ABT TEAM

I'm a communications professional with managerial experience, enjoying working across regions and cultures. I specialize in internal communication, company culture and employee engagement, and take it as my personal mission to help businesses achieve their goals through better communication. I have over 15 years of working experience in Poland and the Czech Republic in various marketing and communication roles, which I complement with my activity as a trainer. Having observed how much the health of the organization depends on the daily interactions of its people, I believe in the power of employees’ professional development in the area of soft and leadership skills.

My business background is in journalism. I’ve worked as a reporter for three local papers; one regional Sunday tabloid; and an international news agency, supplying the national press like The Times and The Daily Telegraph, as well as publications around the world, with UK news and features.

I am a writer, a thinker and a learner.

My career in newspaper journalism let me explore my passion for the English language. It also taught me the importance of accuracy, tenacity and, above all, integrity. Now, I satisfy my creative thirst by writing children’s books.

As an uncle to 15 nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, I realise how important it is to connect with your inner child. There’s always something new to learn; there’s always an opportunity to grow. My next challenge is to master Polish.

My hobbies include poker, chess, and juggling. The latter is a great way to relax — it clears your mind of all thoughts, giving you a blank canvas with which you can…. erm…. sorry – what was I talking about?

Education:

• Intercultural Competency Training, 2016
• Business Writing seminar, 2016
• BE Drive Conference, Krakow, 2014 & 2015
• Westminster Press Journalism Training College, Hastings, 1990
• BA Hons Politics, University of Nottingham, 1989

Specializes in the following programs:

• Modern Business e-Correspondence
• Report Writing

I’m a teacher, a learner and an optimist. I’m passionate about good communication, and I don’t just mean linguistic accuracy. I’m the one shouting at the TV when two sitcom characters are having a relational crisis simply because they can’t, or won’t, express themselves properly, with empathy for the other person. I believe that striving to convey what we think/need/feel, whilst putting ourselves in the other person’s shoes, is the best way to solve a large percentage of life’s problems. After graduating in Language Studies in the UK, the 18 years of language teaching I’ve done here in Poland has given me the opportunity to put my education to very good use. I’ve gained valuable insight into how the way we use language makes such a huge difference to our working relationships, something I’m already trying to teach my 4-year-old twins as they learn how to interact with each other! Building good relationships with colleagues became particularly important when I ran a language school, a career move that gave me a whole new business skillset. Learning Polish has given me insight into some of the challenges non-native speakers of English face when using English to communicate. Apart from that, it taught me how frustrating it is when you know what you want to say but don’t know exactly how to say it in another language! In the free time I used to have (!) I was a Gospel choir director in Krakow, learning how to sing various songs and teaching them to others. Hmm…learning and teaching…can’t seem to get away from it!

Education:

• Delta – University of Cambridge Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Wrocław, 2013
• CELTA – University of Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, Cracow, 2004
• BA Language Studies, University of Essex, 2002

Specializes in the following programs:

• Modern Business Correspondence

I’m an optimist; I believe there is a positive to be found in any situation. A Lemons and Lemonade kind of person. I am fascinated by “What if?” I get great satisfaction from following the imagined line between two points. Most of all, I’m fascinated about where the future will take us and how we will communicate and interact. I believe that in today’s technological world, the ability to communicate well is essential. I value every lesson that my 30+ year career has taught me, the good and the bad. I try to bring not only the benefit of my business experience into my training but my positivity and encourage my participants to face the challenges life gives them. My time living and working outside the UK since 2000 and in particular, living in Turkey for almost 10 years has taught me many things about respecting diversity, culture and the value of communication in all relationships. I live my life today by many of those values. Moving to Poland in 2012 and having to adapt to the many facets of Polish culture and communication has been another reminder to focus on understanding others and being understood.

Education:

• Baskent University, Ankara. Teacher Training Program. 2005 – 2012
• TEFL certification from Turkish American Association, Ankara. 2004
• B.Sc. – Project Management – Open University, Milton Keynes, U.K. 1992
• Higher National Diploma – Communications Engineering. 1984

Further Education:

• Master Life Coach Training, Transformation Academy, 2019/2020
• Leadership Developement Intensive, Sherer Institute, 2019
• Intercultural Competence, Interculturals, 2016
• Social Media & Marketing, Silicon Valley Digital Marketing Institute, 2016
• Communicating with confidence, Linkedin Lynda.com online, 2016
• Managing Conflict, Linkedin Lynda.com online, 2016
• Storytelling in Business, Skillshare online, 2016
• MS Office 2016/Office 365 – eduCBA Online, 2016
• Prezi development, Presente Design, Wroclaw, 2015
• Animal Behaviour & Welfare, University of Edinburgh, 2015
• Dog Emotion & Cognition, Duke University, 2015

Specializes in the following programs:

• Powerful Business Presentations
• Executive Business Presentations
• The Pitch
• Win-Win Solutions
• Advanced Negotiations
• Getting Past NO.
• Relationships in Global Business
• Speaking Up

I’m an enthusiast, a teacher and a creator. In my work as a trainer I aim to develop professionals by influencing their attitudes, habits and convictions. In my work as a consultant I act as a facilitator of change, helping organizations improve their long-term business results. There’s selfishness in my work – every project is a new learning experience for me as well, not just the Client! As a founder and leader of Accent group (currently 3 companies employing over 200 people), I learn about business everyday, the moment I wake up. So the biggest asset I bring in to any program is years of my own experience in the field.

Education:

• Certified Leadership Development Intensive / Executive Development Intensive Facilitator by Scherer Leadership Center, 2018
• MATRIK, Trainers Management School, 2012
• Group Dynamics, Wszechnica UJ, 2012
• NLP Practitioner, Polski Instytut NLP, 2011
• Leadership Development Intensive, 2008, 2010, 2012
• MBA – The Polish Open University, 2009
• MBA – WSB – National Louis University, 2004
• BA in Management, UE, Krakow, 2002

Specializes in the following programs:

• Win-Win Solutions
• Meaningful Business Meetings
• Important Conversations
• Management Trainings
• Feedback with Impact
• Leaders' Talk
• Speaking Up
• Communicating through Change
• And others

I am a vibrant professional with over 6 years of corporate experience in supply chain, project management, sales, and customer support as well as over 10 years of NGO experience related to education, team building, and event management. In my spare time, I volunteer and organise TEDxWarsaw as Head of Event Experience. I grow within the organizations I join and develop the people around me -- both those on my teams as well as my leaders. I ask questions. I am relentlessly resourceful in finding solutions. I am exceptionally competitive versus who I was yesterday. I build great teams who deliver. I enjoy taking the “path less traveled”, tend to follow my curiosity and I am a voracious reader.

Education:

• SWPS, Warsaw (Poland) Post-Graduate Degree Innovation Management -- 2018
• Collegium Civitas, Warsaw (Poland) BA in International Relations -- 2011
• Fachhochschule Osnabrück, Osnabrück (Germany), Semester Abroad -- 2010

Specializes in the following programs:

• Powerful Business Presentations
• Communicating in Cross-Cultural Teams
• Tailored Solutions

Proud “Generation X” representative with over 20 years of professional experience, primarily in the Customer Service environment. I love being part of a team, but also find “one-to-one” sessions very rewarding. I strongly rely on my own experience, both professional and personal, and the older I get, the more I trust my own intuition. I value and appreciate the power of relationships in making business. In my corporate experience I was a Team Leader, Customer Service Quality Assurance Coach, and Performance Analyst. I worked with individuals and teams on large sets of data to improve the quality and meet organizations’ required standards. In my spare time, I love to eat and travel, and I love to marry those things together. I am married and have two dogs adopted from the animal shelter, who opened a whole new world for me.

Education:

• School of singing and acting graduate
• “LEAN Practitioner” certified
• “Knowledge Of Diversity and Inclusion” - global certified facilitator (Shell internal)
• “Stakeholders’ Engagement”
• “Coaching in Practice”
• Excellence in Customer Service - certified facilitator (Shell internal)

Specializes in the following programs:

• Crucial Conversations

Through the years, I’ve gathered a lot of knowledge and practical experience in the field of administration and marketing strategies, which allows me to provide a professional approach to customers and to run company offices efficiently. I believe that the success of an organisation depends on effective cooperation between people and good communication on every level -- that is why I focus on the people with whom I work. Each organisation has its own rules and regulations; but for me, people – with their passion and energy -- are the core of any company. I am detail oriented and a born multi-tasker. Handling unexpected situations and new challenges is a skill I learned not only at work, but also from my deep passion for travel.

Education:

• MA in International Economic Relations, Katowice 2004