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Business communication and voice coaching workshops and keynote To succeed in business, you need to ‘make your mark’, in other words make a positive, noticeable impact. What you say and how you say it is key to this. Make Your Mark with Susan Room® Everyone can make their mark. Yet many don't - perhaps because they lack confidence, think they don’t have ‘presence’, fear speaking up or don't like the sound of their voice when they do. My Make Your Mark with Susan Room® workshops and keynote tackle these self-limiting beliefs head-on. Highly interactive and content-rich, they offer a whistle-stop tour of mindset, body language, speech and voice, leaving participants with a powerful toolkit they can use straightaway to feel, look and sound confident especially when under pressure. The Make Your Mark with Susan Room® Coaching Model I coach groups and teams to improve the four key pillars of communication: mindset, body language, speech and voice. This is because how you think (mindset) affects how you look (body language), what you say (speech) and how you say it (voice). Mindset: the voice leaks information. Whatever you’re feeling - be it tired, hungry, stressed, anxious, irritated or something else, people will hear those emotions in the voice. That’s why my work starts with ‘mind work’, notably turning down the negative voice in your head and dialling up the confident, authentic voice within. Body language​: posture and breathing habits affect the voice which is why improving them is an essential part of voice coaching. They also convey how you feel about yourself and others, as do your facial expressions and hand gestures. I help people use all aspects of body language to communicate more effectively. Voice: the voice is a remarkable instrument, which I help professionals understand and use to maximum effect in different scenarios, for example, to defuse conflict; command attention; push back firmly and collaboratively; project strength and warmth; and inspire and engage others. Speech: speech coaching includes replacing unhelpful habits with helpful new ones; honing confident, concise language; learning and flexing different communication styles; crafting and rehearsing impactful conversations, presentations, pitches and speeches; improving articulation; and, if relevant, softening a non-native English accent. Make Your Mark with Susan Room® is available in five formats: A Virtual 60-minute Lunch and Learn / Ask Me Anything Session Digestible, bite-sized learning for up to 100 people. Contact Me 45 minutes of input + 15 minutes Q&A. £1,250.00 + VAT per Session. A Virtual 60 or 90-minute Live Masterclass Contact Me A mix of input, demos and interactive exercises for up to 100 people. Ideal for quickly equipping large numbers with key knowledge and skills. £1,250.00 - £1,500.00 + VAT per Masterclass. A Virtual 90-minute Small Group Workshop Contact Me A mix of input, coaching and practical work for up to 12 people. For teams or employees from different parts of your organisation. From £1,500.00 + VAT per Workshop. Make Your Mark with Susan Room® Keynote Contact Me A mix of demos, exercises and insights that will get audiences on their feet. For groups of any size. Fees on request. Make Your Mark with Susan Room® My 12 hour Signature/Flagship Programme Contact Me 4 x 3-hour modules, one on mindset, one on body language, one on speech and one on voice, delivered at 2-weekly intervals over 8 weeks. For cohorts of up to 12 people at any level. Fees on request. Please get in touch if you have any questions, to discuss your requirements, need a session for more than 100 people or something else. Key Takeaways A deeper understanding of how mindset affects body language, speech and voice. Simple tools for managing self-doubt and tapping into the inner coach. Insights into the science of executive presence and body language tips to convey it. Ideas for making what you say more concise, authoritative and impactful. Tips for using your voice to engage, persuade and influence others more effectively. Who should attend? Anyone needing to improve confidence, presence and communication skills. Anyone wanting to lead with greater authority, impact and influence. Multicultural, cross-functional and individual teams. Graduates and interns needing to learn crucial soft skills. Professional networks and undergraduate, post-graduate and MBA students. Fees include: A pre-engagement and post-engagement call. A list of reading suggestions, references and resources to extend and embed learning. What others say Since 2016, I have run Make Your Mark workshops and keynotes for organisations including 30% Club, Accenture, Apple, ANZ, Association of Foreign Banks, Baillie Gifford, Bouygues, Citibank, Financial Times, First Sentier Investors, Grant Thornton, Imperial College Business School National Association of Women in Construction, Northern Trust, Oracle, PA Consulting, Skanska, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Women in Banking and Finance, Värde and wefox. Thousands from over 40 countries have attended. “Thought-provoking, impactful online workshops. The feedback we are hearing is great and we’re seeing lots of action plans being delivered.” Rebecca Wright, Global Learning and Talent Manager, Financial Times “Very informative, practical and helpful tips from a real expert on the things that we never tend to share or ask about in the workplace.” Jennifer Fegan, Legal and Commercial Director, Skanska “People came away feeling confident, reflecting on themselves, what they want to work on and how they need to work on it. ” Claire Smith, Deputy Head of HR, Bank ABC (ex-DVB Bank) Frequently Asked Questions Who delivers Make Your Mark with Susan Room® workshops and keynote? I do – learn more about me here. For groups larger than 12, I’ll ask the business hosting the event to moderate and feed questions to me. Who are they for? Anyone who wants to feel, look and sound more confident, irrespective of gender, role, level, function, or ability. Since 2016, thousands have attended Make Your Mark with Susan Room® workshops from countries including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, and the USA. Are they only for women? It’s up to you. They can be. Or they can be open to other specific groups or open all. Are they just for developing presentation skills and public speaking? No. They go much deeper, and you’ll be able to apply everything you learn to conversations with more than one person in any setting or situation. Are they available for my time zone? Yes. I work across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, APAC and North America. Email contact@susanroom.com for answers to specific time-zone questions. Can participants ask questions? I love to take questions! The amount of time we spend on them depends on your objectives and the number of participants. We’ll discuss this during the pre-engagement call. Do participants need previous experience? No – just an open mind and willingness to learn. Is recording permitted? Not without my written permission. See section 2.9 of my Terms and Conditions for more. Will this be death by PowerPoint? No. You’ll be lucky to see more than five slides. What technology is used for the workshops? Ideally Zoom because it’s the most stable platform I know.

Make Your Mark with Susan Room ® Business communication and voice coaching workshops and keynote Help your people look, feel and sound more confident and credible, not least when under pressure. Everyone can make their mark. Yet many don't - perhaps because they lack confidence, think they don’t have ‘presence’, fear speaking up or don't like the sound of their voice when they do. That's where Make Your Mark with Susan Room® comes in. It's a transformative four-step framework, specifically designed to help business people develop the four pillars of effective communication: A confident mindset Body language and executive presence Clear, concise speech Great voice and listening skills Make Your Mark blends powerful insights, demos, conversations, models, exercises and authoritative resources to help professionals: ​ Improve their confidence, resilience and capacity to manage self-doubt and ‘imposter syndrome’. Enhance their personal presence, impact and ability to elegantly 'own the room'. Articulate their thoughts clearly, concisely and convincingly. Listen actively, accurately and with minimal judgment, assumption and bias. Use and flex their voice to influence, persuade and connect more credibly and effectively. ​ All content is ​ Focused on achieving better business outcomes. Relatable and evidence based. Applicable to all, irrespective of gender, role, nationality, longevity and seniority. To enhance relevance, when needed, I customise examples and scenarios to appeal to specific audiences: for example, investment managers, women in tech, cross-functional teams, global project leaders. The framework raises businesspeople's awareness of their blindspots and development opportunities, and gives them a practical toolkit they can use straightaway to achieve better business and personal outcomes. ​ Depending on goals and budget, I can deliver Make Your Mark in the following formats, virtually or in person: A 60- or 90-minute workshop Virtual or in person For groups of up to 100 people. 10 - 20 minutes on each of the four Make Your Mark pillars. Input, demos and interactive exercises. Limited time for Q&A. Make An Enquiry Fee from £1,750.00 + VAT. A 3-hour group coaching session Virtual or in person Maximum group size of 12 people. 35 minutes on each of the four Make Your Mark pillars. Input, demos, interactive exercises, 'light-touch' coaching and time for Q&A. Make An Enquiry Fee from £3,550.00 + VAT. 4 x 90-minute workshops Virtual or in person Maximum group size of 12 people per workshop 90 minutes on each of the four Make Your Mark pillars. Input, demos and interactive exercises. Limited time for Q&A. Make An Enquiry From £6,250.00 + VAT. My 14-hour flagship programme Virtual or in person Maximum group size of 12 people. 4 x 3-hour modules (each on one of the four Make Your Mark pillars) plus a 1-hour kick-off and 1-hour closing session. Input, demos, interactive exercises, lots of individual coaching and time for Q&A. Modules typically delivered every 2-3 weeks. Make An Enquiry Fee from £13,450.00 + VAT per cohort of 12. Make Your Mark with Susan Room® Keynote Virtual or in person Make An Enquiry A mix of demos, exercises and insights that will get audiences on their feet. For groups of any size. Fees on request. Fees include a pre-engagement and post-engagement call plus a list of reading suggestions, references and resources to extend and embed learning. Make Your Mark with Susan Room ® - k ey takeaways ​Whichever format you choose, participants will leave with: ​ A practical toolkit to use immediately to achieve better business outcomes on-line, on the phone and in-person. A greater sense of agency, choice, and control when it comes to ‘soft skills’. A deeper understanding of how mindset affects body language, speech and voice. Simple tools for managing self-doubt and tapping into their inner coach. Insights into the science of executive presence and body language tips to convey it. Ideas for speaking clearly, concisely, authoritatively. Tips for using the voice to engage, persuade and influence others more effectively. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss your requirements. Get In Touch MYM animated coaching model The Make Your Mark with Susan Room® Coaching Model I coach groups and teams to improve the four key pillars of communication: mindset, body language, speech and voice. This is because how you think (mindset) affects how you look (body language), what you say (speech) and how you say it (voice). Mindset: the voice leaks information. Whatever you’re feeling - be it tired, hungry, stressed, anxious, irritated or something else, people will hear those emotions in your voice. That’s why my work starts with taming the negative voice in your head and refocusing you on the wise voice of your inner coach. Body language​: as well as mindset, posture and breathing habits fundamentally affect the voice, which is why improving them is an essential part of voice coaching. They also convey how you feel about yourself and others, as do your eye contact and hand gestures. Voice: the voice is a remarkable instrument, which I help professionals understand and use to maximum effect in different scenarios, for example, to defuse conflict; command attention; push back firmly and collaboratively; project strength and warmth; and inspire and engage others. Speech: speech coaching includes minimising unhelpful habits; honing confident, concise language; learning and flexing different communication styles; crafting and rehearsing impactful conversations, presentations, pitches and speeches; improving articulation; and, if relevant, softening a non-native English accent. What others say Since 2016, I have run Make Your Mark workshops, keynotes and programmes for organisations including 30% Club, Accenture, Apple, ANZ, Association of Foreign Banks, Bridgepoint, Bouygues, Citibank, First Sentier Investors, Grant Thornton, Imperial College Business School National Association of Women in Construction , Northern Trust, Oracle, PA Consulting, Skanska, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Women in Banking and Finance, Värde and wefox. ​ Thousands from over 40 countries have attended. ​ Over 400 employees from Baillie Gifford have attended my full f lagship programme, which I run for mixed gender and women-only groups. A further four cohorts of 12 will start the programme in January 2024 and 20 are on the waiting list. Read 'How Baillie Gifford embraces coaching to enable colleagues to make their mark' . ​ Nominated by the FT’s Senior Management Committee, over 140 Financial Times employees have attended the full programme to date. Originally run for women-only groups, it is now open to all genders. Read 'Helping the Financial Times achieve its diversity and inclusion goals'. ​ “Thought-provoking, impactful online workshops. The feedback we are hearing is great and we’re seeing lots of action plans being delivered.” Rebecca Wright, Global Learning and Talent Manager, Financial Times “Very informative, practical and helpful tips from a real expert on the things that we never tend to share or ask about in the workplace.” Jennifer Fegan, Legal and Commercial Director, Skanska “People came away feeling confident, reflecting on themselves, what they want to work on and how they need to work on it. ” Claire Smith, Deputy Head of HR, Bank ABC (ex-DVB Bank) Anchor 1 Read more testimonials Frequently Asked Questions Who delivers Make Your Mark with Susan Room® workshops and keynote? I do – learn more about me here. For groups larger than 12, I’ll ask the business hosting the event to moderate and feed questions to me. Who should attend? Business leaders wanting to refine their communication skills and make a lasting impression. Investment managers wanting to build strong relationships and trust with clients. Team leaders wanting to inspire confidence and enthusiasm in their people. Salespeople wanting to improve their pitching skills and close deals with confidence. Marketing professionals wanting to hone their presentation and persuasion skills. HR professionals wanting to establish themselves and their function as strategic players. Engineers wanting to effectively communicate complex ideas and technical information. Finance executives wanting to confidently present financial reports and data to stakeholders. Business analysts wanting to deliver clear and concise presentations to clients. Early years graduates needing to improve their soft skills. Are they only for those who identify as women? It’s up to you. They can be. Or they can be open to other specific groups or open all. Are they just for developing presentation and public speaking skills? No. They go much deeper, and you’ll be able to apply everything you learn to conversations with more than one person in any setting or situation. Are they available for my time zone? Yes. I work across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, APAC and North America. Email contact@susanroom.com for answers to specific time-zone questions. Can participants ask questions? I love to take questions! The amount of time we spend on them depends on your objectives and the number of participants. We’ll discuss this during the pre-engagement call. Do participants need previous experience? No – just an open mind and willingness to learn. Is recording permitted? Not without my written permission. See section 2.9 of my Terms and Conditions for more. Will this be death by PowerPoint? No. You’ll be lucky to see more than five slides. What technology is used for the workshops? Ideally Zoom because it’s the most stable platform I know.

All Case Studies Business A bespoke outplacement service for DVB Bank DVB Bank SE was part of Germany’s second-largest banking group. In 2017, its board announced it would sell off its aviation sector and run down its shipping business, resulting in the closure of DVB’s London base in December 2022. Helping to deliver a bespoke outplacement service The news of the planned closure negatively impacted everyone based in the London office. ​ “It was very much a family feel at DVB,” said Claire Smith, former Senior Vice President, Group Human Resources, DVB Bank SE. “Employees had such long lengths of service. I had been there for seven years, but the average was nine.” That service longevity meant that many of Claire’s colleagues didn’t have LinkedIn profiles or up-to-date CVs, and it had been many years since they have been interviewed. That’s why, rather than offering a generic outplacement service, Claire invited Susan to run her Make Your Mark with Susan Room® programme as part of a bespoke workshop series, curated to give colleagues the skills they needed when leaving their roles. Continued investment in colleagues “At DVB it had always been about our colleagues, we always put a lot into them. A redundancy package is great financially, but the money only lasts so long. That’s why we continued to invest in our employees while they remained with us – finding ways to help them secure th eir next role. I wanted colleagues leaving there having thought through what was next for them. While it was a difficult time, I also wanted to help them feel as good as possible about themselves when going into the job market.” Claire Smith, Former Senior Vice President, Group Human Resources, DVB Bank SE . ​ Why the Make Your Mark with Susan Room® programme? As part of DVB’s workshop line up, which spanned topics from CV writing to pensions advice, Susan ran an eight-hour version of her Make Your Mark coaching programme - giving leavers the confidence, presence, and communications skills they needed to make their unique mark – be it at an interview or in a new role. “From a HR perspective we just thought it was really important that people had the chance to think about themselves. To explore what they wanted to do next, to look at their profile, their image and how they could project their personal brand in an interview setting. Susan’s sessions gave them a safe space to do that" said Claire. “Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People came away feeling confident. They were reflecting on themselves, about what they needed to work on and how they needed to work on it." Claire Smith, DVB Bank SE Interactive and content-rich, my Make Your Mark with Susan Room® workshops and keynote offer a whistle-stop tour of mindset, body language, speech and voice, leaving participants with a powerful toolkit they can use straight away to feel, look and sound confident, especially when under pressure. Learn More

All Case Studies Individual Céline Delacroix Partner, Global Head of Energy Services and Equipment, EY Céline Delacroix’s journey to becoming an equity partner at Ernst and Young (EY), started when she joined the firm in 2013. That intensified considerably when she became part of a ‘partner track’ cohort requiring her to rally senior partners around her business and personal case for promotion. In a client-facing role across EMEIA, Céline was looking for a coach to help elevate her presentation skills and her personal brand. Practical and impactful “I was at a 30% Club event where Susan was presenting ‘how to use your voice and breath’. I’d researched other executive coaches, but they didn’t have Susan’s speciality in voice coaching. We started on my public speaking skills. It was highly practical and immediately impactful: breathing and posture; how you walk onto a stage, sit and stand; how you clearly communicate your key messages and keep your audience hooked; how you handle questions and close out. It made a big difference – Susan is an expert at this.” ​ Céline Delacroix, EY Business acumen in spades At the same time, Céline embarked on her equity partnership journey, a highly competitive process that requires several role plays, two presentations, reviewing a business case, and convincingly demonstrating you are the best person to deliver it. “I wanted someone with a business background to coach me on this critical journey. Susan had business acumen in spades but was surprised that she was able to help me the way she did.” Susan offered practical support, working with Céline on the delivery of her presentations but also their contents, to make every message and word clear and punchy. ​ A 'winning mindset' Susan also helped Céline develop a ‘winning mindset’, which resulted in her looking forward to presenting to senior colleagues rather than fearing the overall process. “When I walked into that room, I felt confident and in control. Susan hadn’t just prepared me for that admission centre, she has changed the way I act, think and present, making me more successful and impactful with my clients. I am so grateful for the time I’ve spent with Susan - obviously because I secured my promotion – but also because I’ve changed for the better. Being coached by Susan has been an amazing experience." Céline Delacroix was admitted into EY equity partnership in July 2019 and is EY’s Global Head of Energy Services and Equipment. “I’m so grateful for the time spent with Susan on my journey to equity partner. Susan and I have been working together sporadically over the past few years and I can see key junctures in my future where I know I will need her again. It’s the breadth of her knowledge and experience that sets her apart - she’s smart, strategic and highly professional." Céline Delacroix, EY Want to communicate with greater confidence, authority and presence? I offer five online business voice coaching solutions to suit different needs and budgets. All are designed to give you tailored advice and support. Whether you’re preparing an important interview, pitch, appraisal, meeting, conversation, project or presentation, or just want an objective opinion on how you come across, I’ll give you perspective, feedback and practical things you can do straightaway. Learn More

All Case Studies Individual Angela Geddes Director of Operations Programmes, Baillie Gifford When Angela Geddes was invited, in early 2018, to be part of the pilot cohort for Susan’s 12-hour Make Your Mark programme, she didn’t know what to expect. Back then, she was Head of the firm’s Regulatory Developments, Projects and Advisory team. Now promoted to Director of Operations Programmes, Angela still regularly uses her Make Your Mark toolkit, and champions Make Your Mark within in the firm. Here is Angela, talking to Baillie Gifford Online Editor Chiara Pannozzo-McBryde about her Make Your Mark experience. ​ How did you find out about Make Your Mark? In 2018, having just been promoted, I was advised that the course could be beneficial to me as I took on more responsibility. I was keen to develop my management and leadership skills and felt that Make Your Mark would provide learnings that would help me to achieve that goal. Going into the programme, what were your expectations? It was a new development programme for Baillie Gifford, so I had no preconceptions and nobody to ask about what to expect. But I was very open-minded. The pilot cohort was for women only. Getting to know other women in the business and working with Susan was an interesting proposition. What was your experience of taking part in Make Your Mark? Make Your Mark focuses on four key areas: managing the inner critic (mindset) ; building and maintaining confidence and presence (body); speaking with confidence (speech) and active listening and voice skills (voice). The first session was thought-provoking and quite emotional. We were asked to write down how we thought other people perceived us, which made me realise I had built up a negative view of how people saw me. Susan encouraged me to reflect on this and question my thinking. Since taking part in Make Your Mark, I’ve been able to challenge my inner critic, rather than allow it to take hold. What did you get out of the programme? It made me question my thinking around how I think I’m perceived by others and the impact that has on me. I left equipped with tools to tackle difficult conversations and daunting situations. In my role, I often present to senior people in the firm. I now take the time to be equal in the room and if asked challenging questions, I don’t feel pressured to provide an answer on the spot. I can take the time to reflect. I’ve also used the techniques I learned with my team, having constructive dialogue in order to achieve positive outcomes. Did you discover anything about yourself that you didn’t already know? I realised that I’m too hard on myself. Make Your Mark encouraged me to see how much I care about people and the benefits that come from sharing the learnings with my team, to help us all to have better conversations. I have further developed my confidence as a result. What was the most useful learning you took from Make Your Mark? To never underestimate the power of your inner critic. If you don’t get a handle on it, it could easily hold you back. Would you recommend Make Your Mark to others? I would recommend it with the caveat that to get the most out of it, you have to bring your whole self to the programme. You also need to practice what you learn in order to develop. If you’re willing to do that, I have no doubt that you will come away with tools and techniques that will support you in your professional life and beyond. “To get the most out of it you have to bring your whole self to the Make Your Mark programme. You also need to practice what you learn in order to develop." Angela Geddes, Baillie Gifford Learn how others have benefited from the programme and how Baillie Gifford embraces coaching to enable colleagues to make their mark. Read post

All Case Studies Individual Ian McCaw Managing Director, Aon's M&A and Transaction Solutions Ian McCaw's CV is more than impressive. Today he's a Managing Director within Aon's M&A and Transaction Solutions, investor and co-founder at the D2C Wealth platform Equily, and one of LinkedIn's Top Investment Banking Voices. Before he was with EY, Deloitte and Oracle. So you wouldn't think he'd need voice coaching. Yet, when asked to speak at the Digital Enterprise Show 2023 in Malaga last year, Ian decided to invest time learning new ways to bring his keynote to life. An 'everest' moment for Ian ​ Ian approached Susan when facing the daunting prospect of delivering a keynote speech and only a matter of weeks before the event. "Whilst I had delivered decent presentations before and had some success in business, for me the thought of standing in front of an educated industry audience and delivering a 15 mins insightful (one-way) presentation had tipped my fears. I’m no natural orator! I could let my team down! It was an “everest” moment in my career to tackle this one," said Ian. Great communication starts with a confident mindset The first thing Susan did was to help Ian get over his initial nerves. She reminded him that he was already at the top of his game in terms of business accomplishments, and this presentation was just another opportunity to showcase his expertise. She then explained what voice coaching involved. ​ From their very first meeting, Ian found Susan to be incredibly calm and insightful. "With a long successful career in business, Susan was somebody I felt an instant connection to work with and trust. But what was voice coaching? Well it turns out, it’s really everything that surrounds the delivery of successful voice-based communication, especially in a business context. It encompasses mindset, tone, pace, physical presence, hand gestures and much more." A lasting positive impact Then they worked on mindset, which Susan believes is the key to making your mark - in other words, a lasting positive impact. “For me we worked quite a bit on mindset, I’m a humble person and really I was struggling with the idea of delivering a keynote speech. Susan brought different perspectives and questions that built confidence. She had her work cut out, but somehow unplugged the sticking points. Frankly allowing me to get out of my own way and focus on the audience and enjoying the moment.” Focusing on the audience ​ As Ian got more confident, he started trying out relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to calm his nerves before walking on stage. Susan also gave him techniques to focus more on connecting with his audience than worrying about himself. They then gave his slide deck a total makeover, swapping out the heavy text for compelling images that would delight, surprise and entertain his audience. Feedback suggested that's just what it did, and it motivated Ian to want to do more. "In the end, I was delighted with the keynote with some fun moments in the delivery. For example, telling a Scottish joke to a Spanish audience about Aritifical Intelligence created some lovely human interaction. I can truthfully say that it would not have been a success without Susan’s involvement. And now that “everest” is climbed, everything else seems a bit easier. Thank you Susan, your coaching "magic" worked for me." Ian McCaw, AON Want to communicate with greater confidence, authority and presence? I offer five online business voice coaching solutions to suit different needs and budgets. All are designed to give you tailored advice and support. Whether you’re preparing an important interview, pitch, appraisal, meeting, conversation, project or presentation, or just want an objective opinion on how you come across, I’ll give you perspective, feedback and practical things you can do straightaway. Learn More

All Case Studies Individual Ansa Javed Senior Vice President, Head of International Compensation and Benefits, Global Financial Services company Ansa Javed’s career is a resounding success. Previously with Mercer, Nestlé, O2 and HSBC, she’s worked hard to become a trusted, senior executive with a leading global financial services company. Yet Ansa kept receiving feedback that she needed to elevate her communication in leadership meetings - and be more succinct. The trouble was she didn’t know how to do it. Seeing the value Ansa wasn’t seeking a coach when she attended a workshop Susan ran for the Association of Foreign Banks. Indeed, she’d never heard of business voice and communication coaching. But Susan’s short session was bursting with practical exercises. ​ "I could immediately see the value in what Susan was sharing and how I could use it. She has a lovely calming presence and I loved how comfortable she made her audience. Her communications style is fabulous. I guess what she said really resonated with me that day. I had to convince myself first and then my bosses, but eventually I got the green light to go ahead and explore," says Ansa. Clear objectives That exploratory journey started right from the outset, with clear objectives which spanned everything from handling challenging communications; flexing communication styles; improving confidence as a presenter; establishing leadership style; and reinforcing brand presence. "Getting to the answers was emotive because I was having to understand what was driving my thinking and behaviour. I didn’t realise how much I’d need to open up to help myself. I think for many people there’s always a ‘work’ self and a ‘home’ self. To get beneath what was driving my reactions it was impossible to separate the two". A relationship of trust Bringing down barriers between her personal and professional realms was one of the most challenging but important aspects for Ansa. "It’s critical you find a coach you can build a relationship of trust with. You don’t want to be holding back because, if you do, you are holding back help. You have to be brave enough to truly open up. When you do, the benefits are inestimable. I was fortunate I found that trusted coach in Susan. I think we were destined to work together." "Just the process of talking through my experiences would often enable me to find the answer from within. But Susan has a great way of extracting answers from you. She also offers tips and tools that may seem small but are incredibly powerful." ​ Being brave and trying things Ansa admits to being hesitant about putting some of these tools and techniques into practice at first. "When I was outside that safe coaching space and my actions mattered, I doubted myself. That little voice would creep in and tell me: ‘This isn’t working’. But I was brave and tried a few things, determined to get a better result in those leadership meetings. What I quickly saw was ‘this is totally working’. Then my confidence grew. The more I did, the more positive feedback I got." ​ Tangible results In 2021, Ansa moved to a more generalist HR role, with a broader range of stakeholders and a greater focus on her communications. She worked with Susan to ensure a smooth transition. “I think coaching is helpful at different stages in your career. The results weren’t just evident to me but those I worked with. So, when I knew my role was to change, I could see the benefits of embarking on coaching with Susan again. When others started noticing a positive change, that became the motivation to continue to be brave, to use these tools and carry on. And the impacts are lasting. I’ve moderated external panels – something I would never have previously had the confidence to do." Ansa Javed In 2022, Ansa was promoted to Senior Vice President, Head of International Compensation and Benefits. "What’s been great is I’ve made tangible progress over a very short space of time. I’ve seen a direct correlation between my time with Susan and improved results." Want to communicate with greater confidence, authority and presence? I offer five online business voice coaching solutions to suit different needs and budgets. All are designed to give you tailored advice and support. Whether you’re preparing an important interview, pitch, appraisal, meeting, conversation, project or presentation, or just want an objective opinion on how you come across, I’ll give you perspective, feedback and practical things you can do straightaway. Learn More

All Case Studies Individual Didem Ün Ates AI/Generative AI global leader and TechWomen 100 Champion When you know 2,500 people will be watching, you definitely want to capture and hold attention. That’s why Didem sometimes seeks Susan out for dry runs. Working together, they define and refine key elements of major presentations to maximise impact and bring content to life. Accelerating digital transformation An AI/Generative AI and Responsible AI leader with 25 years' experience in managementment consulting (Capgemini, EY, Accenture) and industry (Motorola, Microsoft, Schneider Electric), Didem is also a World Economic Forum AI Governance Alliance fellow, Forbes Tech Council member, TechWomen100 Champion, Trailblazer 50. Passionate about developing and supporting women in tech, s he is currently Operating Advisor, Goldman Sachs Asset Management & AI/Generative AI Council. ​ An in-demand public speaker A frequent, highly sought-after public speaker, Didem has talked to audiences around the world about her work with artificial intelligence (AI); how to scale this tech responsibly, inclusively and ethically; and how to encourage more young women into the technology sector. More than business voice training While prepping for one such extremely important presentation, Didem had a half-day, 1-2-1 voice coaching session with Susan. Reflecting on that experience Didem says: “I’ve had public speaking coaches before but Susan’s amazing. I thought she’d give me some voice exercises and training, but she went way beyond that, providing wonderful feedback and advice to improve the flow of the presentation I was preparing to give. What impresses me about Susan is how authentic she is – she really cares. She takes on the topic and has a way of bringing out the best in people." Inspiring presentations "That presentation I gave was a huge, huge success. There were about 200 in the audience and what I said and how I delivered it moved some of them to tears. The feedback I received was it was one of the most inspirational presentations some had ever seen." ​ Long-term benefits "The value of that single session with Susan continues to live on. I’ve used that presentation to anchor many more I’ve subsequently given. The guidance and feedback Susan shared is as useful to me today as the day she shared it. I just feel honoured to have met Susan and I’m delighted that our joint passion for gender equality and inspiring women into technology and AI, means we continue to remain in touch.” Want to communicate with greater confidence, authority and presence? Then check out my online business voice coaching solutions which cater for different needs and budgets and are all designed to give you tailored advice and support. Whether you’re preparing an important interview, pitch, appraisal, meeting, conversation, project or presentation, or just want an objective opinion on how you come across, I’ll give you perspective, feedback and practical things you can do straightaway. Learn More

A former C-suite leader turned business voice coach, I coach confidence, executive presence and communication skills to help professionals succeed in the new world of work. My mission is to help individuals and organisations worldwide speak openly, authentically and inclusively, improving personal happiness and well-being and organisational culture and performance. Underpinning my practice is a forty-year, far-from-linear career and first-hand experience of the challenges of speaking up as a woman in male-dominated workplaces. Years of boardroom experience taught me that, no matter how smart you are, success depends on being a confident, influential, authentic communicator. That’s why, in 2014, I retrained as a business voice coach to help people, especially women and other underrepresented groups, reach and remain in senior leadership roles. My Make Your Mark with Susan Room® coaching model develops mindset, body language, speech, and voice to help global leaders tackle current business challenges and are at the heart of leadership development for category-defining businesses including the Financial Times and Baillie Gifford. Eager to pay it forward, in recent years I have gifted time to young people, the 30% Club, Future Asset, Women in Sanctions, the National Association of Women in Construction, Bromley-by-Bow Centre and others. Credentials Master of Fine Arts in Voice (MFA) with distinction from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC) ICF-accredited Diploma in Coaching Certificate in Transactional Analysis (TA 101) Past Mentor Coach at Coaching Development Ltd Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in European Studies from the University of Bath Former Executive Committee Member, Group Commercial & Marketing Director, Lafarge Tarmac (now Tarmac) Former Executive Committee Member and International Marketing Director, Jones Lang Wootton (now JLL) Former Executive Committee Member and Vice President Corporate Marketing and Planning, ISS A/S Why work with me? My C-suite experience: I understand the politics, pressures, challenges, and opportunities professionals face and what it takes to influence and build trust at all levels, not least in the boardroom. My blend of voice and executive coaching: I coach mindset, body language, speech, and voice, a holistic model that leaves clients thinking, acting, feeling, and sounding more confident, influential and authentic, long after they have finished working with me. The way I mix theory, practice, and interaction: my highly interactive sessions offer practical tools, techniques and resources to implement straightaway as well as insights and research drawn from the fields of anatomy, phonetics, social psychology, evolutionary biology and learning theory. My executive coaching credentials: I hold the ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential, meaning I have met stringent education and experience requirements and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the coaching competencies that set the standard in the profession. My voice coaching qualifications and experience: my master’s degree in voice studies with distinction from the world-renowned Royal Central School of Speech and Drama taught me how the spoken voice works, and the skills needed to coach others to understand and leverage its power. My life experience: I'm a mum who has had a fulfilling, non-linear career , reinventing myself four times whilst managing the ‘struggle to juggle’. Giving back Passionate about coaching tomorrow’s leaders today, in 2022 I co-founded, with Master Certified Coach and Marshall Goldsmith 50Thinkers Finalist Tracy Sinclair, Coachsters a joint venture that offers coaching and ICF-accredited coach-training to 18-25-year-olds. This initiative is a continuation of the Make Your Mark for Students workshops I ran, free of charge, during the pandemic . I have also gifted time to deliver workshops and 1-2-1 coaching for 30% Club, the National Association of Women in Construction , Women in Banking and Finance, Future Asset, Women in Sanctions and the Bromley-by-Bow Centre .

All Case Studies Business wefox women make their mark Founded in 2015 by Julian Teicke and Fabian Wesemann, the vision was to make insurance 10x better, with every decision focused on the safety of its customers. Today wefox is Europe’s #1 digital insurer. That's one incredible journey for the founders, the company and its employees. Developing confidence, presence and communication skills for women in (insur)tech As wefox is all too aware, hypergrowth is thrilling. It can also put enormous demands on individuals and teams. That's why wefox approached Susan to run her flagship Make Your Mark program for two cohorts of their female senior leaders (C-suite minus 1) and members of the wefox product team. The full 12 hour programme plus a 90 minute kick off and wrap up session was delivered virtually, with participants dialling in from Germany, France and Switzerland. Why the Make Your Mark with Susan Room® programme? Susan was commissioned by Sam Love, then Chief Product Officer at wefox (now with Quantium) after she watched a bright, young colleague present to a broad audience of peers and departmental leaders. Sam was struck by her colleague's competence and grasp of the content. But at the same time became aware that a lack of confidence in the communication w as compromising the message. "Too often in the workpl aces of today, a woman's voice is not heard as it should be, with the content of the message being offset by how and even who it is delivered by." After reaching out to Susan, Sam was confident that the Make Your Mark with Susan Room® programme was a good fit for wefox . Outcomes with impact Over four sessions exploring mindset, body, speech and voice, Susan provided participants with valuable, practical tools to help them communicate with impact. ​ Sam also recognised an additional benefit resulting from the program... “Equally impactful was the connection built between colleagues. I was blown away by the openness, trust, vulnerability and strength that the women in the program shared. Thank you, Susan for so expertly 'holding the space'." “Susan had a great feel for our group's needs, guiding us through many interesting and sometimes even difficult situations. She was able to initiate deep reflections due to asking the right questions at the right time. I took a lot from that programme and can only recommend it!” Christin Glaeser-Seidel, Head of Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding, wefox “Over four sessions Susan's coaching on mindset, body, speech and voice provided valuable tools to help us communicate with impact . Many of which I have already put to good use, including the 'Merkel triangle'!” Sam Love, then Chief Product Officer wefox (now at Quantium). "Susan's experience in the corporate world mixed with her empathy made me become a better person and a better leader. Her tips, advice & very complete content for her session are a source of inspiration." Scarlet Wittkowsky, Global Operational Excellence Lead wefox (now at mutelabs) Interactive and content-rich, my Make Your Mark with Susan Room® workshops and keynote explore mindset, body language, speech and voice, leaving participants with a powerful toolkit they can use straight away to feel, look and sound confident, especially when under pressure. Learn More

My Story As a child, I was surrounded by multilingual voices: Farsi and Greek (I spent my first four years in Tehran and Athens); German (my grandmother was born in East Berlin); Italian (spoken by various lodgers); Russian (my second cousin taught it at Cambridge); and French (which I learnt after my parents divorced and my dad moved to Paris to pursue his marketing career). Foreign shores and the sound of different languages fascinated me, as did singing and performing in competitions and amateur musical theatre shows. Looking back, my love affair with the human voice began at an early age. No surprise then that I chose to study languages at the University of Bath, moved to Paris upon graduation, and began my career with press and marketing roles at the United Nations University (UNU) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Self-belief, determination, and good communication skills meant I progressed quickly. By the age of 30, I was the ICC’s International Marketing Manager, with a strong global network of senior business leaders and influencers. My unconventional early career stood me in great stead when in 1990 I returned to the UK to seek corporate job opportunities. I was soon in my first C-suite marketing role, reporting to Waldemar Schimdt, then CEO Europe/Brazil of Danish facilities group ISS A/S. I was 32, arguably way over my head, but inspired to make my mark and validate Waldemar’s faith in me. I am forever grateful to him for seeing potential in me when I was so young. Leaving ISS in 1996, I returned to London to marry my long-term sweetheart. I was 37, perimenopausal, and desperate to have a baby. Nevertheless, wanting it all, instead of focusing on my fertility, I accepted a European Marketing Director job offer for a company I innocently thought, as did Wall Street, was a paragon of progress. The company was Enron Europe. ​ Sitting in my Millbank office next to the Chairman’s, with views of Parliament and the Thames, I thought I’d ‘made it’ and that life couldn’t get any better. Nine months later, I was known as the ‘difficult woman who asked too many questions’ and sitting in the typing pool. Bewildered and bemused, I had no idea what was going on but knew whatever it was deeply contravened my values. I resigned, eleven months after accepting the job, determined to quit corporate life forever and focus on my ovaries. Until a head-hunter called with an intriguing proposition: would I consider joining English property partnership Jones Lang Wootton (JLW) as Partner and European Marketing Director with a seat on the European Management Committee? You bet. I couldn’t resist, not least because no-one outside the sector, let alone a woman, had ever been brought in at Partner level. The opportunity was too good to miss. I spent two adrenaline-filled years at JLW, helping the partners position and prepare the firm for incorporation, acquisition by LaSalle and flotation as JLL. I spoke my mind, voiced my values , challenged the status quo, and made lots of friends and quite a few enemies. It was exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure, tainted only by accusations, just before I left, that my success was due to the fact I was sleeping with my boss. I wasn’t. Leaving after JLL floated, I finally took time out to conceive, only to be told that I was postmenopausal and would never have a baby. To manage the grief, my architect husband and I bought and restored an old French farmhouse, only to discover, in 1999, that I was 18½ weeks pregnant. Yes. 18½ weeks. I spent the next fourteen years juggling motherhood; working as an independent consultant and management development trainer; volunteering; building a 'grand design'; and helping run my husband’s architectural practice. By 2013, I was ready to explore new opportunities, but not expecting a call from a head- hunter enquiring whether I knew any candidates for the C-suite role of Group Marketing and Commercial Director at Lafarge Tarmac (now Tarmac). Naively, I didn’t realise they were courting me, thinking instead that I could never go back to the boardroom after 13 years living down a no-through lane in the English countryside. Yet apply I did, partly to test my potential, partly to prove to others there is life after children grow up. It was an interesting, short-lived experiment, which led me to conclude that 24/7 corporate life was no longer for me. I stepped up the networking and explored non-executive director opportunities. Nothing sparked my interest until, serendipitously, a senior leader told me he thought I’d make a great coach. The rest, as they say, is history. Inspired to help more women secure and retain senior leadership roles, I trained as a coach, secured my ICF Professional Certified Coach credential (PCC) and did a two-year Master’s in Voice Studies at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating with distinction in 2017. Eight years on, I have built a six-figure coaching practice and work with category-defining businesses around the world. My C-suite experience and internationally recognised coaching credentials have struck a chord in a world where confidence, presence, communication skills and the ability to connect with others are increasingly in demand. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to believe in themselves, create the life they want, explore the joys of life-long learning, and rekindle their childhood passions. Mine is singing, jazz, and listening to world-class vocalists and musicians at Ronnie Scott's. Maybe see you there sometime.

All Case Studies Business Helping the Financial Times achieve its diversity and inclusion goals Leading international newspaper, the Financial Times (FT), reports daily about business and economic current affairs. It considers diversity and inclusion (D&I) a vital part of its workplace, and understands that it requires more than just policies, headcount and box ticking. Having fun is a key feature of Make Your Mark because it improves learning and memory. Increasing impact Susan started working with the FT in 2017 when she was asked to design and run some workshops to help managers increase their impact, assertiveness, and credibility. Feedback was positive, and before long, the Learning and Talent teams were inviting her to deliver other events, notably a 12-hour version of her Make Your Mark programme. Developing confidence, presence, and communication In 2018, the business was especially focused on implementing a range of initiatives to support, retain, and develop female executives, which is why, for the first four years, Make Your Mark was for women-only cohorts. When the pandemic hit, Susan quickly developed an online version of Make Your Mark. By the end of 2022, 120 women had completed the programme, strengthening the FT’s talent pipeline in the process. Susan has also delivered Make Your Mark Workshops for editorial and non-editorial staff in the FT's New York office, and keynotes for FT Women UK. As part of its commitment to creating a truly inclusive culture and ensuring its offerings remain relevant for its ever-increasing diverse audiences, in Autumn 2022, the FT opened Make Your Mark to employees of any gender. Bespoke events and 1-2-1 coaching Liaising closely with the FT’s global learning and talent teams, Susan has also designed and run workshops on topics including: Working In Remote Teams Managing Remote Teams Boosting Your Virtual Impact Communicating Inclusively Storytelling and Presenting with Confidence As well as working with groups, Susan coaches FT managers and executives 1-2-1. Over the years, she has worked with hundreds of FT people in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia, on both the editorial and non-editorial side of the business. In 2019, Susan contributed to Rivkah Brown's FT article on how to speak with authority , and, in 2020, she was interviewed by Amy Bell for a Special Report for FT Women in Business: 'How to be more confident in front of colleagues'. “I’ve been thinking about that question you asked me all the time: ‘How do you want people to describe you when you’re not in the room?’ It’s such a provocative question, I’ve never thought about thinking that way and I’m now doing things differently as a result.” An FT US editor speaking after a 1-2-1-coaching session “Susan. I was thinking of you recently when forced into presenting at a 2-day hackathon in front of FT execs. All my team members pulled out so I had no choice! I drew on so many of your coaching tips we spoke about back in July and guess what, my proposal was awarded a runner-up prize! I don't think I would have even attended the hackathon prior to your coaching!” An FT editor who attended Make Your Mark with Susan Room® "I found my direct report became more focused on making progress in her career and in her personal growth. She’s aware of where she needs to grow.... and she’s up for the mission. She’s also acknowledging that she’s prioritising tactics over strategy." An FT line manager speaking about one of his direct reports Interactive and content-rich, my Make Your Mark with Susan Room® workshops and keynote offer a whistle-stop tour of mindset, body language, speech and voice, leaving participants with a powerful toolkit they can use straight away to feel, look and sound confident, especially when under pressure. Learn More