happy with the way things went. I know you hit the spot with both the client and their audience and you set the tone perfectly. Thanks for being brilliant!
CREATIVE DIRECTOR – CITY INVESTMENT FIRM CONFERENCE
I really appreciate what you bring to this sort of thing and on all our jobs that you get involved in. I am aware that you work flat out and frankly you are wonderful and worth every penny. When you're not involved in a conference that I produce, I have to work a hell of a lot harder!!
PRODUCER – MEDIA MULTINATIONAL COMPANY CONFERENCE
What can I say…..you’re a complete superstar!!! You did an amazing job and completely held together RADIOne Pfizer & Pfizer Pfamily Pfortunes. Everyone is still talking about both shows and completely loved them of course – you did brilliantly to hold them both together with so much calm and confidence. Huge thanks again – it was a real pleasure working with you.