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Narrative development & visualisation
Creating your North Star narrative
Problem: You have a vision and strategy. Now you want to develop it into a narrative that can inspire your team, the wider organisation and external stakeholders.
Why 100th Monkey
Key to the 100th Monkey approach is how we facilitate getting the best from leaders: by applying a weight of insight, with a lightness of touch.
As award winning communicators, we have vast experience in creating impactful narratives, and we use bespoke tools and techniques to uncover the insights needed to create a unique narrative which resonates.
Where helpful, we can also coach you to communicate your narrative with confidence, on any stage, though industry leading advanced presentations training.
A model for high performing teams
We believe effective teams are built upon these four pillars
Joanna Edwards
Co-Founder & Director
As founding partner and leader of the 100th Monkey’s thriving team effectiveness troop, Joanna is highly sought-after by emerging leaders, established leaders and industry-leading teams. She has developed a four-pillar model for high performing teams, and designed and delivered hundreds of programmes, offsites and workshops to help leaders sharpen and articulate their thinking, and teams to be more productive, satisfied and happy.
Joanna has honed her skills through 20+ years’ experience as a consultant, facilitator, trainer and coach.
Starting out in corporate communications for Biotech company, Acambis, Joanna went on the become an award-winning communications consultant, working in various agencies and supporting clients ranging from GSK, Sanofi, Eli Lilly and Novartis to Weetabix, Jaguar Landrover and the Department of Health.
As part of The 100th Monkey team, Joanna has led training and team development programmes across multiple sectors, including UK Government departments, leading pharmaceutical organisations, counter terrorism teams and innovators in the worlds of aerospace and energy.
Her greatest skills are as a strategic thinker, visual storyteller and facilitator.
Question & Answer
Who are you?
Daughter to an Irishman and a Brummie, wife to the king of optimism and mother to three amazing kids – I love film, Bristol, fun, family, friends and of course, The 100th Monkey
What's your role?
Co-founder, chief puzzle solver and strategist, working closely with leaders to help them sharpen and articulate their thinking, and teams to help them be more productive, satisfied and happy
So what do you actually spend your day doing?
I spend lots of my time talking! To clients - to help really understand what they are wanting to achieve through our support, sharing ideas and designs for programmes and sessions, and reviewing the impact our work is having. Also to our team - collaborating, co-ordinating and coaching. Amongst all the talking, I like to carve out space and time to think deeply about the briefs we are working on – I pride myself on our work being insightful, creative and beyond expectation – this requires focused brainpower.
Greatest strength?
To be able to see the big picture and how everything pieces together quickly, and enable others to see it too through simplification, visualisation and speaking their language
Biggest weakness?
My ‘go hard or go home’ approach to nights out
Favourite part of the job?
Supporting people to shine – helping them to achieve their aspirations and be proud of how they do it
Tell us two truths and a lie about yourself
1. I moved to Brazil to dance the Samba in the Rio Carnival 2. I met my husband on a week-long, no food retreat 3. As a child, I competed nationally as a synchronised swimmer
Ann HUGHES
Director
Ann has worked for 20 years advising big pharma on their corporate and brand messaging as well as delivering global launch campaigns. Now she is using that expertise on a more personal level, coaching individuals and teams to be more effective in their communications. Delivering training that calls on her consulting background and combines with her interest in psychology and theatre, she’s never been more passionate about her work.
Question & Answer
Who are you?
An American ex-pat in Dorset, a twin mum, avid reader, yogi and occasional quiz master/stand-up comedian (at PTA events..)
What's your role?
I’m a Director on the Personal Effectiveness side of the business, which means I deliver training and help add training talent to our network. And since I love making connections and solving problems, I’m always meeting new people to see if our training is a good solution to some of the challenges they face.
So what do you actually spend your day doing?
Some days I’ll be entirely dedicated to training, other days I’ll be upskilling new trainers or meeting with potential clients to understand the skills gaps their trying to solve. Or I’ll be drafted into the Team Effectiveness side of things to help design and facilitate client meetings.
Greatest strength?
Helping people see the best in themselves.
Recent work highlight?
Watching one of our Personal Effectiveness delegates in action – standing up at a big meeting in front of 100+ people to present naturally and eloquently, and also asking articulate, challenging questions. Both feats that I know personally terrify her, or at least they did before our training!
One of my biggest influences is…
My mom. And Woody Allen movies.
DAN GREGORY
Senior Project Planner & Manager
Dan is a first-class scientist turned highly-reviewed business strategist and facilitator. Joining the Monkey team fresh faced from university, Dan has been earning his stripes ever since, giving his all to his work. You might partner with Dan on either side of the Personal and Team Effectiveness sides of the business, but one thing will remain the same; his dedication to the highest quality of work for his clients.
Question & Answer
Who are you?
A proud Bristolian who spends most of his time eating food in the home city he loves. Occasional rugby player/paddleboard enthusiast
What's your role?
Senior Project Planner & Manager on the Team Effectiveness side of the business. Don’t let my baby face fool you; I am in fact one of the longer-standing members of the team
Greatest strength
My determination to find creative solutions to complex problems
Biggest weakness
Inability to function without caffeine
I can't put down...
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not by the Arctic Monkeys
Two truths, one lie
1. I made the front page by nearly being born in the frozen food aisle of our local supermarket 2. A family holiday to America was cut short due to an engine explosion, causing our plane to take evasive action over the North Sea 3. During my short stint in catering, I spilled a glass of red wine on Ed Sheeran
One of my biggest influences is...
My mum; both as my best friend and life coach
LAURA GOOD
Senior Consultant
Laura grew up in healthcare communications, spending 15 years working in senior and strategic consulting, corporate communications, brand and patient awareness campaigns. She was a member of the leadership team at the same London agency where many members of The 100th Monkey team first met.
Taking what she calls a ‘break’ to dedicate time for her kids and pursue social care interests, she applied her leadership skills to the school PTA and volunteering and was busier than ever.
Returning to agency life has actually been a bit of a holiday by comparison – no wonder she relishes ‘being onsite’.
Question & Answer
Who are you?
Busy London mum with two children, avid concert-goer, Chair of the PTA and volunteer at Homestart
So what do you actually spend your day doing?
Working collaboratively with our lovely team to create meaningful programmes that help our clients to work well together and meet their goals. Anything from structuring agendas and creating content for meetings, to creating team charters that better define how teams work together on a daily basis
Greatest strength
I'm a people person – I love getting to know all our clients, and especially being with them face-to-face for meetings and events
Biggest weakness
Staying up late to binge watch good TV
Two truths and a lie
1. I was born on the same day as Kate Hudson. 2. I am a grade 5 violinist. 3. I once spent the evening drinking vodka redbulls with Zowie Bowie
Proudest moment of the last year?
Returning to paid work after being a stay at home mum for a while - and (I think) doing quite a good job at it
Last gig?
Bombay Bicycle Club in Crystal Palace Park. Incredible!
Alita Buttress
Director & Head of Media Training
Alita is a former BBC News editor and self-proclaimed ‘news junkie’ with 17 years’ experience across national broadcast, print and digital. She has since transitioned into Executive Leadership coaching, preparing CEOs and senior leaders for high-stakes conversations. As an experienced trainer, Alita specialises in supporting businesses with their most challenging internal and external communication moments. Alita brings her abundance of energy to The 100th Monkey team, super-charging any training session with her supportive feedback and fascinating anecdotes of lessons learned in busy newsrooms.
Question & Answer
Who are you?
A Midlands native who has lived in London for 20 years. I’m a mum and a former journalist and TV editor who is still a complete news junkie. In my spare time you’ll find me with my nose in a book or planning holidays
What's your role?
I’m a director on the Personal Effectiveness side of the business and lead our media training work which involves planning and delivering sessions for our clients
So what do you actually spend your day doing?
Some days I’ll be planning for upcoming training, reading in on client issues and having briefing calls to discuss future work or new business. Other days I’ll be delivering training either face-to-face or virtually. In between, I spend time planning with our brilliant team and supporting on projects across the business
Greatest strength?
I can survive on very little sleep and always have lots of energy!
Favourite part of the job?
Showing people their split screen ‘before and after’ videos during our media training or Personal Effectiveness courses. The progress people make in a short space of time using our toolkits is always so inspiring. It’s the best part of my day!
Favourite TedTalk?
Shonda Rimes, 'My year of saying yes to everything'
One of my biggest influences is…
The Maya Angelou poem, ‘Still I Rise'
Make it happen
Our external expertise can get you where you want to be faster. Call us on 0117 476 9797