LexisNexis® Risk Solutions is a trusted data and analytics provider helping organisations manage risk, uncover opportunities and improve results through actionable insights, targeted solutions, and high standards of security and privacy.
Susan designed and delivered this Make Your Mark programme for 12 emerging leaders across the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Data Services business line, led by CEO Dean Curtis.
Dean Curtis, CEO, LexisNexis Risk Solutions
Building confidence, authenticity and impact
The goal was to help emerging leaders strengthen their presence and communication, make a bigger impact at work, and spark growth that would make a measurable difference to individuals and the business.
Some participants’ line managers had already attended a bespoke Make Your Mark workshop Susan ran for Cirium’s* leadership team. Cascading the framework, toolkit and language more widely, including to their direct reports, extended the value of the original investment and laid the foundations for lasting change.
The programme focused on raising awareness, building skill, encouraging curiosity, courage and confidence, and creating the conditions for psychological safety and open feedback.
"The ability to communicate at scale effectively is such a critical skill for emerging leaders and can often feel overwhelming. Susan's approach really trained both skill and behaviour in how the message is delivered in order to put the audience at ease, building trust. However, Susan makes clear that the key part of effectiveness is driven by your ongoing mindset of how you show up, your confidence and relationship with yourself. I challenge even an experienced speaker to not take a lot away from Susan."
- Dean Curtis, Chief Executive Officer - LexisNexis Risk Solutions
*part of the LexisNexis Risk Solutions business line
A six-month journey, not a one-off workshop
Sponsored by Dean and his VP of Human Resources Sunil Malik, the programme combined manager engagement, individual reflection, live learning, peer accountability and business-focused follow-through over six months.
It began with a line manager briefing and participant pre-work to clarify goals, strengths and development priorities. The core learning experience was an interactive in-person session to explore the four pillars of the Make Your Mark framework: mental, physical, verbal and vocal presence.
Participants then turned insight into action by drafting individual action plans around real workplace situations where they wanted to make their mark. From there, the work shifted into application through development-plan updates, line manager conversations, a follow-up Zoom session, and regular peer-group check-ins and coaching with Head of Performance (Global) Matt Barker and coach Squash Falconer over the following months.
"Each participant had 1-1 development conversations with their line manager to define their development needs. Susan built on these in her intake session and tailored the programme to create a unique learning journey for each person. She built psychological safety by honing tools and techniques to address those needs, and created an environment where each person could talk about their insights with their manager present, which was incredibly powerful to see. The focus and care Susan demonstrated throughout the programme built sustainable personal change and longer-term effectiveness, which is often missed in development programmes."
- Sunil Malik, VP of Human Resources, LexisNexis Risk Solutions
From learning to business impact
A key strength of the programme was its focus on application, not just awareness. Over six months, participants put their learning into practice in live business situations, noticed what changed, and built new habits over time.
At the end of the programme, participants came together with Susan, their managers, Dean, Sunil and Matt for a final in-person impact workshop to reflect on what had changed for them, the difference the learning was making to the business, and what they needed from the organisation to keep learning and growing.
Participant post it notes from the impact workshop
What participants said changed
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Letting go of perfection; managing scepticism more constructively; strengthening a more positive “we can do this” mindset; and listening more actively.
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Embracing stillness; owning why they deserved to be in the room; and turning “sheer panic” into credibility.
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Prioritising speaking up over saying the 'right' thing; feeling more self-assured; and adding more value.
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Becoming more aware of the link between emotional control, self-awareness and commercial results, including signing better deals.
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Using intentional pauses and hand gestures more effectively; timing interventions more strategically; balancing advising with asking; refining vocal speed and clarity; and finding it easier to be more concise, deliberate and intentional with their words.
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Bringing more of themselves into conversation; managing the inner critic; driving greater strategic alignment and faster decision-making; and using practical tools to communicate more clearly and confidently.
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Using facts to challenge imposter feelings; holding teams to account; encouraging stronger thinking and better preparation; making people feel safe; and knowing when to switch decisively into leader mode.
This final impact session made the learning visible, giving participants the opportunity to show how they had grown and how stronger presence and communication were influencing confidence, clarity, team dynamics, decision-making and performance.
“Delegates often leave the initial workshops of programmes like this with good intent, but that can dissipate once the day job takes over. Susan left time at the end of the initial workshop for delegates to shape plans for applying what they had been taught. We then created small-group, facilitated by our internal coaches, to review progress, strengthen learning, keep the tools and techniques alive, and support each other to apply them in our context. Our role as coaches was to facilitate the conversation, not to be experts in Susan’s content, and the discussions provided valuable peer support and an opportunity for people to demonstrate and consolidate their development in day-to-day work. Thanks to Susan for her openness and generosity of spirit in shaping the programme in this way.”
- Matt Barker, Head of Performance (Global), LexisNexis Risk Solutions
Enabling emerging leaders to make their mark
This programme delivered three key things:
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A shared framework, a practical toolkit, and the time and support to embed new habits in real work, creating the conditions for lasting change.
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A shared language around mindset, presence and communication, making development conversations more practical, expectations clearer, and progress easier to sustain.
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Visible support from senior leaders, helping participants feel respected, reinforcing the learning, and enabling the organisation to gain more from its investment.
When senior leaders champion learning in this way, everyone wins.
If you're a CEO, HR, Talent or L&D leader interested in learning more about Make Your Mark and how to apply the framework and toolkit in your organisation, please get in touch.
"I challenge even an experienced speaker
to not take a lot away from Susan."
- Dean Curtis, Chief Executive Officer,
LexisNexis Risk Solutions
"The focus and care Susan demonstrated throughout the programme built sustainable personal change and longer-term effectiveness, which is often missed in development programmes."
Sunil Malik, VP of Human Resources,
LexisNexis Risk Solutions