Karyl Shone

I now realise that working in the entertainment industry was a great preparation for the world of training and development … having to deliver high quality, innovative programmes, often within limited budgets and tight time frames, on a daily basis!

The buzz of seeing smiles and ‘aha’s’ on delegates’ faces, regardless of the nature of the audience, still inspires me after over 15 years in the business. My greatest thrill is taking key and sometimes complex subjects and translating them into simple principles and strategies that people can easily implement in their everyday life.

Not surprisingly I enjoy ‘live’ entertainment, reading any book I can lay my hands on and being surrounded by people getting the most out of life.

Chris Iles

Little did I know that my early passion for adventure would eventually lead me to build the company that is now Communicate.

Travelling for three years, working with Outward Bound, helped me realise the crucial importance of experiential learning. And although the physical environment has largely changed, the principles still apply. People learn best by doing. If you want passive learning – we’re not the right company for you!

Family life has slowed me down somewhat in the adventure stakes, but I’m still enjoying mountain biking, skiing and marathon running.

Mick Walker

There’s nothing as fascinating as human beings. I have an insatiable curiosity about what makes us ‘tick’. Why is it that some people seem to approach life with a rosy outlook, whilst others have a glass that seems to be persistently less than half empty?

Lifelong learning sums up my approach. I like to go on a journey with those I work with – whether it’s a one-to-one, a facilitation, a training course or a conference event. There’s one thing I can absolutely guarantee – you’ll NEVER be bored!

Personally, travel and family are closest to my heart – hence my latest house purchase in the south of France. The wine’s not bad either!

Simon Batty

People often remark that I like to ‘walk my talk’. However, I think one or two of my colleagues think I took it rather too seriously 7 years ago when I built my own house. Project Management is one of my specialist subjects…

It will come as no surprise that my approach is practical, down to earth and solution-orientated. Helping to facilitate previously ‘dysfunctional’ teams or helping already successful teams achieve even better results are some of the privileges of this profession that I really enjoy. Who needs roller coasters?

Having said that, I am rather partial to Disney - using my young family as an excuse to visit regularly. That and exploring the coast near my home using any form of boat to hand.

Graham Bird

Getting better results for whoever I’m working with is what gets me out of bed in the morning. I’ve come to realise that this goal has shaped my whole career path – from working in Sales to training groups and lately focusing upon one-to-one coaching.

Whether it’s work or life orientated – the thought processes that people use to make choices are pretty much the same. And it’s been my life’s work understanding how to help others use these processes to achieve their full potential – whatever the field.

My latest learning (and fun) mission has been delving into the world of Image and Colour Analysis. Fascinating stuff!

Sue Graham

Having worked as a Training & HR manager with Marks and Spencer for many years, I left to concentrate on the training side. Of course, I should have known that, ironically, it would be my HR experience that would be most in demand!

Equality and diversity have been hot on the HR agenda for a number of years, and increasingly companies have come to realise they can’t just ‘wing it’ when the odd crisis arises. The need for training in these areas has taken me all over the UK and into many different organisations.

My young family keeps me fit, together with making the most of the multi-cultural richness and many amenities on offer in my home town (London).

Simon Pollard

It was my experience of successfully managing a French Food Company with over 1,500 employees that brought me to the realisation that maybe I had something to offer other teams! Also, my background of working with customers who take first class service for granted, taught me a thing or two about customer expectation vs. customer experience.

For example, running a fine dining kitchen is not about individual skills, it’s about honing the skills of a team and getting the kitchen brigade working as a single entity. The pressure really is on. Deadlines have to be met, expectations exceeded and customers retained. Communication is king!

Transferring my skills to others is extremely rewarding, especially in review when participants realise just how much they learned about one another, relied on each other, pulled together and utilised each other’s strengths.

Away from work I’ll be found supporting my family in their various activities (taxi!), walking the dog and enjoying time with friends over a good meal.

Anna McCann

Helping Communicate deliver their messages has gelled well with my general outlook on life and living – I like a job well done.

My past has included a great deal of sport, including a degree in physical education, and travel and work in many different countries. Driving passions are a commitment to conservation and the wellbeing of the world around us, and to raise three sons to be positive contributions to that world.

My glass is almost always well over half full and I hope that I can always spread that feeling to others.