Steve Folland

Being Balanced

Everyone’s constantly looking for work-life balance. From speaking to over 100 freelancers for the Being Freelance podcast, Steve’s started to piece together the various tactics we can use to find it. And being a freelancing work-from-home-look-after-the-kids dad he’s been figuring out what works for him. What will work for you? Can being freelance lead to being balanced?

Steve is a creative video and audio producer based in Bishop’s Stortford, just north of London. In 2015 he launched the Being Freelance podcast chatting to freelancers about, well, being freelance. Since 2016 he’s documented his freelance week on his YouTube vlog.

Sue Tonks

Become a Confident and Effective Networker

Being a ‘good networker’ is a key skill in order to link yourself to others in your specialism, influence others or raise your profile. Networking is not about selling. It is about building relationships and building trust.

This highly interactive, practical and fun workshop will give you the confidence and knowledge to be able to walk comfortably into a room of strangers; know who to approach and how, know who to avoid or move away from politely, know what to say and what questions to ask and how to gain follow-up opportunities. Feel more confident in any business situation

Sue Tonks delivers networking workshops with unforgettable comedy moments. Her knowledge and tips on how to get the best from your networking experiences have given her International acclaim. Her fun and practical style enables delegates to vividly remember key points and develop long lasting skills.

For the past 10 years Sue has gained praise as an international trainer and speaker on “networking”, where her regular clients include London Business School, University College London, Said Business School Oxford, Durham Business School and a host of top legal firms, banks and accountancy firms. Sue’s energetic and fun approach creates a long lasting impression and people take away many invaluable skills to help them be more confident and successful at all social occasions, life and in business.

Jon Torrens

Speaking Confidence: Level 99. Pitch and Present Like a Pro

Jon Torrens enables people to deliver inspiring presentations with confidence. Writing, storytelling and delivery are key elements of great presentations. he will help you nail them all.

He learnt these skills from years of doing of stand-up comedy and designing and pitching video games, so he can teach you really effective techniques in a way that’s actually fun, even to introverted, technical people who might think that communicating effectively is something they’re simply not good at.

In Jon’s talk ‘Speaking Confidence: Level 99. Pitch and Present Like a Pro’ he will show you how to create material that engages your audience and is easy to remember, for you and your audience, as well as describe specific techniques for visuals that reinforce what you’re saying instead of working against you, He will give you top tips for delivering your piece in a way that feels alive and exciting. He may even entertain you, but to be honest that’s a stretch and will be a major bonus. We’ll see, eh?

Kate Atkin

Success - What lies behind the mask? an exploration of the Imposter Syndrome

Have you noticed a need to be perfect or a desire to avoid making mistakes because if you do it ‘proves’ you are not up to the job? Many high achievers have an internal voice asking “did they really mean me?”, “am I really good enough?”, “what if they find me out?”… these are sings of the imposter syndrome, and it can be really stressful! During this interactive session Kate Atkin will provide you with an understanding of the imposter syndrome and some practical tips, tricks and techniques to help banish the imposter feelings.

Once a shy schoolgirl from rural Lincolnshire, Kate Atkin is now an award-winning speaker so she has plenty of ideas on how to overcome the butterflies and find the inner strength needed to be the best ‘you’ that you can be. Before starting her own learning and development business in 2000 Kate had a successful career with Barclays Bank plc. In 2015 she completed an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology which has brought insights into well-being, meaning and positivity. This also led to opportunities to be a guest lecturer at Cambridge University Judge Business School. She is continuing with her research, focussing on the imposter syndrome. Kate is also author of The Presentation Workout and The Confident Manager and a world debating champion.