// Speaking
Business development is challenging for many professional services people
As an experienced speaker, I help professional services people see business development differently and understand how they can do it to get results, as part of their day job.
Isn’t it a shame that people who are great at what they do aren’t maximising the clients they could be helping? Would you like to change that? I know I do.
In professional services, business development often feels challenging. It’s rarely part of professional qualifications, time is limited, and many prefer to focus on their core expertise. In many firms, junior staff are not engaged in business development early on.
As an engaging and experienced speaker at professional events, including conferences, seminars and away days, I help professional services individuals understand why their involvement in winning and retaining clients matters and how they can take action. I provide practical, realistic ways for individuals to build their skills from where they are now, benefiting both themselves and their firm.
With the opportunity and threat of AI, a business development mindset, approach, and skills have never been more important.
The impact
My talks are for professional services individuals who want to realise the benefits of doing business development effectively and positively. For those who want to avoid the challenges associated with neglecting business development completely or not having a structured and consistent approach.
- For firms, relying on too few people for business development increases risk and limits the growth potential of wider team contribution.
- For individuals, career progression can stall, or people can find themselves in roles with an expectation they’re not equipped to meet confidently.
I understand why professional services people find business development challenging, yet I also understand the steps to take to change this view and the reality.
When you invite me to speak, I address the topic with empathetic candour so your audience feels understood but also motivated and knowledgeable about how to move forward.
Whether you want to focus on one specific business development aspect or skill or, focus on the importance of business development overall, when you engage me to speak, your audience will walk away with practical advice and guidance, based on research and experience; all brought to life with real-life stories.
Many firms assume their technical expertise is enough, but how they approach business development and engage with clients has a major impact on opportunities, relationships, and long-term success.
Signature Talks
Why Business Development Is Everybody’s Business
How every client-facing individual plays a role in winning and keeping clients, and the essentials for building a culture that supports it.
Key takeaways:
- Recognise the impact of individual actions on attracting and retaining clients.
- Understand the core elements needed to establish an effective business development culture across the firm.
The Three Levers to Generate Business
An engaging look at the three key levers for generating more business – what they are, how they work, and how to use them effectively.
Key takeaways:
- Understand the three primary levers for generating new business.
- Apply practical strategies to draw work from each source.
The 5 Ps of Proactive Business Development
My proven framework outlining the five essentials for consistently generating new work and how to put them into practice.
Key takeaways:
- Know the 5 Ps and why they’re critical to proactive business development.
- Have key actions to take for each ‘P’.
I also deliver talks on specific business development topics, including client excellence, networking skills, and building great client relationships.
// Proven Results
Client Testimonials
Joanna led an interactive and engaging session, offering new perspectives on a topic that added value to all. She even attended our client event later that evening just to see our new skills in action! Joanna is a pleasure to work with – collaborative and professional throughout. I would highly recommend Joanna and look forward to working with her in the future.
Her eloquence, expertise, and ability to engage an audience have earned her the highest praise from our clients and delegates alike. Joanna’s professionalism and depth of knowledge shine through in every session, making her a trusted and valued collaborator.
Joanna is an excellent presenter in that she doesn’t simply stand at the front of the room and talk at delegates for the duration. She walks between tables, poses questions as she goes, provokes food for thought, encourages delegates to respond and interact. She has a wonderfully relaxed, composed, and professional demeanor, which hugely helps delegates to engage with her. Joanna was a pleasure to work with, from first contact to discussions on presentation content, through to meeting her on the day – a sheer delight! I would very highly recommend engaging Joanna to present at an event.
We received some excellent feedback from those who attended including:
- Very clear and informative, looking forward to reading Joanna's book!
- Great speaker - very informative
- I feel much better about having difficult conversations now
- Addressed an issue that many people find difficult but are not necessarily quick to acknowledge, in a positive and practical way.
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