Profile

Professional summary

I help leaders and their organizations connect with their most important audiences – customers, partners, and employees – in person, in print, and online.

I am the principal and owner of a Seattle-based communications firm, and my personal work is in message development and then coaching public speakers when they share the message. My clients run from senior executives at Microsoft (where I ran the Executive Briefing Center when I was an employee), to entrepreneurs preparing for sales and fundraising efforts, to the rich variety of men and women who speak at industry conferences.

Experience developing speeches, podcasts and videos, web sites, PowerPoint decks, case studies, white papers, and the stories that get told in all of them.

Engagement overview

Engagements run from facilitating executive sessions to develop messaging, as in product launches, program kick-offs, or marketing initiatives; to any and all content development using the messaging framework, from web or printed customer material to sales and partner training; and presentation development and coaching on stage presence.

I lead seminars for up to 20 people (e.g. a sales team or a collection of speakers at a conference); provide 1:1 coaching on clear messaging and on owning a stage or boardroom during presentations. I also speak to large audiences on developing and delivering great presentations - recent clients include the Corporate Counsel Women of Color conference and a continuing education session for the American Institute of Architects.

Clients

• Microsoft
• Juniper Networks
• NBCUniversal
• Net Optics (now part of Ixia)
• Appature (now part of IMS Health)
• Groundspeak

  • linkedin logo
Areas of expertise
Key clients
  • Microsoft
Insights

Question: How can managers improve professional writing skills

I am a business communications expert and coach, owner of a small communications firm that writes speeches and coaches on public speaking, ghost-writes everything from memos to newsletters to websites, and works with middle- and senior managers on their personal communications effectiveness.

My coaching on writing skills includes the following tips -

* for memos and emails, net things out in a ... Read more

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Question: Giving feedback to members of a remote team

If you have not already, please do some web research on cultural differences and sensitivity with Indian culture. I'm sure there are books available as well to give you a general overview. I am certain, too, that in SF you have access to many Indian-born colleagues within your organization or with customers, partners, affiliates, etc., and I'd ask some of them for a few words on the right way to a... Read more

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Question: Dealing with an insecure manager

You have received some good advice in the answers above; and I wonder if there is still room to explore a more direct approach, of one sort or another.

One habit that is unhelpful in the workplace, one perpetrated by too many get-to-the-point Type A's (like me sometimes), is to presume a colleague will assume assent with most of an idea or plan if we zero in with our criticism on one part. I find... Read more

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