Emma Stroud | Vistage UK
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Emma Stroud

When I left school I was meant to do business studies, but I somehow snuck into theatre instead.

Whilst selling crisps for that famous company, I set up my first theatre company. In the midst of this, I got my first professional acting gig, promptly lost my voice within two days and then decided I had better learn the craft of acting.

Three years at drama school later, I became an actor and gigged around for a year. During this time I met Deon, Kate, Annalea and Jane. Let’s just say an interesting director pushed us to create our own theatre company, “Abandon Theatre”. We went on to perform shows at Edinburgh, including “Sweet Love Adieu” and the sketch show “Swollen and Twisted”.

I have always had fun with improvisation – a key business skill that I have helped others to develop over the years. Just recently I have performed impro with “The Banana Bunch”, with “Bananas on The Run” just off the West End in Autumn 2018. Earlier days with Abandon Theatre saw the co-created work in our first improvisation show, “Your Line or Mine?”.

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Abandon Theatre did tours across the UK, with residency and productions in various London fringe theatres. My more serious side got played in my co-written show “Connected”, at The White Bear in London. During this time I also directed for other companies.

I then felt the fear: I should be running a “proper” business not this theatre thing. Over the subsequent ten years we created “Abandon Learning”, “Pitch Perfect” and then “Pitch Perfect Club” – three businesses variously developing and focusing on interactive workshops, stress management workshops, leadership programmes, and ultimately leadership presence coaching. Two of those businesses failed; the aims, integrity and level of work were never in doubt, but somehow the business models did not translate in reality. I honestly believe now it was because I was not living my true purpose, which is – I can now see so clearly – what must drive us all and our work.

So all this has led me to here (gold star if you have read this much!). MC, Performer and Speaker Mentor, with my business “Truth Works”. This feels right and it is my purpose.

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My programmes
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Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success (Advanced)

Every time you show up as a leader to talk your reputation and potential are being evaluated. In this advanced session Emma will get groups to delve deeper into themselves and how they show up at work and in life.

Read more

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

Overview:

Every time you show up as a leader to talk your reputation and potential are being evaluated. In this advanced session Emma will get groups to delve deeper into themselves and how they show up at work and in life.

Emma’s style is fun, fast-passed and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Objectives:

  • Revisit the mind-set and practical skills of improvisation
  • Play with flexing leadership styles moment-to-moment, whilst still being real
  • Building confidence in self when improvising
  • Raising awareness of the unexpected, whilst maintaining composure

The workshop will examine:

  • How to play with status and how it affects us in all situations
  • How to play with awareness and the gift of giving
  • The freedom of play and its usefulness for leadership
  • Body language and truthful personal presence

Added February 2019.

Keynotes - Emma Stroud

Emma’s style is fun, fast-paced and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Read more

Keynotes - Emma Stroud

A keynote is a speech or presentation that establishes the main underlying theme of a conference or event, usually to a large audience. The duration is usually 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Improvisation – a vital tool for business success

The ability to 'think on your feet' is not only valuable but vital to your business success. Without the confidence and savoir faire, you can really be limiting your business growth.

We improvise everywhere - conversations, meetings, interviews, presentations and sometimes without realising it. All we need to do is develop these everyday skills further to see positive, measurable change in the success of professional interactions.

In this talk Emma helps you explore these improvisation skills and shows you how developing them can positively influence the way you deliver your messages and grow your business in dynamic ways.

Humour in business – how using humour can make you and your business memorable

What stops you from using more humour in your business? Despite what many people think, humour is an essential business tool. In this talk, Emma dispels the myth that business should always be ‘serious’ and that if it’s fun or funny, it can’t be effective. She’ll also show you how using more humour helps you create positive and memorable meetings, presentations and pitches that yield profitable results.

Public speaking or death – which would you prefer?

Studies now show that many people fear public speaking more than they fear death! How has this happened and how can we break this fear? In this talk Emma busts negative myths around public speaking and gives the audience tips and tools to help them start to love delivering their top content without the anxiety and sleepless nights.

Leadership presence

What is ‘leadership presence’ and why should we want it? In this talk, Emma breaks down what leadership presence is, how it can be cultivated, and why it is crucial for both business and personal growth. Whether you are already a leader in your field, want to become one or want to bring leadership skills into your current team role, the leadership presence talk will give you powerful tools to boost your success.

Networking – do it and do it well

Networking, both internally and externally, is vital for your career and business success and could be that key step to gaining your biggest client yet or your next promotion. Emma will break down the ten key skills needed for success in business networking, so you can fast track your career or develop new business horizons.

Confidence – how to grow and keep it

Confidence is a slippery thing, isn’t it? One day you’ve got it and the next it seems to have disappeared. In this talk, Emma challenges the idea that we are born with confidence or that it’s part of a certain personality, and gives the audience a range of self-awareness and confidence-raising tools they can use anywhere, anytime. By reducing common fears and negative beliefs about performance, Emma will leave the audience feeling inspired so they can perform confidently and effectively in each situation.

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

An introduction to the key skills of improvisation followed by exercises and interaction to highlight and enhance skills. Using a mixture of humor, self reflection and group discussion, participants will leave with a new understanding of how to utilise improvisation for business.

Read more

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

Overview:

Every time you stand up to present, whether it’s in a high-stakes situation, a project update or a regular meeting, your reputation and potential are being evaluated. Emma’s Thinking-On-Your-Feet workshop is for individuals who are confident at presenting, but need to create more flare and impact.

Emma’s style is fun, fast-passed and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Objectives:

  • Master the mind-set and practical skills of improvisation
  • Play with flexing presenting style moment-to-moment, whilst still being real
  • Building confidence in self when improvising
  • Raising awareness of the unexpected, whilst maintaining composure

The workshop will examine:

  • The mind-set and simple every-day skills of effective improvisation
  • Differences a “Yes and” attitude can have on improvisation and business
  • The art of being present in the moment and its power for business
  • The freedom of play and its usefulness for presenting
  • Body language and truthfully personal presence

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success (Advanced)

Every time you show up as a leader to talk your reputation and potential are being evaluated. In this advanced session Emma will get groups to delve deeper into themselves and how they show up at work and in life.

Read more

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

Overview:

Every time you show up as a leader to talk your reputation and potential are being evaluated. In this advanced session Emma will get groups to delve deeper into themselves and how they show up at work and in life.

Emma’s style is fun, fast-passed and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Objectives:

  • Revisit the mind-set and practical skills of improvisation
  • Play with flexing leadership styles moment-to-moment, whilst still being real
  • Building confidence in self when improvising
  • Raising awareness of the unexpected, whilst maintaining composure

The workshop will examine:

  • How to play with status and how it affects us in all situations
  • How to play with awareness and the gift of giving
  • The freedom of play and its usefulness for leadership
  • Body language and truthful personal presence

Added February 2019.

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

An introduction to the key skills of improvisation followed by exercises and interaction to highlight and enhance skills. Using a mixture of humor, self reflection and group discussion, participants will leave with a new understanding of how to utilise improvisation for business.

Read more

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

Overview:

Every time you stand up to present, whether it’s in a high-stakes situation, a project update or a regular meeting, your reputation and potential are being evaluated. Emma’s Thinking-On-Your-Feet workshop is for individuals who are confident at presenting, but need to create more flare and impact.

Emma’s style is fun, fast-passed and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Objectives:

  • Master the mind-set and practical skills of improvisation
  • Play with flexing presenting style moment-to-moment, whilst still being real
  • Building confidence in self when improvising
  • Raising awareness of the unexpected, whilst maintaining composure

The workshop will examine:

  • The mind-set and simple every-day skills of effective improvisation
  • Differences a “Yes and” attitude can have on improvisation and business
  • The art of being present in the moment and its power for business
  • The freedom of play and its usefulness for presenting
  • Body language and truthfully personal presence

Keynotes - Emma Stroud

Emma’s style is fun, fast-paced and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Read more

Keynotes - Emma Stroud

A keynote is a speech or presentation that establishes the main underlying theme of a conference or event, usually to a large audience. The duration is usually 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Improvisation – a vital tool for business success

The ability to 'think on your feet' is not only valuable but vital to your business success. Without the confidence and savoir faire, you can really be limiting your business growth.

We improvise everywhere - conversations, meetings, interviews, presentations and sometimes without realising it. All we need to do is develop these everyday skills further to see positive, measurable change in the success of professional interactions.

In this talk Emma helps you explore these improvisation skills and shows you how developing them can positively influence the way you deliver your messages and grow your business in dynamic ways.

Humour in business – how using humour can make you and your business memorable

What stops you from using more humour in your business? Despite what many people think, humour is an essential business tool. In this talk, Emma dispels the myth that business should always be ‘serious’ and that if it’s fun or funny, it can’t be effective. She’ll also show you how using more humour helps you create positive and memorable meetings, presentations and pitches that yield profitable results.

Public speaking or death – which would you prefer?

Studies now show that many people fear public speaking more than they fear death! How has this happened and how can we break this fear? In this talk Emma busts negative myths around public speaking and gives the audience tips and tools to help them start to love delivering their top content without the anxiety and sleepless nights.

Leadership presence

What is ‘leadership presence’ and why should we want it? In this talk, Emma breaks down what leadership presence is, how it can be cultivated, and why it is crucial for both business and personal growth. Whether you are already a leader in your field, want to become one or want to bring leadership skills into your current team role, the leadership presence talk will give you powerful tools to boost your success.

Networking – do it and do it well

Networking, both internally and externally, is vital for your career and business success and could be that key step to gaining your biggest client yet or your next promotion. Emma will break down the ten key skills needed for success in business networking, so you can fast track your career or develop new business horizons.

Confidence – how to grow and keep it

Confidence is a slippery thing, isn’t it? One day you’ve got it and the next it seems to have disappeared. In this talk, Emma challenges the idea that we are born with confidence or that it’s part of a certain personality, and gives the audience a range of self-awareness and confidence-raising tools they can use anywhere, anytime. By reducing common fears and negative beliefs about performance, Emma will leave the audience feeling inspired so they can perform confidently and effectively in each situation.

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success (Advanced)

Every time you show up as a leader to talk your reputation and potential are being evaluated. In this advanced session Emma will get groups to delve deeper into themselves and how they show up at work and in life.

Read more

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

Overview:

Every time you show up as a leader to talk your reputation and potential are being evaluated. In this advanced session Emma will get groups to delve deeper into themselves and how they show up at work and in life.

Emma’s style is fun, fast-passed and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Objectives:

  • Revisit the mind-set and practical skills of improvisation
  • Play with flexing leadership styles moment-to-moment, whilst still being real
  • Building confidence in self when improvising
  • Raising awareness of the unexpected, whilst maintaining composure

The workshop will examine:

  • How to play with status and how it affects us in all situations
  • How to play with awareness and the gift of giving
  • The freedom of play and its usefulness for leadership
  • Body language and truthful personal presence

Added February 2019.

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

An introduction to the key skills of improvisation followed by exercises and interaction to highlight and enhance skills. Using a mixture of humor, self reflection and group discussion, participants will leave with a new understanding of how to utilise improvisation for business.

Read more

Improvisation a Vital Tool for Business Success

Overview:

Every time you stand up to present, whether it’s in a high-stakes situation, a project update or a regular meeting, your reputation and potential are being evaluated. Emma’s Thinking-On-Your-Feet workshop is for individuals who are confident at presenting, but need to create more flare and impact.

Emma’s style is fun, fast-passed and thought-provoking. You will laugh, play and learn something about yourself and your ability to present you never believed possible.

Objectives:

  • Master the mind-set and practical skills of improvisation
  • Play with flexing presenting style moment-to-moment, whilst still being real
  • Building confidence in self when improvising
  • Raising awareness of the unexpected, whilst maintaining composure

The workshop will examine:

  • The mind-set and simple every-day skills of effective improvisation
  • Differences a “Yes and” attitude can have on improvisation and business
  • The art of being present in the moment and its power for business
  • The freedom of play and its usefulness for presenting
  • Body language and truthfully personal presence
My areas of expertise

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