Increasing Company-wide Speaking Confidence

Heatherwick Studio is a multi-award winning British design and architecture studio, run by Thomas Heatherwick the studio employs the creative brains behind Coal Drops Yard in London, Maggie’s Yorkshire and the Bay View Google offices in the US.

There were a glut of ways they were looking to become Communication Ninjas:

• With growing teams, more impact was needed for presentations, pitches and general communication throughout the company – from team leaders to graduates.
• The weekly company-wide updates given by team members and team leaders needed be clearer so they could invite feedback and collaboration;
• When preparing for launches, there was uncertainty around heir own delivery and content;
• Senior staff were required to deal with Q&A sessions at seminars with more confidence;
• There was a company wide desire to be more intriguing with the use of visuals;
• New Starters, if graduates, were not being vocal enough in meetings and an aim to increase their speaking skills in informal spontaneous situations, such as giving an opinion needed to be honed.

Between 2018 and 2024, a varied and intensive programme was rolled out throughout Heatherwick with both groups and individuals. Programmes included:

1. Regular 1.5 hour and 3 hours sessions in how to craft and deliver effective company-wide updates;
2. Intensive Presentation and Pitching courses up to Senior Leaders and Partners;
3. Three hour online Effective Email and Written Communication workshops;
4. Three hour workshops for less experienced team members to encourage them to speak up, request clarification, prioritise work and manage up as well as sideways.

Client feedback reflects the participants’ success:

In short, they’re excelling at conferences, delivering updates that enthrall even when they were completely online and have a much more integrated way of communicating which reflects in the winning of great projects.

“I have been working with Frankie for over 4 years now. She works with Heatherwick Studio and supports our team members to feel better when speaking publicly and/or working collaboratively.

She gives structure to her formula and team members have fun while learning which is always a bonus.

Within this time we now have team members who had joined her courses and have now been v

oted best in class at European and USA conferences all because of how she teaches and supports learners in the room.

If you are looking for energised learning sessions with positive outcomes, then Frankie is your person!”

Hilary Moir, Studio Coach at Heatherwick Studio

“This course was incredibly engaging, meaningful and fun. I loved how the group felt at ease sharing thoughts honestly. Frankie’s personality is so wonderful, professional and open.  Her feedback was brilliantly constructive, always straight to the point and I learned plenty about myself and others that I wasn’t aware of.

I feel that with some more practice in usual work situations I’ll be on my way to become a highly confident and powerful speaker. Thank you so much Frankie for this course and also empowering what I already do right.”

Kate, Senior Designer, Heatherwick Studio

“The sessions were great.  Working in groups, keeping the activity flowing and having the ability to write things down and reflect really helped.  Speaking up, countering arguments and controlling conversations are all areas in which I now feel far more prepared.”

Ed, Designer, Heatherwick Studio